Crowned with Glory and Honor.
By John Matteson
Heb. 2:7, 8: “Thou madest him [man] a little lower than the angels [margin: a little while inferior to the angels.]; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him.” Here three things are plainly brought to view: 1. God created Adam. He placed him on probation until he should develop a perfect character. During this little while of probation he was inferior to the good angels in Heaven. But when probation is ended, those who have proved faithful will be equal unto the angels, and can never die any more. Luke 20. 2. When God had created man, he crowned him with glory and honor. This Bible truth is as plainly stated as the former. David says: “Thou hast made him [man] a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.” Ps. 8:5. When Adam and Eve were created, they wore no artificial garments. But why were they ashamed of their nakedness after they had sinned, any more than before? Surely, sin did not make them more modest. The truth is evidently this: They had lost that light and glory, which before, like a heavenly garment, shone round about them. The word, crown, is sometimes used in this sense. “Who crowneth thee [surroundeth thee] with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” Ps. 103:4. Greenfield defines the original word: to crown, to adorn, to decorate. Thus it is evident that Adam was adorned with, or robed in, heavenly glory. By sin he lost it, and we have lost it. Nature refuses to hide our deformities. And artificial garments are needed to protect us against the cold and unfriendly atmosphere. 3. Adam was made king over the earth and over all the animals therein. “Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field, the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea.” Ps. 8. This was the first dominion or kingdom given to man, which God has promised again to give to the daughter of Jerusalem, Christ, and citizens of the heavenly city. Micah 4:8. That this was the first kingdom given to man, none can dispute who will read and believe, Gen. 1:26, 28. “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth.” And this is the kingdom which, after the resurrection, in the new earth, is to be inherited by the saints. “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matt. 25:34. From the further reading of the text we learn: 4. That Adam and his posterity have lost this kingdom.15“But now we see not yet all things put under him.” 5. That Jesus, the second Adam, was also made a little while inferior to the angels for the suffering of death, by which means he regained the kingdom and crown of glory and honor. Not for himself merely; for he was the great commander of the heavenly host before he was made flesh. Josh. 5:13-15. “As captain of the host of the Lord am I now come.” And Joshua worshiped before him. The host of the Lord are the angels. “And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them he said, This is God’s host.” Gen. 32:1, 2. But he resigned the glory and honor, that he might “taste death for every man,” and thus make it possible for the children of Adam to enlist in his army. Then as Christ obtains volunteers from the sons of Adam, he becomes “the captain of their salvation.” The captain of the redeemed host of men as well as the captain of the angels. Wonderful fact that through sufferings Christ must be perfected for this office. If the Captain of our salvation was made “perfect through sufferings,” how can we think of being made perfect without sufferings? “For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him; if we suffer, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us.” 2 Tim. 2:11, 12. Who believes himself to be an heir of the kingdom, and yet refuses to suffer with Christ? That man’s religion is vain. 6. That the Saviour is not ashamed to call the saints his brethren, because Jesus, who sanctified them, “and they who are sanctified are all of one,” that is, the Father. Wonderful condescension! Poor sinners, cleansed in Jesus’ blood! Worms of the dust, robed in everlasting glory. Foreigners and strangers from the commonwealth of Israel, exalted to be Jesus’ brethren! May our ears hear the blessed sound, when Jesus before his Father and the holy angels will not be ashamed to call us brethren. 7. Jesus will lead his people home, and they shall be a church or happy assembly round about him. Then will he sing praise to the Father “in the midst of the church.” We wait in happy anticipation, to hear the glorious anthems of the heavenly host. We long to hear and join the wonderful song of Moses and the Lamb. But when Jesus himself in the midst of his redeemed people shall sing praise unto God, the infinite love which led him to die for us, will produce sweeter melody, and excel all the excellence of saints and angels. Then he will present his happy, redeemed family before the Father, saying, “Behold, I and the children which God hath given me.” Dear reader, will you be in that happy throng? Will you help swell the chorus when immortal saints shall join with angels, and with their lovely Saviour to sing the high praises of God, who shall be “all in all”?