Builder of the House

IN HEBREWS CHAPTER two, we are told that Jesus was “made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, … that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (Heb. 2:9) In subsequent verses, Paul tells us that Jesus was made “perfect”—or complete—“through sufferings.” Thus, he was qualified to be a “merciful and faithful high priest,” and able to give help to his followers, as they go through trials and tests. —vss. 10,17,18

Paul continues in chapter three, saying, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him.” (vss. 1,2) As these verses state, we should carefully consider the tests which Jesus endured before being highly exalted, to better understand why we too must be severely tried and tested, in order to later share in his glory. We have this promise: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”—Rom. 8:16,17

In our lesson, we see a distinction made between servants and sons. Commands are given to servants without any explanation by their master. A servant “knoweth not what his lord doeth.” (John 15:15) Regarding Moses, Paul says that he “was faithful in all his house, as a servant.” (Heb. 3:5) A son, on the other hand, is privileged to know, understand, and be entrusted with parts of the work in his father’s house, and he does not need to be commanded or threatened in regard to these labors. More is expected from a son in his father’s service, and therefore he requires greater training and discipline than a servant. Because he was faithful unto death, our Key Verse points out that Christ Jesus is “worthy of more glory than Moses.” It is also the privilege of the consecrated followers of the Lord to become “sons of God.” “Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we.”—John 1:12; Heb. 3:6

None could be of the house of sons until Jesus’ sacrifice was presented to the Father and accepted by him. It is also important to remember that if we have become “partakers of the heavenly calling,” we are not better intentioned or less sinful by nature than were the patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament. However, the opportunity of sonship came to us, and not them, because their day was not God’s due time for this phase of his plan. We do not have our own righteousness, but our sonship is through “the faith of Christ” and his redemptive work.—Phil. 3:9

At the present time our sonship is not finalized, but probationary, until “we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” (Heb. 3:6) The “hope” which we have should be held so fervently, deeply, and strongly, that it will influence our whole life. Let us, then, take joyfully every trial, persecution, and difficulty in this present life which God may permit for testing and developing our character, and say with the psalmist, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.—Ps. 27:4