The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 80

are worth n~thing.) In justifying the Incarnation, the writer uses in this chapter four progressive arguments, c-!osely woven together yet distinct. 'l'he first is in this passage. Subject-The di!fttity of human nature 8hows that the Incarnatioii was not degradi'Tlg to the Godheas!,, 'l'rue, Christ did assume human nature, and that was an act of infinite cond01,ccnsion; but thero was no degradation in it, for consider how sublime this natUT-, 1s in God's estimate. I. THE DIGNlTY OF HUMAN NATURE AND MAN'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN IT. (Vers. 5- 8.) (Ob8er'l"c marginal readings in Revised Version, ver. 5, "the inhabited earth•" ver. 7," for a little while.") In proof of this dignity, the writer quotes from their o;n Scriptures. (Observe that this Epistle is very remarkable for its quotations from the (!Id Testa1~eut.. Many of the E_Pistles addressed to Gentile believers have no quota- tions, but m tlns they are found m almost every page. To the Jew the Scriptures were a final authority, so in writing to them each successive step of the argument is based thereon.) He bids them, therefore, read in the eighth psalm how lofty is God's idea with regard to man. The picture drawn there may be ideal, may never have been reached; but it is God's idea, and being so, some day it shall be fulfilled. What then, is the proper dignity of humanity? what the place in the universe to be filled by this wondrous being, man, who in himself, unlike God's other works, is a combination of the material and the spiritual? The psalm specifies in token of man's greatness : I. His lordship over creation. "Thou didst set him over the works of thy bands • thou didst put all things in subjection under his feet." Man is not one of innu: merable beings made to people the earth; not a link in an endless series, as though up to him all previous things have led, and from him others higher still shall be evolved. The world was made for him, made and furnished (see Gen. i.) to be his home, the scene of bis education, the means of his discipline, the minister to his happiness. Man is greater, in God's sight, than all the worlds; he was made to be a crowned and sceptred king, with them for his servants; he was made in God's image to have dominion over them alL 2. His fellowship with God. "Man, thou art mindful of him . . . the son of man, thou visitest him!" God rejoices in all the works of his hands, but how different his feeling towards men ! 'l'hey are to have communion wit.h him, which i □ volves similarity of natnre; they are taught to pray, "Our Father, which art in heaven.'' The parable of the prodigal son is the picture of his attitude with regard to them-his sorrow, and joy, and welcome, and fellowship, and care. How great that nature of which this is true! 3. His destiny to be higher than the angels. "Thou madest him, for a little while, lower than the angels; ... thou didst put all things ... under bis feet.'' Nothing is left out; angels, principalities, powers, are included. How great the angels; how sublime the idea Scripture gives of them! But man is only made lower than they for a little while. He 1s the son, they are the servants. 4. His redemption secured at so great a price. "Jesus . . . should taste death for _every man." How great is he of whom Christ could say, "I will give my heavenly crown for him ; I will pass through the humiliation of a sorrowful human life for him; I will bow my head in accursed death for him; I will forfeit my Father's favour for him ! " But this glorious dignity is not yet reached. "But now we see not yet all things sub- jected to him.'' If we compare the eighth psalm with the actual condition of things, it reads like a satire. '!'races of man's greatness are seen in his moral nature and achieve- ments; but when we behold the poverty, ignorance, disease, misery, crime, sin, which ,;,bound under the sun, and compare them with the magnificent ideal of Scripture, the distance of the actual from the ideal seems too great to be destroyed. II. 'l'IIE ASSUMPTION OF HUMAN NATURE BY CllRIST, AND ITS PERFE0TION REACHED 11N' HIM. "But we behold him who hath been made for a little while lower than ~Le angels, even Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour." 'l'his ideal psalm is realized in Christ; all that man was to be we see in JesUB. 1. Christ assumed that nature which is lower than the angels. Mark the contrast between this and the substance of the first chapter. This is the first chapter : Christ" so much better than the angels." This is the second: "Jesus, made for a little while lower than the angels.'' How great the contrast between the angels who heraldc<l his birth and the feeble babe; between the angels who ministered to him, and the lonely Man wo;n with conflict; between the angels who strengthened him in Gethsemane, and the Mau of ~orrows, whose sweat was as it were great drops of blood; between the angels OH, II, 1-18,] 'l'HB EPISTLE 'l'O '!'HE HEBREWS. 71