The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 31

sacrifice is chiefly due to the infinite dignity of his person as "the effulgence of God's glory, aud the very image of his substance.'' 3. He is its King. (Ver. 3.) This royalty is the reward of his work of "purification.'' Having made perfect satisfaction for human sin, be ascended on high and sat down upon the throne of so,·ereign authority. From the right hand of the Father, as the place of super- eminent dignity and power, he rules his people by the might of his cross. The "Heir of all things" is fully qualified to be the Head of the Church, and Head over all for the advantage of the Church. The loftiest seraph is immeasurably his inferior. Jesus has been raised as high above Michael and Gabriel as he was eternally above them, and as he therefore inherited a more illustrious name than they (ver. 4). ln conclusion, why does the apostle expatiate thus upon the greatness and glory of the Prophet of the New Testament? Not merely because he delights to do so; but rather, also, to attract our hearts to the love and worship and service of the Lo:d Jesus, whose creatures we are, and to whom we belong by the purchase of his blessed blood. Vers. 4-14.-Christ greater than the angels. The Jews used to boast that their Law had been given at Sinai by the instrumentality of angels; and they concluded from this that the Mosaic dispensation would continue as long as the world itself. But the apostle asserts here that the Lord Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, is immeasurably greater than the angels; and he supports his assertion with abundant evidence from the Hebrew Scriptures. Ver. 4 supplies us with the key to this whole passage. The quotations which follow illustrate from the Old 'festament the two statements of that verse, while they also justify the glorious titles and prerogatives directly ascribed to the Redeemer in vers. 2 and 3. l. CIIRIST HAS HAD FROM ETERNITY AN ESSE:t-.'TIAL NATURE HIGHER THAN THE ANGELS. "He bath inherited a more excellent name than they." Names in modern times are generally quite inexpressive-mere labels affixed to individuals to distinguish them from others; but among the Jews it was otherwise. 'fhe names of God, especially, symbolized attributes of his character. So, Christ's" Name" expresses his nature. 1. He is God's Son. (Ver. 5.) In Ps. ii. we hear his own voice rehearsing from his Father's counsel the decree of his eternal sonship. That decree dates from everlasting; but it was to be "declared" again and again, and particularly by the event • of his resurrection (Rom. i. 4). Even Nathan the prophet had }lroclaimed it to Da,id (2 Sam. vii. 14) in his prophecy respecting Solomon and "a greater than Solomon." 2. He is Elohim. (Vers. 8, 9.) The two highest Old Testament names of God are Elohim and Jehovah: none are more distinctive of Deity than these. So Ps. xiv. 6 is one of the great proof-texts for the supreme divinity of Christ. There the psalmist addresses the coming mediatorial King as God himself, by-and-by to be clothed in human nature. He was t-0 fulfil all righteousness for man, and to be invested as the God-Man with the sceptre of supreme authority above all his brethren of mankind. 3. He is Jehoi•ah. (Vers.10-12.) The idea conveyed by this Divine name is that of self-existence. Now, the apostle does not hesitate here to apply to Christ the language of Ps. cii.-a Jehovistic psalm-in celebration of the eternity and majesty of the Eternal. The Covenant-Deliverer of captive Zion is none other than Jehovah Jesus. It was he who created the uni verse; and he shall remain unchanged -the everlasting Stay and Strength of his children-after the heavens shall be no more. For he is the I AM. Immutability is one of his glories. Contrast now with tliis the name and nature of the angels. God nowhere addresses any one of them as his "Son.'' No angel is called Jehovah. None receives the name Elohim in the way in which this appellation is given to Christ. Instead of that, the angels are created beings (ver. 7). They are servants of God, who in their qualities and uses resemble the winds aud the Jic,htnin", 'l'he cherubim fly swiftly like the "winds;" the ~eraphim burn with h~ly ardour like a "flame of fire." The Son of God is not the peer of the angels: he is Jehovah Elohim; and the loftiest spirits in the heavenly hierarchy are his creatures. II. CamsT HAS DEEN RAISED IY TIM~ TO A PROPORTIO!l'A'l'P:1,Y HIGHER OFFICIAL rosrnoN, "Having become by so rpuch better than ihe angel~." He became superior on. 1. 1-14.] THE EPISTLE 'l'O 'l'IlE HEilREWS. 21