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Even though made to sit together in heavenly places, where they neither marry nor are
given in marriage, those so blessed still belong to that society in which there was husband
and wife, parent and child, and in connexion with the obedient children there is even
added the promise of long life "on the earth". Further, complete armour is provided in
view of a future "evil day". The word translated "made to sit together" is sunkathizo and
the only other occurrence in the N.T. is in Luke 22: 55. There are comparatively few
occasions when kathizo means simply "to sit" in the sense of resting, it is generally
associated with authority. This idea of authority in connexion with being seated is found
in the use of kathedra "a chair" in English.
A cathedral is so named because it contains "the Bishop's throne" or "chair" so we use
the expression "ex cathedra" of one who by reason of his office speaks with authority.
Similarly we use the English word "chair" (which is itself derived through the Latin
cathedra from the Greek). We speak of "taking the chair" or of "a chair" meaning a
professorship at a university. So we find kathizo used:
(1)
For the authority of a teacher. "When He was set." "The Pharisees sit in Moses' seat."
(2)
For the authority of a judge. "Pilate . . . . . sat down in the judgment seat."
(3)
For the authority of a king. "When the Son of Man shall sit on the throne of His
glory."
It has special significance when it is associated with the right hand of God.
"He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God" (Mark 16: 19).
The word kathizo has a special significance in the epistle to the Hebrews:
"When He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty
on high" (Heb. 1: 3).
"Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high
priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens" (8: 1).
"But this man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the
right hand of God" (10: 12).
"Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith; Who for the joy that was set
before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of
the throne of God" (12: 2).
It is entirely foreign to the teaching of Hebrews, to think of associating any believer
with the seated Christ. The teaching of Hebrews is rather that as the high priest, He was
there ALONE (Heb. 9: 7). If it came as a shock to Peter to be told "Rise, Peter; kill, and
eat" (Acts 10: 13), how much more would he have said "not so, Lord", had anyone dared
to associate the holiest believer of either Israel or the church with the seated Christ! One
believer who has come to the conclusion that Hebrews presents to us the ultimate
revelation of the Scriptures, was quite logical when he denounced us for teaching such a
thing. Yet Eph. 2: 6 still stands written. The Hebrew believers were bidden "to draw
near", but none were ever told that they were made "to sit" together there. This but
emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the calling of Ephesians. It is one of a series of
unique blessings found in the epistle of the Mystery, but revealed nowhere else.