The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 74

" Death is the crown of life : Were death denied, poor man would live in vain: Were death denied, to live would not be life; Were death denied, even fools would wish to die. Death wounds to cure ; we fall, we rise, we reign I Spring from our fetters ; fasten in the skies, Where blooming Eden withers in our sight. Death gives us more than was in Eden lost. Thi.a king of terrors is the prince of peace." (Young.) Thus, by his own voluntary death, the Son of God brings to nought Satan's power of death, and sets free the captives of the dread of death. Death itself remains, but its character and aspect to the Christian are completely changed. The evil of death is vanquished, and transformed into blessing. "'!'hanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,"-W, J, Ver. 16.-The reasons why (Jhrist redeemed men rather than angels. "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels," etc. The rendering of the Revised Version gives t'c.e true meaning : "_For verily not of angels doth he take hold, but he taketh hold of the seed of Abraham." The text starts a very grave inquiry. Why did Christ come to the help of lost men in preference to that of lost angels? Seeing that both were fallen, both were in a state of sin and misery, and neither were able to save themselves, nor had any claim upon his pity and power, why did the Divine Being determine to raise and restore lost men, while leaving lost angels in darkness and ruin ? First we will endeavour to answer this inquiry negaeively. I. NoT BECAUSE THAT, WHILE :MEN NEEDED HELP, ANGELS DID NOT NEED IT, Man needed Divine redemption. A sinner, he needs forgiveness; lost, he needs restora~ion, etc. The sacred Scriptures, the history of our race, and our personal experience, unite in affirming our need of the saving help of Jesus Christ. The Word of God assures us that there are angels who also need help. It tells of a number of fallen, sinful, suffering angelic beings who are reserved in bondage and darkness until the day of final account (sec John viii. 44; 2 Pet. ii. 4; 1 John iii, 8; Jude 6; Rev, xx.10). 'l'heir need is as great ae man's. Il. NoT BECAUSE ANGET,B WERE JN ANY WAY INFEnIOR TO :MEN EITilER IN NATUBE OR AllILITY. To us it would have seemed probable that, if only one of the two races of sinners ,ns to be saved, the preference would have been given to the greater of the two, Regarding the matter from our standpoint, the greater 11.D.d more glorious a CH. II. 1718.] THE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE HEBREWS. 65