(16) For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. (17) Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. (18) For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.
There is somewhat so very gracious in what is here said, of the Son of God, passing by the nature of Angels, and taking on him the seed of Abraham; that I would beg my Reader's indulgence to be somewhat more particular, in marking the distinguishing mercy. And in order that we may have the clearest apprehension of the subject, according to what is stated of it in scripture, it will not be amiss; first to make enquiry into the circumstances of that class of Beings, whose nature the Son of God passed by, when he took upon him the nature of man: before that we consider that class of Beings to whom Jesus manifested such distinguishing love in taking their nature. We have a large account of Angels, if taken altogether, in the word of God, to shew their high rank and dignity in the scale of being. They are evidently of the same family as man, considered as in Christ their head, Ephesians 3:15. The elect Angels, so called, 1 Timothy 5:21, are spoken of, as deriving, both their being and well being from, and in Christ, Colossians 1:18. And as their Creator, they are commanded to worship him, Hebrews 1:6. They ministered to his Person, upon earth, at his incarnation, Luke 2:13; at his temptation, Matthew 4:11; in his agony in the garden, Luke 22:43; at the tomb, on his resurrection, Matthew 28:7; Matthew 28:7; his ascension, Acts 1:10-11, and when the Lord shall come again to judge the world, they will attend him, Matthew 26:27, and the Church of his redeemed shall see the heavens open, and they shall behold them ascending, and descending, upon the Son of Man, John 1:51; Genesis 28:12. But while these very blessed things are spoken of Angels, in proof of their high dignity and character, we are taught in this precious scripture; that the Son of God, verily took not on him the nature of Angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Let us humbly look into some of the causes, as far as Holy Scripture hath explained the subject, by way of marking the distinguishing mercy.
And first, to begin our enquiry of the scripture account of Angels. It appears, from several parts of the word of God, that there are Angels, which stand in a somewhat nearer relation to Christ, than that of being created by Him; for they are called, Elect Angels, 1 Timothy 5:21, by which it may reasonably be supposed, that some influence, or power, is manifested by Christ towards them, which differs wholly from what simply belongs to Creating, and Preserving them in Being with the whole Creation of God. For in this sense, Hell itself is preserved, and the fallen Angels, which are reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, to the judgment of the great day, Jude 1:6. But then, this influence, or power, of special grace and favor differs totally from that, which is shewn the elect of Christ among men. With those, there is an union with Christ and they form Christ's mystical body. He is the head of his body the Church. And they are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones, Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 5:30. Such things are never said of Angels. Moreover, Christ is the Redeemer of his elect men, which by nature in the Adam-fall, are all involved in ruin. But Christ is never said to be the Redeemer of Angels, in any part of the word of God. Indeed the Elect Angels needed not redemption, Christ hath kept them from falling. And for the fallen Angels, cast out of heaven, no Redeemer was ever to be provided, according to the Covenant of eternity. Hence we discover, the striking difference, respecting Angels and Men.
Secondly. It appears, however, from scripture, that as the Elect Angels, not only owe their Being, and their well Being to Christ; so are they in some special way, or manner, in the same family with Elect Men; and with them are Worshippers of Christ. When Jehovah bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith; And let all the Angels of God worship him, Hebrews 1:6. And agreeably to this command, when John saw heaven open, and the Church praising Christ; he saith, that he heard also the voice of many Angels round about the throne, joining in the song, Revelation 5:11-12. From hence we must infer, that the kingdom of Christ, is composed of Angels and Men and that they are Worshippers together of Christ as God-Man Mediator. I might enlarge much on this point. But dare not: The limits of a Poor Man's Commentary will not admit. But when we consider, what the word of God relates on this subject; that the Angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister to them that are heirs of salvation; Hebrews 1:14, that they evidently attend the assemblies of God's people; for women professing godliness are commanded to cover their heads in worship, because of the Angels; 1 Corinthians 11:10, and that they rejoice over the conversion of the Lord's people, when brought out of the Adam-darkness; these things seem somewhat to imply, that Elect Angels are of the same family, in point of service and worship, as Elect Men; only they are not united to Christ, and have not that relationship with Jesus, which we have, by his taking our nature upon him.
Thirdly. It should seem moreover probable, by what John saw in his vision, that though in point of intellect, Elect Angels being wholly spiritual, are higher than men; on which account perhaps it is said, that when at the resurrection the Church shall arise a spiritual body, of that which was sown natural; we shall be like the Angels, Matthew 22:30. Yet, their knowledge of Christ, and his redemption-work, is not derived from the heavenly Court, but from the earthly Courts of our worship. It is said by the Holy Ghost, in the Epistle to the Church at Ephesus, that it is to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers (meaning Angels) might be known by the Church, the manifold wisdom of God, Ephesians 3:10. From hence it should seem that as the Elect Angels, which are ministering servants, and attend the assemblies of God's people; where Christ is proclaimed in his fulness and glory; they hear and learn: and hence they rejoice in beholding the conversion of sinners, which brings such glory to the Lord.
But I pause. I shall pursue this part of the subject no further. It is no doubt, a pleasing consideration to regard, what the scripture hath said, concerning the Elect Angels. And it is pleasing also, to consider them, as in this way connected into one family of worship, in the adoration of Christ with ourselves. And I can conceive, that the consciousness of their presence, in our assemblies of worship, though invisible to us, would occasion, if properly considered, no small solemnity, and not unfrequently holy joy. Yea, such a thought, under grace, might be productive of much good, if we sometimes considered with what compassion they must behold heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, when they observe us cold, and too often inattentive in the great concerns of salvation! But I add no more.
It is time to attend to the account of Christ's regard to us before Angels. Though so much may be said of Angels; and is said of them; yet we are here told, concerning Jesus, that verily he took not on him the nature of Angels: but he took on him the seed of Abraham. This is our mercy. This, our highest dignity and honor. And the Holy Ghost blessedly assigns the causes.
And, first. It is the human nature, not the angelic, Christ betrothed to himself. Before the foundation of the world, the Church was chosen in him. Jesus was set up from everlasting, as the Head and Husband of his people: and then he himself saith, his delights were with the sons of men, Ephesians 1:4; Psalms 8:9
Secondly. It was the Elect Church, and not the Elect Angels, which became ruined by the fall. Consequently the nature he had to redeem, that nature he took. To have taken the nature of Angels to redeem the nature of Man would have been unsuitable and improper. Hence, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin: by one man, came also justification to life, Romans 5:1 throughout. An Angel's nature could not have corresponded to purposes of this kind.
Thirdly. A deliverance from the condemnation of the broken law of God required a sacrifice. For without shedding of blood, there is no remission, Hebrews 9:22. But had Christ taken an Angel's nature, he could have made no offering for sin. Redemption could only be effected, by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all; whereby hath perfected forever them that are sanctified, Hebrews 10:1-14
Fourthly. It was a law in Israel, that no man, who was a stranger in the Land, should be king over the people. Thou shalt in any wise set him to be king over thee, who is one of thy kindred, Deuteronomy 17:15. To whom then, did the right of government belong, but to Jesus? Here was indeed One born for it; to whom all his Mother's children might bend before, Genesis 49:8; Philippians 2:9-11
And, lastly, to mention no more. The Holy Ghost here saith, that in all things, it behoved Christ to be made like unto his brethren; that he might be a merciful, and faithful High Priest, in things pertaining to God. So then, this union of nature, this blessed compound of God and Man in one Person, was that only, which could answer the vast purposes of Jehovah, in the work of redemption. It may be said, indeed, that as God, he could not acquire either a greater knowledge of our wants, in taking upon him our nature; or a greater disposition to mercy towards us, by this union. But it must be said also, at the same time, that if it added not to his knowledge or his disposition to mercy; yet it gave him a more perfect personal apprehension of them, in a knowledge by fellow feeling, how they acted upon our nature; and how the relief from them might best affect us. Besides, by taking the nature of man, he taught man how to come to him, under exercises. Ye know the heart of a stranger, (said the Lord) for ye were strangers. So I can tell Jesus. He knoweth our frame by his own. Had he taken the nature of Angels, of what use would it have been, to have said to Jesus, he knoweth the nature of Angels, what consolation would this have been to flesh and blood? Oh! precious Jesus! never, never, let me lose sight of this sweet scripture, with all the blessed encouragements arising out of it: my God, my Jesus, took not on him the nature of Angels, but he took on him the seed of Abraham, that he might be a merciful, and faithful high Priest to God!