 |  |
exhorted to follow Him in this path of suffering when they are told, "He Himself hath
suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted". Temptation hung
over that garden of Gethsemane, as is seen by the Lord's words to His disciples. "Watch
and pray that ye enter not into temptation." The garden of Gethsemane is no sentimental
idea foisted upon Heb. 2: 9. This is seen by Heb. 5: 7:--
"Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with
strong crying and tears unto Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard in
that He feared, though He was a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He
suffered, and being made perfect, He became the author of aionian salvation unto all
them that obey Him."
How fully this agrees with Heb. 2: 9, 10. We have only to read on to verse 10 to
complete the parallel:--
"For it became Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing
many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
His sufferings therefore in this context are viewed as having an effect upon Himself,
which is a thought distinct from that of Christ dying for the ungodly.
One more point we must notice: the words "for every man" are literally "on behalf of
all". There are some who take the word "all" in a universal sense, but we must remember
that the word is always limited by the context. Salvation from sin is not in view,
suffering in view of glory is the theme, and the word "all" refers here to the "many sons"
who are being led along the pathway of the fellowship of His sufferings to the glory that
shall be revealed.
We trust that those who have read the articles on The Hope and the Prize will
remember to notice the many parallels which Hebrews bears with Phil. 2: and 3:
While we must not confuse the two sets of teaching, much light will be received if we
remember that, although on differing planes, the ways of God with His people are
actuated by similar principles, and all find their cause and goal in the same blessed Son of
God.