The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 71

Ver. 10.-Per/t,dion through B1Jjfering. "For it became him, for whom are all things," etc. I. 'l'RE PERFECTION OF THE REDEEMER WAS ATl'AINED THROUGH SUFFF.RDIG, "Perfect through suffering." The perfection here spoken of does not refer to his character as Son of God, but as Mediator-" the Captain of out salvation." "The perfectin"' of Christ was the bringing him to that glory which was his proposed and destined e~d." Made "perfect through suffering" is similar in meaning to "because of the sufferin"' of death crowned with glory and honour." Only through suffering could he enter upon his mediatorial glory. 'fwo thoughts are suggested. 1. Before he could attain unto his mediatorial glory his character and work as Redeemer must be complete. 2. Suffering was essential to the completeness of his character and work as Redeemer. He must suffer in order that he might (1) sympathize with his suffering people (ver. 18); (2) present a perfect example to his suffering people (1 Pet. ii. 21-24); (3) reconcile sinners to God. The exhibition of infinite love-love that gives up life itself, and that for enemies-was necessary to remove the alienation of man's heart from God, and to enkindle love to him in its stead. And the exhibition of perfect obedience~bedience even unto death-was necessary to establish and honour in this world the Law of Goo which man had broken. So our Saviour was perfected through suffering ; he passed through sharpest trials to sublimest triumphs. II. Tms MODE OF BEA.CRING PERFECTION CONSISTS WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE GREAT Goo AND FATHER. "It became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things," etc. God the Father is here represented as: 1. The great First Cause of all things. "By whom are all things." He is the Source and Origin of the entire universe. 2. Tht great Final Cause of all things. "For whom are all things." All things in the universe are for his glory. Creation, providence, redemption, are all designed and all tend to promote the glory of the great Father. The words under consideration are sometimes used of the Saviour, and they are true of him; but they are even more applicable to God" the Father, who sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." "For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen." 3. The great Author and Designer of salvation, with its age11ts, means, and methods. Our Lord is spoken of in tho text as the "Captain [Revised Version,' Author'] of salvation." But, traced to its source and origin,salvation takes us up to the eternal lt'ather. And "it became him" that he should so order the agencies and methods of so.I vation that the Saviour should be perfected through suffering. Such an arrangement was not fatalistic or arbitrary, but suited to the object in view, the means being adapted to the end, and in thorough harmony with the character and perfections of God-his wisdom, righteousness, and love. The Hebrew Christians, whom the writor is addressing, felt the offence of the cross. There were times when in some measuro "Christ crucified" was still "a stumbling-block" to them, or at least they were in danger of this. And so the writer argues that the attainment of the crown by tho endurance of the cross was an arrangement worthy of God, and therefore the fulfilrneut of this arrangement could not be unworthy of the Saviour. We have said that the means were adapted to the end; the perfection could not have been attained without the sufferings. But, ::nore, the sufferings were in complete conformity to tho being nnd character of God. He is not a col<l, impassive Beholder of humRD sin and misery. He suffers by reason of man's sin and woe (cf. Isa. !xiii. 9; Hos. xi. 8). Christ in his sufferin11:s reveals to our race how God had felt towards us in all preceding ages. III. Tms MODE OF BEACHING PERFECTION IS EllMPLARY FOB ALL TBUE CHRISTIANS. 1. The exalted relation of true Christians. 'l'hey are "sons" of God, not simply because he is" the Father of their spirits," but also by adoption (ef. Rom. viii. 14-17; 1 John iii. 1-3). 2. The vast number of true Christians. "Many sons unto glory." There have been ages when the number of the true nnd good has been comparatively small. But, as the result of Christ's mediation, the saved will be so many that no human arithmetic can count them, no human mind grasp the glorious totnl. Many things encourage this belief; e.g. (1) the inexhnustiblo pr~vis_ion_s of Divine grace in Josus Chriat; (2) the immense numbers of the race who die 1n rnfaney, nnd through  62 THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. [011. n. 1-18.