Like Unto His Brethren

LIKE UNTO HIS BRETHREN

OBSERVATION: THE FIRST CENTURY CHURCH EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE ISSUES. MANY JEWISH BELIEVERS EXPERIENCED OPPOSITION AND DIFFICULTIES AND CONSIDERED REVERTING TO JUDAISM. THE AUTHOR DOES NOT IDENTIFY HIMSELF. SOME SUGGEST PAUL, SOME APOLLOS AND BARNABAS. THE THEME IS THE SUPREMACY AND SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST, THE REVEALER AND MEDIATOR OF GOD’S GRACE. SOME SCHOLARS DATE THE BOOK BEFORE 70 A.D.

INTERPRETATION: HEBREWS 2: 17 (NKJV) THEREFORE, IN ALL THINGS HE HAD TO BE MADE LIKE HIS BRETHREN, THAT HE MIGHT BE A MERCIFUL AND FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST IN ALL THINGS PERTAINING TO GOD, TO MAKE PROPITIATION FOR THE SINS OF THE PEOPLE.

POINTS TO PONDER: THE TERM PROPITIATION REFERS TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE CLAIMS OF A HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS GOD AGAINST SINNERS WHO HAVE BROKEN THE LAW. CHRIST VOLUNTARILY SUBMITTED HIMSELF TO THE CROSS TO BE THE PENALTY FOR ALL SIN.

ALL SORROW IS THE FRUIT OF ADAMIC SIN IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. THEY TRANSGRESSED GOD’S DIRECTIVE AND ATE A FORBIDDEN FRUIT. SADLY, THEY REBELLED AND WERE CAST OUTSIDE THE GARDEN.

ADAM AND EVE IN THEIR DEFILED STATE WAS INCAPABLE OF ACCESS TO GOD’S PRESENCE. CHRIST’S PRIMARY MINISTRY ON EARTH WAS TO GRANT THAT ACCESS. CHRIST DRANK THE CUP OF SUFFERING FOR ALL MEN AND WOMAN TO GAIN THAT ACCESS.

APPLICATION: READ PHILIPPIANS 2:8. YOU NEED CHRIST THAT CAN BE TOUCHED LIKE UNTO HIS BRETHREN. YOU CAN THEN COME BOLDLY TO HIS THRONE OF GRACE AND RECEIVE HIS GRACE IN A TIME OF NEED. YOU CAN HAVE UNION WITH HIM!