For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
He did not take the nature of angels but took human nature as the seed of Abraham, sharing the flesh and blood of Abraham's human descendants as a brother to every person. He came to help and save fallen humanity, not rebellious angels, who were left to perish with no atonement because they rebelled with full light and experience in heaven. He took man's fallen nature in its weakened, deteriorated condition after four thousand years of decline, yet without any taint of sin, remaining fully human and fully divine. By sharing flesh and blood he could suffer and die, destroy through death him that had the power of death and deliver those in bondage, and become a merciful and faithful High Priest who is able to help those who are tempted because he himself suffered being tempted. He placed his feet in Adam's steps and passed over the ground where Adam fell, meeting temptation as a man relying only on God's word and power available to human beings, and overcoming so that divine power in his name enables people to overcome and form characters like his.
Meaning of the Verse
The verse means He did not take the nature of angels but took human nature as the seed of Abraham, becoming bone of bone and flesh of flesh to accomplish His purpose of love for the fallen race by the sacrifice of Himself. In Gethsemane He who was ever touched with human woe and ever sought by word and deed to relieve human suffering bowed in an agony of grief and suffered Himself as a bruised reed, having taken humanity so that in all things He would be made like His brethren. He was made like His human brothers and sisters so He could serve as a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people, and because He Himself suffered being tempted He is able to help those who are tempted. He shared the flesh and blood of the people He came to save, becoming like them so that He could suffer death, destroy through death him that had the power of death, and deliver those held in bondage all their lives through fear of death. In this taking of humanity is the assurance that people can overcome in His name.
The seed of Abraham means Abraham's human descendants, sharing their flesh and blood as bone of bone and flesh of flesh, a Son of Adam and a Brother to every person in the fallen human family. He became human of Abraham's family by coming into the world just as a child to live perfection of character in action as the pattern people must copy. He humbled Himself by joining the earthly family so that people could be uplifted into the heavenly family. He was taken from among men as the great High Priest in order to understand the temptations that come to human beings and to have the prerogative of approaching God in His human nature as well as in His divine nature.
He came to help and save fallen humanity, not rebellious angels, taking human nature to help the seed of Abraham which is fallen humanity and meeting man where he is. Fallen angels have no atonement, but fallen people have a full offering through which all who come to God through Christ can be saved. The fallen angels were left to perish because they had rebelled with full knowledge of God's character and glory, despite the light and experience they had enjoyed in heaven, and their guilt and punishment matched their great privileges. No provision had been made to save rebellious angels, whose happiness and place in heaven depended on obedience to God's law, and they were cast out when they rebelled. By becoming human He helps sinners to repentance, laying hold on man with His long human arm and on the throne of God with His divine arm, joining man to God.
By taking humanity, humanity could touch humanity while divinity laid hold upon the throne of the Eternal, becoming a partaker of humanity to bear the infirmities of humanity in faithful service over His household according to His appointment. His human arm encircles humanity while His divine arm reaches the throne of God, where He pleads human cases before the Father. Through His divine nature He laid hold of the throne of God and enlisted heaven's agencies to carry out the redemption of the lost race. Humanity has no power in itself to save or restore the human race, and joined with His divinity humanity may lay hold of divinity, the human agent being able to do all things only through the strength Christ gives.
Humiliation He Accepted
He laid aside the royal robe and kingly crown, with glory, honor and high command, giving up His position as Commander in the heavenly courts to clothe His divinity with humanity rather than taking the nature of angels. As Prince of life and Creator of the world He resigned oneness with the Father in position, hiding His glory under the guise of humanity and becoming one of Abraham's descendants, a partaker of humanity to bear its infirmities. By that identification He became humanity's substitute and surety, taking its guilt and penalty to offer a complete sacrifice and to be a merciful and faithful High Priest, so that humanity might touch humanity while divinity laid hold upon the throne of the Eternal. Divine power had to be added to finite human nature to make success and everlasting life possible, for an angel coming could not do or understand the work, and His condescension reveals tender compassion and meekness and lowliness of heart as example.
He veiled His divinity with humanity and lived in humanity in lowliness and poverty for thirty-three years, without honor or rank, without heavenly display, earthly pomp, royal splendor, or attendance by ten thousand times ten thousand angels. He could not appear in the full glory of heaven because no person could have looked upon Him, since fallen humanity could not endure the overwhelming glory of His divine form or even the presence of a pure angel, and therefore He came among men in a form they could bear. His divine power was not displayed through royal pomp or heavenly armies, but He overcame temptation through strength imparted from above to join humanity to divine strength. His unassuming appearance was joined with the dignity and power of a Heaven-born king, giving hope to the lowly.
He came into the world just as a child, as a babe in Bethlehem and a poor man's son born of humble parentage and brought up in obscurity at Nazareth in Galilee, beginning His work in poverty and without worldly rank. He took the characteristics and features of the human family and of the Jewish race, wearing in all respects the same features as other human beings, with no remarkable appearance, shining countenance, graceful form, beauty of person, or wonderful charms to make Him singular or attract attention, because that was the plan devised in the courts of God. As an infant and throughout His work He found no rest or safety but met insult, hatred and abuse from the very ones He came to benefit, so that He had to be attended and preserved by angels until His mission was accomplished and He died by the hands of the very men He came to save.
In heaven He had been taller than any of the angels, majestic and lovely, yet when His ministry commenced He was but little taller than the common size of men then living upon the earth, having taken upon Himself the form and nature of fallen man. It was in the order of God that He did not come among men with His noble, heavenly form, taking an ordinary human form so that His outward appearance would not attract minds to Himself and cause Him to be received without the exercise of faith. Men were to believe on Him because of the excellence of character found in Him which never had been found nor could be in another, and because of the evidence of prophecy, not on evidences of sight, personal attraction, or outward attraction.
He took humanity from infancy and childhood and lived the human course from infancy to manhood through every stage of human life, coming as an infant to live a human life for thirty-three years. He did so to meet Satan the deceiver at every stage and counter his schemes, resisting the overwhelming deception captivating the world and leading people to ruin in order to rescue them and teach them to recognize and escape his schemes. From His earliest childhood angels guarded Him and would not permit Satan to have power over Him in babyhood or childhood, and He grew to understand His position and mission to represent divinity in humanity and work for the salvation of souls.
Humanity He Assumed
He took not angelic nature but fallen human nature in its deteriorated, degenerate, weakened condition after four thousand years of decreasing physical strength, mental power and moral worth. He did not come as Adam was when assailed, in perfect manhood with full vigor of mind and body and none of the effects of sin upon him, surrounded with the glories of Eden and in daily communion with heavenly beings. He placed his feet in Adam's steps and entered the ground where Adam stumbled and fell, to cope with the strong foe who had triumphed over Adam. He stepped from the royal throne as Prince of heaven and clothed himself with the garments of humanity to stand where Adam stood and endure the temptations Adam failed to endure, being tempted on every point on which man would be tried.
Only by taking that weakened, degenerate humanity could he rescue man from the lowest depths of degradation. He met Satan the author of sin in personal conflict in the wilderness after forty days and forty nights of fasting, entering in a weakened condition with his strength reduced by hunger. He stood there apparently without friend to aid him, standing alone while Satan with all his power, subtlety and falsehood tried to overcome his humanity. He did not reach above humanity for divine power, but refused to become the enemy's bondslave and would not swerve a hair's breadth from allegiance to God. Temptation was not removed from him as far as possible as it had been for Adam, yet thus he would overcome where Adam failed and open the way for redemption from the disgrace of Adam's failure and fall for all who would believe on him.
His human nature was like ours, yet free from every taint of sin. He was sinless, pure and undefiled, the Majesty of heaven who knew not the least moral taint, living a life unmarred by spot or stain of sin. He was born without sin's taint and entered the world as part of the human family, not merely appearing to have a body, yet without losing an atom of his dignity or glory. He truly felt suffering, hunger, emaciation and the desire to escape it, enduring the real pangs of hunger and suffering and for a time left alone in the wilderness to cope with Satan as a terrible foe and rival who came to deceive and ensnare him. Temptations came upon him with far greater power because he is higher and purer, yet he never swerved from loyalty to God.
He was fully human with human body, mind and soul, made like his human brothers and sisters and become bone of bone and flesh of flesh. He entered the conditions of fallen humanity, sharing human needs, weakness and difficult circumstances, and as a human being he suffered and was tempted. While remaining divine his two natures retained their distinct properties, his humanity capable of being tempted while his divine nature remained divine. He descended from his high and holy estate and was made flesh, God manifest in the flesh, joining humanity with deity and combining divinity with humanity so that humanity might touch humanity and divinity combined with humanity might take hold upon divinity. This stooping was humiliation greater than finite man can comprehend, bringing him to poverty and the deepest abasement among men.
By taking human nature rather than the nature of angels he honored humanity before all created beings. By joining divinity with humanity he elevates humanity's moral value before God and makes salvation possible. His human relationship as Elder Brother and Redeemer joins believers to God more closely than angels can be joined to him, grounding the claim that they belong to God and are to dedicate their whole being to him. He encircles mankind with his long human arm while with his divine arm he grasps the throne of the Infinite, thus connecting finite man with the infinite God, bridging the gulf sin made between this world separated from heaven and the tree of life and eternal life. Through his life in humanity people may become partakers of the divine nature and be made complete in him.
Why He Became Human
He took the seed of Abraham so that, made in all things like his brethren, he could be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. In Gethsemane he bowed in an agony of grief, he who was ever touched with human woe and ever sought by word and deed to relieve human suffering now suffering himself as a bruised reed. Though innocent and one with God, he humbled himself and endured suffering and death to save.
By sharing the flesh and blood of the children he could suffer and die. Through death he destroyed him that had the power of death, the devil, and delivered those who through fear of death were all their lifetime held in bondage. By enduring Satan's strongest temptations he knew the severe conflict of fallen humanity and can sustain all who seek his strength when tempted, elevating them to become heirs with him of his Father's kingdom.
He laid aside his honor and high command in heaven and clothed his divinity with humanity to become man's substitute and surety. By identifying himself with the human family he took its guilt and penalty and offered a complete sacrifice to God, standing for men if they fell through disobedience. His life alone could pay the debt for humanity and serve as an accepted ransom, while an angel's life could not, though his strength in that nature was not equal to the angels' strength. As the Son of God alone he could make atonement for sinners and open paradise to fallen humanity, living without sin with divinity veiled and perfectly obeying God's law while tempted as men are tempted. He faced the powers of darkness and won the victory on humanity's behalf.
In becoming human he stood at the head of the human race as its pattern, facing temptation as a man and relying on God's word where Adam had fallen. He became the second Adam, sharing humanity's experience and passing over the ground where Adam failed, bearing the sins of the world and meeting its temptations and trials. He is the representative, Advocate and chosen Mediator, joining heaven to fallen humanity and bridging the gulf sin made, uniting humanity and divinity in himself so that all essential for the complete recovery of sinners could be done and the world separated from heaven could be brought to the tree of life and eternal life. By joining himself to humanity he encircled the human race and united finite people with the infinite God, showing how they should live to receive immortal life, and judgment is given into his hand.
He became a partaker of humanity to bear its infirmities, suffering and afflictions in faithful service over his household according to his appointment, that humanity might touch humanity while divinity laid hold upon the throne of the Eternal. He took humanity to know human weakness and temptation and to help and save in the fallen state, made a perfect Saviour through suffering and learning obedience by what he suffered to overcome the power of evil on man's behalf. He took humanity bone of bone and flesh of flesh from among men as the great High Priest in order to understand the temptations that come to human beings and to have the prerogative of approaching God in his human nature as well as in his divine nature. He took humanity from infancy and childhood, coming as a babe in Bethlehem and a poor man's son, so he would know how to teach fathers and mothers and children and all who heard him, and how to sympathize with the poor and the suffering and diseased and bring them consolation, help and strength in every time of need. By accepting the disposition of man and combining divinity with humanity, divinity was united with humanity so that humanity by faith laying hold upon his divinity could become sufficient and have divine help in struggle with temptation, daily work and evil dispositions.
He did this to accomplish his purpose of love for the fallen race, to save man from fearful danger by the sacrifice of himself, becoming bone of bone and flesh of flesh. This condescension is part of the plan of redemption and displays infinite pity and spontaneous, deep, broad, full, free love, with great wisdom, calling forth gratitude and humble worship. Hating sin yet loving sinners, the Commander of the heavenly hosts left the honor and glory he had with the Father and came to live as a man among men without honor or rank or attendance of ten thousand times ten thousand angels, in lowliness and poverty. He came to seek the lost and save the erring, taking people as they are — tainted by corruption, degraded by vice and depraved by sin — to lead them through obedience toward heaven pure and upright and free from sin's defilement, to help the needy and distressed, heal the sick, speak peace to the suffering, deliver those whom Satan was afflicting, and bring redemption to all who would accept the Heaven-sent blessing. By taking humanity he encircled the human race with his human arm while with his divine arm he grasped the throne of the Infinite, revealing God to the world as a God of love, mercy, tenderness and compassion and as the Light of life.
Victory Where Adam Failed
He placed his feet in Adam's steps and passed over the very ground where Adam stumbled and fell, standing in Adam's place and enduring the test Adam failed in order to redeem the disgrace of Adam's failure for all who believe on him. He took human nature as one of Abraham's descendants rather than the nature of angels, became the second Adam sharing humanity's experience, and faced temptation as a man by relying on God's word. He entered the ground where Adam fell as humanity's substitute and surety, remaining loyal to God through the temptations that beset people, so that through him the guilty race has a way back to loyalty.
He met temptation as a man in the strength given him by God, using no power unavailable to human beings, and his obedience shows that people can obey God's law through the same divine help. His victory was made possible by the power God gave him, revealing God's power to help fallen people overcome the enemy, regain God's moral image, and advance in the divine life against Satan's influence. He clothed his divinity with humanity so he could reach people as a human while retaining divine power, relying wholly on God's power as humanity's representative and enduring Satan's temptations including the wilderness conflict Adam had failed to endure. He took upon him the infirmities of degenerate humanity after four thousand years of decreasing physical strength, mental power and moral worth, meeting Satan not as Adam did in the strength of perfect manhood with full vigor of body and mind amid the glories of Eden and in daily communion with heavenly beings, but in weakened, low humanity with apparently no friend to aid him. Only thus, by standing in degenerate humanity without reaching above humanity for divine power and without swerving a hair's breadth from allegiance to God, could he refuse to become the enemy's bondslave and rescue man from the lowest depths of degradation.
Though already perfect he was made a perfect Saviour through suffering and learned obedience through what he suffered, overcoming the power of evil on humanity's behalf so people could become overcomers through his merits and develop characters fit for heaven. It was in the order of God that he took the form and nature of fallen man, himself enduring the strength of Satan's fierce temptations that he might the better know how to succor those who should be tempted. By that same order his outward appearance would not attract minds to himself nor cause him to be received without the exercise of faith, but faith in him as Messiah would rest not on evidences of sight or personal attraction but on the excellence of character found in him which never had been found nor could be in another, drawing all who love virtue, purity and holiness to receive the benefits of his teachings and finally of his atonement.
Satan believed that taking fallen human nature would make him vulnerable to being overpowered and would prevent the plan of salvation from being accomplished. He tempted him to sin to bring the human race under evil's dominion, sought to draw him away from allegiance to God and to undermine his principles and his allegiance to the Lord God, and came to fight humanity's battles under different circumstances against him as the head of humanity whom Satan had deceived through lying power. His strength in that fallen nature was not equal to the angels' strength, and he endured humiliation and great suffering as part of the plan of salvation accepted by the Father, yet his life alone could pay the debt for humanity and serve as an accepted ransom where an angel's life could not. Christ was victorious, providing redemption and placing humanity on vantage ground with God.
With divinity veiled he lived in perfect obedience to God's law and developed a perfect character, made like his human brothers and sisters so he could serve as a merciful and faithful high priest, reconcile people to God, and help those who are tempted. His sinless life proved that through God's power people can keep God's law, and by overcoming where Adam failed he redeemed that failure and worked out a perfect character for humanity. As Redeemer he stood in Adam's place and endured the test Adam failed, overcoming appetite and breaking Satan's power so the human race could be redeemed, while his human nature reached their wretchedness and identified with their weaknesses and needs and his divine nature remained united with the Eternal. His suffering paid the debt created by humanity's transgression of God's law, not to permit continued lawbreaking but to lead people to repentance and obedience, imputing his righteousness to them to make their efforts to keep the law acceptable to God and reconciling humanity to God through his human nature and God to humanity through his divine nature.
As a man he did not use his divine power to escape the pain and humiliation that people face, to satisfy the curiosity of wicked men, or to perform a miracle to save himself from suffering. In that human nature he endured all the cruelty Satan led men to inflict upon him without forcing the least murmur from his lips, sustained by Godlike fortitude and departing in no particular from the will of his Father. Though treated with contempt he faced a powerful temptation to reveal his heavenly character and compel his persecutors to acknowledge his authority, but he would not use his divinity to force their recognition.
Help and Example for Believers
Because he took human nature and not angelic nature as a descendant of Abraham, his victory where Adam fell makes divine power available in his name and merits so that people can overcome appetite, sin and corruption, receive moral power, become partakers of the divine nature and form characters like his and fit for heaven. In human nature he developed a perfect character and was made like his brothers and sisters to serve as merciful and faithful high priest, reconcile people to God and help those who are tempted. Having endured Satan's strongest temptations and the severe conflict people face, and having been made a perfect Saviour through suffering and learning obedience by what he suffered, he knows human weakness and temptation and can sustain all who seek his strength when tempted. He faced temptations at least as severe as people face and conquered the enemy so people may learn how to overcome, suffering and dying under the sins of the whole world in humiliation and reproach so that those who follow his example may inherit all things.
His human experience gives him a tender sympathetic heart, for by being made like his brothers and sisters and experiencing suffering and temptation he understands every temptation and trial. Because he himself suffered being tempted he is able to help those who are tempted, comforting the sorrowful and disappointed and giving assurance of peace. Disappointment does not mean separation from God, and experiencing it can help people understand others who are disappointed, so believers need not feel forsaken, orphaned or left alone to bear the burden of sin. He became like those who had broken God's law so they could have peace and assurance, and as Advocate in heaven he ensures that whoever accepts him as personal Saviour is not left an orphan.
Through his merits repentant sinners may be received by the Father, accepted in the Beloved, clothed with the robe of righteousness, offered the sanctification of grace, enabled to render perfect obedience to God's laws and become obedient sons and daughters of God and members of the royal family unto eternal life. As the great High Priest taken from among men, bone of bone and flesh of flesh, he took humanity to understand human temptation and to have the prerogative of approaching God in human nature as well as divine nature, and as chosen Mediator, the only begotten Son who knew no sin, he bore the penalty of sin in an offering of such value that he redeemed the race. Clothing divinity with humanity as Son of the infinite God whose life was bound up with God, one equal with God accepted humanity with all its affections and temptations to stand before the Father as head of humanity, give his sacred life and die bearing the guilt of sin as propitiation after the fall. By this he places people on vantage ground with God, giving grace by which the law that after the fall could only be obeyed through him may be obeyed, taking away sins and imputing his righteousness, washing and cleansing and giving victory by his blood, making them partakers of the divine nature, complete in him and perfected by his sinless purity. Through his merits repentant sinners may unite with divinity and become sons of God belonging to him both by creation and by redemption, so that humanity may stand on vantage ground with God while his humanity reaches fallen people and his divinity reaches the throne.
Because he redeemed fallen men, loyal angels recognize and welcome them, are not ashamed to call them brethren and to love them, and this elevation of humanity exceeds any angelic rank. His human relationship joins believers to God more closely than angels are joined, grounding the claim that they belong to God and are to dedicate their whole being to him. Having stood at the head of humanity, shared its afflictions, been tempted as people are, and made it possible for people to become partakers of the divine nature, judgment is given into his hand.
He left a complete and perfect pattern to copy in purpose, feeling, thought, heart, soul and life, coming into the world just as a child sharing flesh and blood to live perfection of character in action. By being made in all things like his brothers and sisters he became a merciful and faithful high priest to make reconciliation for sins, and because he himself suffered when tempted he is able to help those who are tempted, destroying through death him who had the power of death and freeing those held in bondage all their lives through fear of death. By joining himself to humanity he could encircle the race and unite finite people with the infinite God, showing how people should live to receive immortal life and making it possible for fallen humanity to be elevated through connection with him. Entering human life and sharing the sympathies and interests of his human brothers, through a life of tireless labor he taught people how to resist the enemy's plans and work with God to build his kingdom. He demonstrates the power he offers followers, giving them power to become God's children and working to make them complete in him, so that his image reproduced in true disciples changes those who see his likeness in them to reflect his character before angels and people.
His leaving heavenly honor to become one with the needy is the model for missionary toil, for he made the world his field of missionary toil to teach the importance of missionary effort. His self-sacrificing work calls for unreserved surrender, consecration of time and talents, and putting all entrusted goods with their increase into advancing the work he came to do. His willingness to leave heavenly honor and become one with humanity is an example that followers are to take truth to people and places where it is little known even when inconvenient, not standing apart from those they consider degraded but reaching out to those perishing in sin and reaching humanity where it is.
The verse stands as a promise supporting trust in Christ when circumstances are discouraging, pointing to his care and help as reason to cling to God's promises. By becoming like his brothers and sisters to serve as merciful and faithful high priest, make reconciliation for sin and help those who are tempted, his suffering and help mean believers need not feel forsaken and can endure temptation with confidence in him. This joining of God to humanity by the strongest ties in spontaneous deep broad full free love lifts souls out of Satan's deceptions to the throne of God and demands earnest heed lest so great a salvation, first spoken by the Lord and confirmed by hearers with signs and wonders and miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, be let slip and lost by neglect. For human sake he became poor that through his poverty people might be made rich with a life that measures with the life of God and an eternal weight of glory, collecting all the riches of heaven and laying all the resources of his infinite nature upon the gift of all heaven to win back loyalty, proving a love beyond measure that calls for deep earnest full love returned in obedience to his commandments, with the Word made flesh dwelling among men full of grace and truth from whose fullness all receive grace for grace. As Commander of the heavenly hosts he left honor and glory with the Father and came to live as a man among men to rescue human beings from destruction, not taking angelic nature nor coming attended by ten thousand times ten thousand angels but humbling himself in the fallen race in lowliness and poverty without honor or rank to help the needy and distressed, heal the sick, speak peace to the suffering, deliver those Satan afflicted and bring redemption to all who accept the heaven-sent blessing, and as such he calls for love shown by keeping his commandments and for standing on vantage ground with God by keeping all the laws of his kingdom in love and kindness and loyalty, doing good and not evil. Laying aside royal robe and kingly crown and clothing divinity with humanity to take the seed of Abraham so fallen humanity could touch his humanity, the union of divine and human in him gives power to be partakers of the divine nature and overcome worldly corruption through lust, for he overcame for humanity so his merits, power and virtue can be claimed and pleaded, and as people cooperate with him and live in harmony with his law he cleanses their natures from sin and imparts his righteousness, and those who in this life love Jesus and fellow men and honor him for this great sacrifice will be most exalted in the kingdom of God.
As he took humanity to reach man where he is, so the Bible is given in the language of men for practical purposes and not in grand superhuman language. Without taking humanity he would have struck human beings out of existence and they could not have seen the Lord, for even John beloved of God fell as dead when Christ revealed himself and needed Christ to revive and strengthen him, and God chose the persecuted aged John to receive mysteries for the churches because an angel could not do that work.
He did not take the nature of angels but took human nature as the seed of Abraham, sharing the flesh and blood of Abraham's human descendants as a brother to every person. He came to help and save fallen humanity, not rebellious angels, who were left to perish with no atonement because they rebelled with full light and experience in heaven. He took man's fallen nature in its weakened, deteriorated condition after four thousand years of decline, yet without any taint of sin, remaining fully human and fully divine. By sharing flesh and blood he could suffer and die, destroy through death him that had the power of death and deliver those in bondage, and become a merciful and faithful High Priest who is able to help those who are tempted because he himself suffered being tempted. He placed his feet in Adam's steps and passed over the ground where Adam fell, meeting temptation as a man relying only on God's word and power available to human beings, and overcoming so that divine power in his name enables people to overcome and form characters like his.
Meaning of the Verse
The verse means He did not take the nature of angels but took human nature as the seed of Abraham, becoming bone of bone and flesh of flesh to accomplish His purpose of love for the fallen race by the sacrifice of Himself. In Gethsemane He who was ever touched with human woe and ever sought by word and deed to relieve human suffering bowed in an agony of grief and suffered Himself as a bruised reed, having taken humanity so that in all things He would be made like His brethren. He was made like His human brothers and sisters so He could serve as a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people, and because He Himself suffered being tempted He is able to help those who are tempted. He shared the flesh and blood of the people He came to save, becoming like them so that He could suffer death, destroy through death him that had the power of death, and deliver those held in bondage all their lives through fear of death. In this taking of humanity is the assurance that people can overcome in His name.
The seed of Abraham means Abraham's human descendants, sharing their flesh and blood as bone of bone and flesh of flesh, a Son of Adam and a Brother to every person in the fallen human family. He became human of Abraham's family by coming into the world just as a child to live perfection of character in action as the pattern people must copy. He humbled Himself by joining the earthly family so that people could be uplifted into the heavenly family. He was taken from among men as the great High Priest in order to understand the temptations that come to human beings and to have the prerogative of approaching God in His human nature as well as in His divine nature.
He came to help and save fallen humanity, not rebellious angels, taking human nature to help the seed of Abraham which is fallen humanity and meeting man where he is. Fallen angels have no atonement, but fallen people have a full offering through which all who come to God through Christ can be saved. The fallen angels were left to perish because they had rebelled with full knowledge of God's character and glory, despite the light and experience they had enjoyed in heaven, and their guilt and punishment matched their great privileges. No provision had been made to save rebellious angels, whose happiness and place in heaven depended on obedience to God's law, and they were cast out when they rebelled. By becoming human He helps sinners to repentance, laying hold on man with His long human arm and on the throne of God with His divine arm, joining man to God.
By taking humanity, humanity could touch humanity while divinity laid hold upon the throne of the Eternal, becoming a partaker of humanity to bear the infirmities of humanity in faithful service over His household according to His appointment. His human arm encircles humanity while His divine arm reaches the throne of God, where He pleads human cases before the Father. Through His divine nature He laid hold of the throne of God and enlisted heaven's agencies to carry out the redemption of the lost race. Humanity has no power in itself to save or restore the human race, and joined with His divinity humanity may lay hold of divinity, the human agent being able to do all things only through the strength Christ gives.
Humiliation He Accepted
He laid aside the royal robe and kingly crown, with glory, honor and high command, giving up His position as Commander in the heavenly courts to clothe His divinity with humanity rather than taking the nature of angels. As Prince of life and Creator of the world He resigned oneness with the Father in position, hiding His glory under the guise of humanity and becoming one of Abraham's descendants, a partaker of humanity to bear its infirmities. By that identification He became humanity's substitute and surety, taking its guilt and penalty to offer a complete sacrifice and to be a merciful and faithful High Priest, so that humanity might touch humanity while divinity laid hold upon the throne of the Eternal. Divine power had to be added to finite human nature to make success and everlasting life possible, for an angel coming could not do or understand the work, and His condescension reveals tender compassion and meekness and lowliness of heart as example.
He veiled His divinity with humanity and lived in humanity in lowliness and poverty for thirty-three years, without honor or rank, without heavenly display, earthly pomp, royal splendor, or attendance by ten thousand times ten thousand angels. He could not appear in the full glory of heaven because no person could have looked upon Him, since fallen humanity could not endure the overwhelming glory of His divine form or even the presence of a pure angel, and therefore He came among men in a form they could bear. His divine power was not displayed through royal pomp or heavenly armies, but He overcame temptation through strength imparted from above to join humanity to divine strength. His unassuming appearance was joined with the dignity and power of a Heaven-born king, giving hope to the lowly.
He came into the world just as a child, as a babe in Bethlehem and a poor man's son born of humble parentage and brought up in obscurity at Nazareth in Galilee, beginning His work in poverty and without worldly rank. He took the characteristics and features of the human family and of the Jewish race, wearing in all respects the same features as other human beings, with no remarkable appearance, shining countenance, graceful form, beauty of person, or wonderful charms to make Him singular or attract attention, because that was the plan devised in the courts of God. As an infant and throughout His work He found no rest or safety but met insult, hatred and abuse from the very ones He came to benefit, so that He had to be attended and preserved by angels until His mission was accomplished and He died by the hands of the very men He came to save.
In heaven He had been taller than any of the angels, majestic and lovely, yet when His ministry commenced He was but little taller than the common size of men then living upon the earth, having taken upon Himself the form and nature of fallen man. It was in the order of God that He did not come among men with His noble, heavenly form, taking an ordinary human form so that His outward appearance would not attract minds to Himself and cause Him to be received without the exercise of faith. Men were to believe on Him because of the excellence of character found in Him which never had been found nor could be in another, and because of the evidence of prophecy, not on evidences of sight, personal attraction, or outward attraction.
He took humanity from infancy and childhood and lived the human course from infancy to manhood through every stage of human life, coming as an infant to live a human life for thirty-three years. He did so to meet Satan the deceiver at every stage and counter his schemes, resisting the overwhelming deception captivating the world and leading people to ruin in order to rescue them and teach them to recognize and escape his schemes. From His earliest childhood angels guarded Him and would not permit Satan to have power over Him in babyhood or childhood, and He grew to understand His position and mission to represent divinity in humanity and work for the salvation of souls.
Humanity He Assumed
He took not angelic nature but fallen human nature in its deteriorated, degenerate, weakened condition after four thousand years of decreasing physical strength, mental power and moral worth. He did not come as Adam was when assailed, in perfect manhood with full vigor of mind and body and none of the effects of sin upon him, surrounded with the glories of Eden and in daily communion with heavenly beings. He placed his feet in Adam's steps and entered the ground where Adam stumbled and fell, to cope with the strong foe who had triumphed over Adam. He stepped from the royal throne as Prince of heaven and clothed himself with the garments of humanity to stand where Adam stood and endure the temptations Adam failed to endure, being tempted on every point on which man would be tried.
Only by taking that weakened, degenerate humanity could he rescue man from the lowest depths of degradation. He met Satan the author of sin in personal conflict in the wilderness after forty days and forty nights of fasting, entering in a weakened condition with his strength reduced by hunger. He stood there apparently without friend to aid him, standing alone while Satan with all his power, subtlety and falsehood tried to overcome his humanity. He did not reach above humanity for divine power, but refused to become the enemy's bondslave and would not swerve a hair's breadth from allegiance to God. Temptation was not removed from him as far as possible as it had been for Adam, yet thus he would overcome where Adam failed and open the way for redemption from the disgrace of Adam's failure and fall for all who would believe on him.
His human nature was like ours, yet free from every taint of sin. He was sinless, pure and undefiled, the Majesty of heaven who knew not the least moral taint, living a life unmarred by spot or stain of sin. He was born without sin's taint and entered the world as part of the human family, not merely appearing to have a body, yet without losing an atom of his dignity or glory. He truly felt suffering, hunger, emaciation and the desire to escape it, enduring the real pangs of hunger and suffering and for a time left alone in the wilderness to cope with Satan as a terrible foe and rival who came to deceive and ensnare him. Temptations came upon him with far greater power because he is higher and purer, yet he never swerved from loyalty to God.
He was fully human with human body, mind and soul, made like his human brothers and sisters and become bone of bone and flesh of flesh. He entered the conditions of fallen humanity, sharing human needs, weakness and difficult circumstances, and as a human being he suffered and was tempted. While remaining divine his two natures retained their distinct properties, his humanity capable of being tempted while his divine nature remained divine. He descended from his high and holy estate and was made flesh, God manifest in the flesh, joining humanity with deity and combining divinity with humanity so that humanity might touch humanity and divinity combined with humanity might take hold upon divinity. This stooping was humiliation greater than finite man can comprehend, bringing him to poverty and the deepest abasement among men.
By taking human nature rather than the nature of angels he honored humanity before all created beings. By joining divinity with humanity he elevates humanity's moral value before God and makes salvation possible. His human relationship as Elder Brother and Redeemer joins believers to God more closely than angels can be joined to him, grounding the claim that they belong to God and are to dedicate their whole being to him. He encircles mankind with his long human arm while with his divine arm he grasps the throne of the Infinite, thus connecting finite man with the infinite God, bridging the gulf sin made between this world separated from heaven and the tree of life and eternal life. Through his life in humanity people may become partakers of the divine nature and be made complete in him.
Why He Became Human
He took the seed of Abraham so that, made in all things like his brethren, he could be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. In Gethsemane he bowed in an agony of grief, he who was ever touched with human woe and ever sought by word and deed to relieve human suffering now suffering himself as a bruised reed. Though innocent and one with God, he humbled himself and endured suffering and death to save.
By sharing the flesh and blood of the children he could suffer and die. Through death he destroyed him that had the power of death, the devil, and delivered those who through fear of death were all their lifetime held in bondage. By enduring Satan's strongest temptations he knew the severe conflict of fallen humanity and can sustain all who seek his strength when tempted, elevating them to become heirs with him of his Father's kingdom.
He laid aside his honor and high command in heaven and clothed his divinity with humanity to become man's substitute and surety. By identifying himself with the human family he took its guilt and penalty and offered a complete sacrifice to God, standing for men if they fell through disobedience. His life alone could pay the debt for humanity and serve as an accepted ransom, while an angel's life could not, though his strength in that nature was not equal to the angels' strength. As the Son of God alone he could make atonement for sinners and open paradise to fallen humanity, living without sin with divinity veiled and perfectly obeying God's law while tempted as men are tempted. He faced the powers of darkness and won the victory on humanity's behalf.
In becoming human he stood at the head of the human race as its pattern, facing temptation as a man and relying on God's word where Adam had fallen. He became the second Adam, sharing humanity's experience and passing over the ground where Adam failed, bearing the sins of the world and meeting its temptations and trials. He is the representative, Advocate and chosen Mediator, joining heaven to fallen humanity and bridging the gulf sin made, uniting humanity and divinity in himself so that all essential for the complete recovery of sinners could be done and the world separated from heaven could be brought to the tree of life and eternal life. By joining himself to humanity he encircled the human race and united finite people with the infinite God, showing how they should live to receive immortal life, and judgment is given into his hand.
He became a partaker of humanity to bear its infirmities, suffering and afflictions in faithful service over his household according to his appointment, that humanity might touch humanity while divinity laid hold upon the throne of the Eternal. He took humanity to know human weakness and temptation and to help and save in the fallen state, made a perfect Saviour through suffering and learning obedience by what he suffered to overcome the power of evil on man's behalf. He took humanity bone of bone and flesh of flesh from among men as the great High Priest in order to understand the temptations that come to human beings and to have the prerogative of approaching God in his human nature as well as in his divine nature. He took humanity from infancy and childhood, coming as a babe in Bethlehem and a poor man's son, so he would know how to teach fathers and mothers and children and all who heard him, and how to sympathize with the poor and the suffering and diseased and bring them consolation, help and strength in every time of need. By accepting the disposition of man and combining divinity with humanity, divinity was united with humanity so that humanity by faith laying hold upon his divinity could become sufficient and have divine help in struggle with temptation, daily work and evil dispositions.
He did this to accomplish his purpose of love for the fallen race, to save man from fearful danger by the sacrifice of himself, becoming bone of bone and flesh of flesh. This condescension is part of the plan of redemption and displays infinite pity and spontaneous, deep, broad, full, free love, with great wisdom, calling forth gratitude and humble worship. Hating sin yet loving sinners, the Commander of the heavenly hosts left the honor and glory he had with the Father and came to live as a man among men without honor or rank or attendance of ten thousand times ten thousand angels, in lowliness and poverty. He came to seek the lost and save the erring, taking people as they are — tainted by corruption, degraded by vice and depraved by sin — to lead them through obedience toward heaven pure and upright and free from sin's defilement, to help the needy and distressed, heal the sick, speak peace to the suffering, deliver those whom Satan was afflicting, and bring redemption to all who would accept the Heaven-sent blessing. By taking humanity he encircled the human race with his human arm while with his divine arm he grasped the throne of the Infinite, revealing God to the world as a God of love, mercy, tenderness and compassion and as the Light of life.
Victory Where Adam Failed
He placed his feet in Adam's steps and passed over the very ground where Adam stumbled and fell, standing in Adam's place and enduring the test Adam failed in order to redeem the disgrace of Adam's failure for all who believe on him. He took human nature as one of Abraham's descendants rather than the nature of angels, became the second Adam sharing humanity's experience, and faced temptation as a man by relying on God's word. He entered the ground where Adam fell as humanity's substitute and surety, remaining loyal to God through the temptations that beset people, so that through him the guilty race has a way back to loyalty.
He met temptation as a man in the strength given him by God, using no power unavailable to human beings, and his obedience shows that people can obey God's law through the same divine help. His victory was made possible by the power God gave him, revealing God's power to help fallen people overcome the enemy, regain God's moral image, and advance in the divine life against Satan's influence. He clothed his divinity with humanity so he could reach people as a human while retaining divine power, relying wholly on God's power as humanity's representative and enduring Satan's temptations including the wilderness conflict Adam had failed to endure. He took upon him the infirmities of degenerate humanity after four thousand years of decreasing physical strength, mental power and moral worth, meeting Satan not as Adam did in the strength of perfect manhood with full vigor of body and mind amid the glories of Eden and in daily communion with heavenly beings, but in weakened, low humanity with apparently no friend to aid him. Only thus, by standing in degenerate humanity without reaching above humanity for divine power and without swerving a hair's breadth from allegiance to God, could he refuse to become the enemy's bondslave and rescue man from the lowest depths of degradation.
Though already perfect he was made a perfect Saviour through suffering and learned obedience through what he suffered, overcoming the power of evil on humanity's behalf so people could become overcomers through his merits and develop characters fit for heaven. It was in the order of God that he took the form and nature of fallen man, himself enduring the strength of Satan's fierce temptations that he might the better know how to succor those who should be tempted. By that same order his outward appearance would not attract minds to himself nor cause him to be received without the exercise of faith, but faith in him as Messiah would rest not on evidences of sight or personal attraction but on the excellence of character found in him which never had been found nor could be in another, drawing all who love virtue, purity and holiness to receive the benefits of his teachings and finally of his atonement.
Satan believed that taking fallen human nature would make him vulnerable to being overpowered and would prevent the plan of salvation from being accomplished. He tempted him to sin to bring the human race under evil's dominion, sought to draw him away from allegiance to God and to undermine his principles and his allegiance to the Lord God, and came to fight humanity's battles under different circumstances against him as the head of humanity whom Satan had deceived through lying power. His strength in that fallen nature was not equal to the angels' strength, and he endured humiliation and great suffering as part of the plan of salvation accepted by the Father, yet his life alone could pay the debt for humanity and serve as an accepted ransom where an angel's life could not. Christ was victorious, providing redemption and placing humanity on vantage ground with God.
With divinity veiled he lived in perfect obedience to God's law and developed a perfect character, made like his human brothers and sisters so he could serve as a merciful and faithful high priest, reconcile people to God, and help those who are tempted. His sinless life proved that through God's power people can keep God's law, and by overcoming where Adam failed he redeemed that failure and worked out a perfect character for humanity. As Redeemer he stood in Adam's place and endured the test Adam failed, overcoming appetite and breaking Satan's power so the human race could be redeemed, while his human nature reached their wretchedness and identified with their weaknesses and needs and his divine nature remained united with the Eternal. His suffering paid the debt created by humanity's transgression of God's law, not to permit continued lawbreaking but to lead people to repentance and obedience, imputing his righteousness to them to make their efforts to keep the law acceptable to God and reconciling humanity to God through his human nature and God to humanity through his divine nature.
As a man he did not use his divine power to escape the pain and humiliation that people face, to satisfy the curiosity of wicked men, or to perform a miracle to save himself from suffering. In that human nature he endured all the cruelty Satan led men to inflict upon him without forcing the least murmur from his lips, sustained by Godlike fortitude and departing in no particular from the will of his Father. Though treated with contempt he faced a powerful temptation to reveal his heavenly character and compel his persecutors to acknowledge his authority, but he would not use his divinity to force their recognition.
Help and Example for Believers
Because he took human nature and not angelic nature as a descendant of Abraham, his victory where Adam fell makes divine power available in his name and merits so that people can overcome appetite, sin and corruption, receive moral power, become partakers of the divine nature and form characters like his and fit for heaven. In human nature he developed a perfect character and was made like his brothers and sisters to serve as merciful and faithful high priest, reconcile people to God and help those who are tempted. Having endured Satan's strongest temptations and the severe conflict people face, and having been made a perfect Saviour through suffering and learning obedience by what he suffered, he knows human weakness and temptation and can sustain all who seek his strength when tempted. He faced temptations at least as severe as people face and conquered the enemy so people may learn how to overcome, suffering and dying under the sins of the whole world in humiliation and reproach so that those who follow his example may inherit all things.
His human experience gives him a tender sympathetic heart, for by being made like his brothers and sisters and experiencing suffering and temptation he understands every temptation and trial. Because he himself suffered being tempted he is able to help those who are tempted, comforting the sorrowful and disappointed and giving assurance of peace. Disappointment does not mean separation from God, and experiencing it can help people understand others who are disappointed, so believers need not feel forsaken, orphaned or left alone to bear the burden of sin. He became like those who had broken God's law so they could have peace and assurance, and as Advocate in heaven he ensures that whoever accepts him as personal Saviour is not left an orphan.
Through his merits repentant sinners may be received by the Father, accepted in the Beloved, clothed with the robe of righteousness, offered the sanctification of grace, enabled to render perfect obedience to God's laws and become obedient sons and daughters of God and members of the royal family unto eternal life. As the great High Priest taken from among men, bone of bone and flesh of flesh, he took humanity to understand human temptation and to have the prerogative of approaching God in human nature as well as divine nature, and as chosen Mediator, the only begotten Son who knew no sin, he bore the penalty of sin in an offering of such value that he redeemed the race. Clothing divinity with humanity as Son of the infinite God whose life was bound up with God, one equal with God accepted humanity with all its affections and temptations to stand before the Father as head of humanity, give his sacred life and die bearing the guilt of sin as propitiation after the fall. By this he places people on vantage ground with God, giving grace by which the law that after the fall could only be obeyed through him may be obeyed, taking away sins and imputing his righteousness, washing and cleansing and giving victory by his blood, making them partakers of the divine nature, complete in him and perfected by his sinless purity. Through his merits repentant sinners may unite with divinity and become sons of God belonging to him both by creation and by redemption, so that humanity may stand on vantage ground with God while his humanity reaches fallen people and his divinity reaches the throne.
Because he redeemed fallen men, loyal angels recognize and welcome them, are not ashamed to call them brethren and to love them, and this elevation of humanity exceeds any angelic rank. His human relationship joins believers to God more closely than angels are joined, grounding the claim that they belong to God and are to dedicate their whole being to him. Having stood at the head of humanity, shared its afflictions, been tempted as people are, and made it possible for people to become partakers of the divine nature, judgment is given into his hand.
He left a complete and perfect pattern to copy in purpose, feeling, thought, heart, soul and life, coming into the world just as a child sharing flesh and blood to live perfection of character in action. By being made in all things like his brothers and sisters he became a merciful and faithful high priest to make reconciliation for sins, and because he himself suffered when tempted he is able to help those who are tempted, destroying through death him who had the power of death and freeing those held in bondage all their lives through fear of death. By joining himself to humanity he could encircle the race and unite finite people with the infinite God, showing how people should live to receive immortal life and making it possible for fallen humanity to be elevated through connection with him. Entering human life and sharing the sympathies and interests of his human brothers, through a life of tireless labor he taught people how to resist the enemy's plans and work with God to build his kingdom. He demonstrates the power he offers followers, giving them power to become God's children and working to make them complete in him, so that his image reproduced in true disciples changes those who see his likeness in them to reflect his character before angels and people.
His leaving heavenly honor to become one with the needy is the model for missionary toil, for he made the world his field of missionary toil to teach the importance of missionary effort. His self-sacrificing work calls for unreserved surrender, consecration of time and talents, and putting all entrusted goods with their increase into advancing the work he came to do. His willingness to leave heavenly honor and become one with humanity is an example that followers are to take truth to people and places where it is little known even when inconvenient, not standing apart from those they consider degraded but reaching out to those perishing in sin and reaching humanity where it is.
The verse stands as a promise supporting trust in Christ when circumstances are discouraging, pointing to his care and help as reason to cling to God's promises. By becoming like his brothers and sisters to serve as merciful and faithful high priest, make reconciliation for sin and help those who are tempted, his suffering and help mean believers need not feel forsaken and can endure temptation with confidence in him. This joining of God to humanity by the strongest ties in spontaneous deep broad full free love lifts souls out of Satan's deceptions to the throne of God and demands earnest heed lest so great a salvation, first spoken by the Lord and confirmed by hearers with signs and wonders and miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, be let slip and lost by neglect. For human sake he became poor that through his poverty people might be made rich with a life that measures with the life of God and an eternal weight of glory, collecting all the riches of heaven and laying all the resources of his infinite nature upon the gift of all heaven to win back loyalty, proving a love beyond measure that calls for deep earnest full love returned in obedience to his commandments, with the Word made flesh dwelling among men full of grace and truth from whose fullness all receive grace for grace. As Commander of the heavenly hosts he left honor and glory with the Father and came to live as a man among men to rescue human beings from destruction, not taking angelic nature nor coming attended by ten thousand times ten thousand angels but humbling himself in the fallen race in lowliness and poverty without honor or rank to help the needy and distressed, heal the sick, speak peace to the suffering, deliver those Satan afflicted and bring redemption to all who accept the heaven-sent blessing, and as such he calls for love shown by keeping his commandments and for standing on vantage ground with God by keeping all the laws of his kingdom in love and kindness and loyalty, doing good and not evil. Laying aside royal robe and kingly crown and clothing divinity with humanity to take the seed of Abraham so fallen humanity could touch his humanity, the union of divine and human in him gives power to be partakers of the divine nature and overcome worldly corruption through lust, for he overcame for humanity so his merits, power and virtue can be claimed and pleaded, and as people cooperate with him and live in harmony with his law he cleanses their natures from sin and imparts his righteousness, and those who in this life love Jesus and fellow men and honor him for this great sacrifice will be most exalted in the kingdom of God.
As he took humanity to reach man where he is, so the Bible is given in the language of men for practical purposes and not in grand superhuman language. Without taking humanity he would have struck human beings out of existence and they could not have seen the Lord, for even John beloved of God fell as dead when Christ revealed himself and needed Christ to revive and strengthen him, and God chose the persecuted aged John to receive mysteries for the churches because an angel could not do that work.