For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. (ESV)
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Hebrews 2:10
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The Goodness of God and the Neglect of Man. (Part 4)
Listen, for Jesus came to help the children of Abraham. Through him, the Father brings his sons to glory: Hebrews 2:10.
Looking now at verse 10, “it was fitting that he (God) in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their faith perfect through suffering.”
Who is this God? He who is unspeakably majestic: all things (people, animals, buildings, science, art, government) exist for him and to bring praise to him. And he is indescribably powerful: all things exist through him.
What does he do? He brings men from a state of willful rebellion, where they are justly subject to his unmitigated wrath, into a position as honored sons, crowned with glory, who will govern in heaven on his behalf! He brings them to himself. The notion that “God is good” is the understatement of all time.
How does he do this? He places before them his Son, for them to see and acknowledge as the now-crowned honored one, who became a man for them and suffered and died as propitiation for their sins.
What makes for sufficient propitiation? The writer says that it was appropriate that God should make this one who established their salvation “complete through suffering”. The various suffering that Jesus experienced–physical hardship from birth to death, rejection, misunderstanding, betrayal–was by God’s design. Propitiation (2:17c) for rebellion against this holy Father (2:10a) required a perfect sacrifice (2:10b). This perfection was learned and proven through obedience in suffering (2:10b cf. 5:8-9).
(This was originally posted on the Biblearc blog by Robert Elphick on February 5, 2015.)