The Majesty And The Condescension Of Christ.

by J.A.H.. Robertson | Category: General | Dec 1960

(Hebrews 1, 3. 1-6, 5. 1-10, 7. 1-10).

The Hebrews, to whom the epistle was originally written, knew something of angels. In the law and the prophets, which were read in the synagogues every sabbath, were records of angels having appeared to men in connexion with important events in the history of Israel. Moreover, it was not long since that greatest of all appearances of angels, the multitude of the heavenly host who praised God at the Saviour's birth. Angels, they knew, were messengers of God, servants who carried out His commands. But now had come a Messenger of a higher order and of more excellent Name: no more excellent Name could God give Him. This Name, the Son of God," denotes equality with God. The angels were subject to Him; on Him they waited; His birth they proclaimed. They were ready to come to His aid, if that had been God's will. Better than the angels He always was, yet He became lower than the angels, that God might speak to man through Him, and that He might make purification of sins. Since we are sharers in blood and flesh, He partook of the same (2.14). Though infinitely greater than the angels, how near He came to us!

Moses was held in high esteem by all Israel even in New Testament times. They knew him as the man raised up by God to deliver their forefathers out of Egypt, who went up to God at Sinai to receive the covenant and living oracles, and who acted as mediator, hearing what God had to say and carrying it to the people. Those who accused Stephen said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God," and "we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth... shall change the customs which Moses delivered unto us " (Acts 6.11,14). God, Himself, said, " There hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face" (Deuteronomy 34.10). Moses then was greater than all the prophets; but the Lord Jesus "hath been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by so much as He that built the house hath more honour than the house." Thus we have an indication of the greatness of the Lord Jesus as compared with Moses, the greatest of the prophets. Yet, though so much greater than the prophets, God has spoken unto us in Him.

Many of the priests in Israel were truly great men, and may have been held in honour by the Hebrews addressed in this epistle. They were, nevertheless, descendants of Abraham, but Melchizedek was greater than Abraham. In that Abraham paid the tithe to Melchizedek, his descendants, the priests in Israel, paid tithes. Also their priesthood passed from one generation to another, whereas Melchizedek abideth a priest continually. Melchizedek, as priest, is greater than they. So also is Christ, for He was made a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews, chapters 3 to 7, record much of Christ as Priest, culminating in those lovely words: "Such a High Priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens " (Hebrews 7.26). Then chapter 8 begins with, "Now in the things which we are saying the chief point is this: we have such a High Priest, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man." This is the chief point. Such a High Priest is ours. How those words exalt Him! How near they bring Him to us!

J.A.H.. Robertson | Dec 1960
General