Purpose of Subjection

D.L. Moody was the most famous evangelist in the world in the late 1800s. People came from around the world to attend his Bible Conferences in Northfield, Massachusetts.

One year a large group of pastors from Europe were among the attendees. They were given rooms in the dormitory of the Bible school. As was the custom in Europe, the men put their shoes outside the door of their room, expecting them to be cleaned and polished by servants during the night.

Of course there were no servants in the American dorm, but as Moody was walking through the halls and praying for his guests, he saw the shoes and realized what had happened. He mentioned the problem to a few of his students, but none of them offered to help. Without another word, the great evangelist gathered up the shoes and took them back to his own room where he began to clean and polish each pair. Moody told no one what he had done, but a friend who interrupted him in the middle of shining the shoes and helped him finish the task later told the story of what had happened. Despite the  praise and fame he received because of God’s blessing on his life and ministry, Moody remained a humble man.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God and King of Heaven, had the right to receive honor, praise, and worship. Yet to be our Savior, He laid all of His privileges aside and became a lowly servant.

In today’s passage, we will see that Jesus, Who is greater than all, chose to become identified with the lowest in order to provide salvation for us.

Even though everything was and is subject to Him, Jesus chose to be subject to the Father’s will for our freedom.

Angels - 2.5

Hebrews 2:5 NASB95

For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.

Simply put, angels will not be in charge, nor did God ever intend to put the angels in charge. The angels will not be greater than us during the millennial kingdom. We remember that the angels are servants, who do God’s bidding. Part of that serving is to take care of the children of God, we who have been born again.

We can readily see this in the word subject. The usage here is speaking to whomever is in authority of the world to come. Angels being over humanity is just for now, during this time, and will not continue in the world to come.

What is this world? Is it the universe? Is it an idea? Interestingly, neither of the Greek words which refer to a system, or the ages or an era are used here. Instead, the writer chose a very specific word which means the inhabited earth. This obviously is a direct contradiction to the theology that believes and teaches that there will not be a new or future earthly kingdom. This passage also contradicts the idea that this earth is simply going to get better and become healed.

Thus, there is going to be a new inhabited earth, which is in the millennial Kingdom. That is where believers will rule. It will obviously not be the angels who serve Satan. The Bible tells us in John, that Satan is the prince of this world. Ephesians reminds us that the world is controlled by forces of darkness, namely Satan’s fallen angels. However, even the angels who serve God seem to have some authority on this earth right now, if we consider what Daniel has written. Maybe that’s why there seems to be so much conflict between good and evil in this world.

If we remember, at creation, God had purposed that humanity would be in charge of this creation. Obviously, the day sin entered the world, that ceased. But one day, when the new earth is set up, humanity will truly rule.

Humanity - 2.6-8

Hebrews 2:6–8 NASB95

But one has testified somewhere, saying, “What is man, that You remember him? Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him? “You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And have appointed him over the works of Your hands; You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

If you read the first part of verse 6 at face value, it might be easy to assume that the writer didn’t really have a grasp on Scripture, since he doesn’t give the name of the author or book. However, upon looking at the totality of Hebrews, there is not any mention of any other author or writer by name, much less a specific location of the quotes. Yet, the quotes are exact quotations from the Septuagint. For the Jewish Christians reading this in the Greek language, they won’t be tempted to think of any one person who wrote part of the Scriptures as having authority, but can be reminded and assured that it was God who wrote the Bible.

The quote used actually comes from Psalm 8. The focus is upon humanity. Even as David wrote these lines, you can almost sense some bewilderment, thinking about the God of the universe having so much consideration in His plans for humanity. Even as you and I look into the starry night or consider the vastness of this universe, we realize that this planet is just a small rock in this cosmos. Then when we consider humanity, and each of us, in particular, we wonder out loud, why was God doing all this for us?

As we look at verse 6, it seems to be most accurate to see the words, man and son of man, as simply parallel references to humanity in general. Hebrew poetry often used this technique. Even Ezekiel is referred to as the son of man which simply identified him as a part of a bigger picture of humanity.

The word mindful is also translated as concerned in other Bible versions. It is like a parent wanting the absolute best for their child. It’s not so much of a worry or fear or anything like that. It shows an active care that humanity would receive God’s very best.

The idea of humanity being a little lower than the angels, can cause some confusion. In reality, we are not lower in importance, or in being loved by God. So what makes us lower than angels? Let’s look at the obvious. Angels are spiritual and not physical beings. Humanity is limited in many ways to this planet as well as our physical requirements. Angels are not limited physically, since they have no physical body. Angels can come and go, according to what God tells them to do. By the way, when a bell rings, an angel does not get their wings. That would imply that they have a physical body and even have need of wings, which would not be correct.

Yet, when there is a new earth, the Bible tells us in various places that we will rule with Christ. Thus, the phrase in the NASB, for a little while will humanity be a little lower than the angels. This is amplified further by the last part of verse 7, where the crown is that of glory and honor. It’s an elevated position from where we are now. The first part of verse 8 continues this by the picture of the placement of all things in subjection under his feet. This describes the picture of those who rule on the throne(s), saved humanity, as being higher. When angels come in, they find themselves at a lower level than we who are ruling. We will be ruling everything with Christ, including the angels.

In the meantime, the last part of verse 8 reminds us that this scene is not yet that way. Why not? Well, that was messed up by Adam and Eve when they sinned. Not only did this ruin what God had desired and set up for humanity; it caused death and sin to become part of who we are, plus it caused the earth to go into a state of decay and corruption. This completely contradicts evolution. The only way to truly support evolution is to denounce the doctrine of sin and the doctrine of God.

This is why humanity has had to work so hard to simply survive on this planet. Weeds come up where produce and beauty should have come up. Earthquakes and tornadoes are now part of the phenomena that takes place instead of a peaceful existence. Floods and blizzards are part of what happens instead of a peaceful watering of the world. Humanity became murderous, prideful, hateful, greedy, inconsiderate, etc. Mankind has been trying to insert itself into God’s role since sin entered the scene. This sad turn of events from God’s plan helps us to understand the teaching that we were slaves to sin; we were in bondage.

Let me give you some food for thought. When the kingdom of God is established, I’m out of a job, you might say. Much of what is done on this earth, even for God’s glory will not be needed in the new heaven and earth. There will be no need for doctors, hospitals, or any of the healing sciences and arts. Weed control specialists will no longer be necessary. Cleaning services will most likely be a thing of the past. Teachers will no longer be necessary. Counselors will have no function. Praise God for the fact there will be no political parties, Facebook, Twitter, or the like. There will be no funeral homes. My friends, we will be back in the place which God desired for us from the beginning. Not only will we be like the angels, we will be above the angels.

Jesus - 2.9

Hebrews 2:9 NASB95

But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

How do we get to that point, where humanity can participate in the kingdom of God? We know that everywhere we turn, death is there to greet us. The curse can only be reversed by the cross. This is where we see the purpose for the temporary subjection of Jesus.

We recall that because of Adam’s sin, we have all inherited that sin nature. We also know that the Bible says that the wages of sin is death. Death is the only acceptable payment for sin. However, we have all been born under the curse. No angel nor any human being can pay that penalty sufficiently.

Why not angels? Angels could not become fully man, but can only temporarily take on the form of man to do God’s bidding. Angels could not be God, for they were created by God.

Why not a good man? No man could take this on since we are a part of creation. In addition, we have the sin nature within us, so we could not offer an adequate sacrifice.

So then, how can we ever hope to reign with Jesus? Only Jesus, who is fully God and fully man provides the answer. Jesus Christ died in my place. He became, for a short time, while on this earth, a little lower than the angels, when He willingly set aside His rights as God. Jesus made it possible for you and for me to experience eternal life. However, that does no good if we remain in our sin. If we refuse to surrender ourselves to God, there is no hope. We have to confess our sins and ask Jesus to make us a brand new person. My old self and your old self must die.

Romans 6:5–11 NASB95

For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 2:20 NASB95

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

This all happens the very moment that you put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is possible because Jesus was made for a little while lower than the angels.

Conclusion

The purpose of subjection for Christ, was for our salvation.

Our subjection to the angels is temporary, in that we are limited by our physical beings.

However, because of Jesus, the angels will one day be serving us as we rule alongside Jesus Christ in the millennial kingdom.

The 1960s seemingly introduced into our society this concept of a person trying to find themselves. It implied somewhat of a lostness and a lack of direction as well as a desire to find meaning for one’s existence. This idea is still part of the cultural psyche.

Let me suggest that you will never find the answer to those questions as to who you are and what your purpose is, until you experience a personal, saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Even as King Solomon stated, Everything is meaningless. That is, until you choose to follow Jesus Christ. Your life will then have meaning and purpose. And one day, we will all rule with Jesus Christ.

Even though everything was and is subject to Him, Jesus chose to be subject to the Father’s will for our freedom.