Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory… God is here represented as executing a great work — that of " bringing many sons unto glory." "Glory" is a grand word — one of the grandest in the vocabulary of human speech; and it is habitually employed in Scripture to denote the "great recompence of reward" which awaits the righteous in the world to come. In the Old Testament it is said: "The Lord will give grace and glory" (Psalm 84:11); Thou shall guide me with Thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory" (Psalm 73:24); and in the New: "I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18); "Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (2 Corinthians 4:17); "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27); "The salvation which is in" Christ, with eternal glory," (2 Timothy 2:10). Well does heaven realise the brilliant and impressive name of glory. The place — the pursuits — the pleasures — the inhabitants — all are glorious. 1. The place is glorious. Paradise — to which the departing spirits of the righteous pass — is certainly a locality. As the residence of Christ. that region of the universe must needs be glorious, having objects adapted to the organisation, and aptitudes, and tastes of his fine humanity. And who can fall but, even when a pure spirit is dissevered from its sister-frame, these objects let in their glory on the soul? But at last, in admirable and exquisite adaptation to the complete humanity of believers, the "new heavens and new earth" will come. It may seem sentimentalism, but it is sober sense, to say: If earth be so fair, how beautiful must heaven be! if the azure skies be so resplendent, holy majestic must be that sublimer world! 2. The pursuits are glorious. The inhabitants of heaven shall "see God." His Divine Essence, indeed, can never be beheld by human eye (1 Timothy 6:16). But there will probably be an outburst of visible glory from His eternal throne, significant of His presence and His majesty. At any rate, the soul will realise His infinite wisdom, and might, and purity, and love, with such clearness, and vividness, and power, as, in a sublime sense, to behold the invisible God. In heaven they will literally behold His glorious person — they will have Him for their associate and friend — they will gaze into the deep recesses of His love. 3. The pleasures are glorious. Deep and strong, no doubt, they are, like the mighty and majestic sea — yet, probably, calm and placid, as the b sore of the lake in the sunshine of the summer-sky. 4. The inhabitants themselves are glorious. What an expressive phrase — "the spirits of just men made perfect!" To the scenes, the pursuits, and the pleasures, of the heavenly world, the constitutions and characters of its inhabitants will completely correspond. Such is the glory of heaven. It is summarily denoted by St. Paul in the expression — an "exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2 Corinthians 4:17). There is a glory of the flowers — there is a glory of the stars-there is a glory of the sun. But each, and all, is far exceeded and outshone b v the glory of the heavens. And what is so bright, and beautiful, and precious, is "eternal;" it shall last for ever — it shall never pass away.And whom does Jehovah bring to this celestial glory? "Sons" "many sons." 1. The filial relation of believers to God is often set forth in Scripture. There are two ways in which one person may become another person's child — birth and adoption. In the writings of St. John and St. Peter, the former — in those of St. Paul, the latter is propounded as the fundamental idea of the believer's sonship. Starting from either of the two conceptions, we are free to carry out the figure into the collateral and kindred ideas of protection, guidance, instruction, discipline, comfort, pity, and tenderest love, as bestowed by God on His believing people. It is as children that they are brought to glory. 2. The statement that "many sons" are brought to glory is quite consistent with the passages which indicate that comparatively few of the inhabitants of earth are in a state of salvation. Already, a mighty multitude of souls have been ransomed and renewed. In future times fore. told in prophecy, "a nation shall be born in a day," and tribes and tongues shall shout, "Come and let us go up to Jehovah's house.', 3. These "many sons " God is "bringing to glory." He chose them to this bright inheritance in the depths of the past eternity (Ephesians 1:4-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). He sent His Son to win and work out "an eternal redemption" for them (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:32). He arrests them, by His Spirit, amidst the wildness of their wanderings, and adopts them into His cherished family (Romans 5:17; Romans 8:29, 30; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Ephesians 2:1-10. Colossians 1:12). He "guides them by His counsel" (Psalm 73:24). He "will never leave them nor forsake them" (Hebrews 13:5). He "keeps them by His power, through faith, unto salvation" (1 Peter 1:5). At last, He receives them to glory (Psalm 73:24). He introduces, and bids them welcome, to their paternal home. 4. The "many sons" whom the Father brings to glory are here represented as standing in a rely intimate relation to Jesus Christ. He is "the Captain of their salvation." Glorious Captain! who would not follow Thee? Yet this Captain had "His sufferings." From His cradle to His grave, He was "a man of sorrows." In body, in soul, in circumstances, He suffered grievously (Isaiah 53:2-6, 10; Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 4:1; Matthew 8:20; Matthew 11:19; Matthew 26:36 — Matthew 27:50; Luke 19:41; John 4:6; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 4:1). 5. But He is also represented as "made perfect through sufferings." (A. S. Patterson, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. |
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