EB 1{This first chapter, and, indeed, the Epistle to the Hebrews generally, remarkably sets forth to us the glories of the Son. We would desire, under the Lord's guidance, to dwell upon them: may He bless it to the profit of our souls!
He introduces it to us by the thought, that the God, who in times past spake " in many parts, and in many manners," hath, in these last days, spoken to us in one full, unbroken, complete revelation of Himself by His Son. " The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." Meet person to do so! He only meet I now fully, then, does He unfold the glories of the Son. By Him He made the worlds, or ages; and for Him, as Heir, he made them. For Him; I say, as heir; for 1 Cor. 8:66But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. (1 Corinthians 8:6) (where "in him" should be " unto him" [καὶ ἡμεπις εἰς αὐτόν-ED.]) shows us, I believe, the Father as the ultimate object. "To the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:1111And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:11)).
And let us pause, to see with what distinctness the Son is spoken of in Scripture as the Creator (which, to many of us, of course, need not be written, as "though we knew not the truth"). John says (1:3), " All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made." With equal certainty does the apostle say-" By Him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him, and for Him."
And as He is the Creator of all, so in the same undoubted certainty is He the Judge of all. John y. 26- " For as the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself [it is spoken, I apprehend, officially, as Head of His Church]; and hath given Him authority to execute judgment, also, because He is the Son of Man". And (v. 22)-" For neither doth the Father judge any man; but hath committed all judgment to the Son." Which resurrection-power, I believe, he sets before us, when he says-" The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live." I take this to be, "they that are Christ's at His coming;" they, and they only, hear His voice at that time, and come forth, forever to be with their Lord. Lazarus was the practical exhibition of this. And not only they; but the hour is coming, in its own time, "when all that are in the graves shall hear His voice. And shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." And all this for the express purpose, as He tells us, "that all should honor the Son even as they honor the Father" (ver. 23). And how thoroughly do our hearts assent to, and echo, that word-" He, that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father that sent Him."
What a chain of glory, therefore, is here indicated to us! Creator of all, Preserver of all (as I believe that word "upholding all things by the word of His power," and (Colossians) " and by Him"—perhaps better "in Him"-all things consist, shows us), and finally Judge of all. "The judgment-seat," we know, is that of "Christ."
This is part of His glory: [but there are some of His glories which we may, and I think it is most important that we should, look upon, as, after all, less than Himself, His own person, and glory;] because they are official glories. Thus the expression (Col. 1:1616For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (Colossians 1:16)), " The firsts born of every creature, or of all creation," That there can be no identification intended with the creature, the context entirely proves; for the " FOR," which, in verse 16, elucidates this first-bornship, is not as though he were only the first-born among the rest of the creatures coming after him; but the first-bornship stands in this connection, " FOR by Him were all things CREATED, whether they be thrones, or dominions," etc.
The first-bornship I would take to be a thing answering to that of the 18th verse, that of the Church. It points, I would suggest with all reverence and deference, to Him, as appointed from everlasting to the headship, first of creation (" I was set up," Prov. 8, strictly, " anointed" [Innm ED.], from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was), and then as the ulterior object (Eph. 3:99And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: (Ephesians 3:9) where for " from the be- ginning of the world," read " from the age") to the Headship of the Church. This does not touch the question of what he was in Himself.
And so again with regard to the Kingdom, when it comes, glorious as it is, yet is it less than what He is in Himself. "Then -cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the, kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that did put all things under him, that God may be all in all." He has received the Kingdom from the Father, and when he has gathered out of it all things that offend, and them which do iniquity, put down all authority, and power, and made it meet for the Father, he lays all down at the Father's feet, that God may be all in all; the last grand and glorious token of obedience and love (John 14:3131But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. (John 14:31)). It has been a mediatorial official glory. " He is the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person."
And then what joy it is to our souls to find what comes after; " When he had, by Himself, purged our sins." All the value of his person was thrown into his work: and in the value of that work He now stands before God for us, and we in Him. As the living bird in Lev, 14 dipped in his fellow's blood, stood now in all the value of that blood, though alive; so Jesus, He that was dead and is alive again, stands now before God in the value of all he did on the cross for us, a Lamb as it had been slain.
See again how the value of this truth tells on what follows in chap. 2. That one should have been humbled, as Jesus was, is no so great wonder; but that one, who was what-Jesus was-"Jesus the Son of God"- should have been " made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death; that he, by the grace of God, should taste death for every one": this is a thing calling upon us, like Moses, to turn aside and see the great sight.
What value of grace again does it put upon his priesthood, who, like Aaron, became "a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." What strength, too!" Having a great high priest (chap. 4) that is passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." He is able to help us all through.
See the further testimony to his glory (chap. 3), the contrast between Moses, "the house, and He that built the house, that builded all things, which is God, even Jesus.
Then, again, what a lively type does Melchisedec present of -Him, standing solitary, and alone, " without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but made -like unto the Son of God, abideth a priest continually." The tenderness of the Aaronic, the strength of the Melchisedec priesthood, both unite in Him.
" Join all the glorious names,
Of wisdom love, and power," etc.
"Set down (in chap. 8) on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens, a minister of the true sanctuary" shaking both earth and heaven (in chap. 12). Great in his humiliation, great in his priesthood, great in his kingdom, great in Himself.
How sweet to know, that though thus great, yet is it true, what the Psalmist said of him: " Thou art fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into thy lips; therefore God hath blessed thee forever (Psa. 45). Thou lowest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." It is the same Jesus, who was meek and lowly in heart-giving rest to the weary and heavy-laden. It is the same Jesus, who " by himself purged our sins"-with whom we are united, " bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh." May we know him increasingly! May we come increasingly " into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God (Eph. 4), that so we may be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." May we know Him more in His grace and love, taking our proper place, like the poor woman, washing His feet with our tears; being increasingly, too, conformed to Him in His meekness and grace, and telling forth His salvation and love to perishing sinners.