 |  |
Hebrews 2: 5 - 10.
A | 5-8-. Not Angels. | a | A little lower than angels.
b | Crowned with glory and honour.
B | -8. But now we see not yet.
B | 9-. But we see Jesus.
A | -9-10. Jesus. | a | A little lower than angels.
b | Crowned with glory and honour.
The structure clearly indicates the theme, and places in strong contrast `angels' and
"Jesus', and not as we might have supposed from our reading of Psa. 8:, Adam and
Jesus.
"For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come whereof we
speak" (Heb. 2: 5).
Let us note well the Apostle's own explanatory clause "whereof we speak". Of what
does he speak? (1) The world to come. (2) The fact that this world to come has not
been put in subjection to angels. The quotation from Psa. 8:, the glance at Adam who
could not and did not hold this high office, turns us to the man as seen in Jesus Christ,
Who by virtue of His death and resurrection will take that great and glorious position.
The word `we see not yet' cover the dispensational aspect of the doctrine. The rightful
Ruler of that world to come, did not ascend the throne at His first advent, but stooped to
death even the death of the cross. The purpose of this death is manifold, and every
reference in the Scriptures opens up new avenues of thought and aspects of truth.
Confining ourselves for the moment to the actual implications of Heb. 2: we find that
this death, which precedes the day of His glory, was endured for the following wondrous
reasons:
(1)
He tasted death for every man.
(2)
It was becoming that the Captain of salvation should be made perfect through suffering.
(3)
He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of One.
(4)
Being made one with His people, He destroyed the Devil, and delivered them from the fear
of death.
(5)
Angels were passed by, and the seed of Abraham chosen for this great dignity.
(6)
Namely, rule in "The world to come whereof we speak".
As a separate and contributing study we have dealt with the meaning of such passages
as `perfect through suffering', and `all of one' but these we must leave, as our survey of
the references to the words `all things under His feet' is not yet complete. Psa. 8:
speaks of the excellency of the Lord's name in the earth, and that which is put under the
feet of man is said to be:
"All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beast of the field; the fowl of the air, and the fish of
the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas" (Psa. 8: 7, 8).
This dominion is limited to the earth, and to the period which comes before the day of
which John spoke when he said, "And there was no more sea", for fish of the sea are
included in the imperfect foreshadowing under Adam. Heb. 2: speaks of the earth, for