The Subjection of All Things

Next Part The Subjection of All Things 2

The Subjection of All Things Under the Feet of Jesus

"You have put all thing in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him." Hebrews 2:8

In opening up, then, the words of our text, I shall, with God's blessing,

First, endeavor to direct your thoughts to the humiliation of our most blessed Lord; for without understanding his humiliation, we can have no spiritual or adequate views of his subsequent glorification.

Secondly, to the subjection of all things as put under his feet.

Thirdly, that in this matter there is no exception; for "in that God put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him."

Fourthly, that at present this subjection is not complete. It is begun, it is carrying on, but it is not finished—"But now we see not yet all things put under him."

I. The HUMILIATION of Christ. The incarnation of the Son of God is always spoken of in the inspired volume as the greatest depth of divine wisdom, the fullest display of divinepower, and the highest fruit of divine love. As such therefore it is the most sublime mystery that can ever enter into the heart of man or angel on which to exercise their admiring thoughts, whether they adore the wisdom of God in designing, or his love in giving it birth, or his power in bringing it into execution.

II. But we pass on to show the exaltation of the Lord Jesus in the subjection of all things under Christ's feet.

We have viewed him in his humiliation; we have seen him at the cross, beheld his atoning blood, and heard his expiring voice. Now then let us look at him as raised from the dead andEXALTED to the right hand of the Father. And you will observe, that he is exalted not only to the throne of dignity but to the throne of power. "You have put all things in subjection under his feet." This exaltation was the promised reward of his humiliation. This is clearly put before us by the apostle, when having shown us how Jesus "humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross," he adds, "therefore God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name—that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth." (Phil. 2:9, 10.) This was a part of the "joy set before him for which he endured the cross, despising the shame." (Heb. 12:2.) In the verse therefore following our text, the apostle says, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor." Thus his exaltation consists mainly in two things—
First, that God has crowned him with glory and honor.
Secondly, that he has put all things in subjection under his feet.

The last is that which we have here chiefly to consider. The figure is taken from the practice of ancient conquerors, as we find Joshua bringing the five kings of the Amorites out of the cave, and bidding the captains of the men of war to put their feet upon their necks. And I remember to have seen a representation of a picture, still existing in one of the Egyptian tombs, of a conqueror putting his feet upon the necks of those whom he had vanquished. Thus when we read in the text, "You have put all things in subjection under his feet," the meaning is, that all things are submitted to the sovereign command of the Lord Jesus Christ at the right hand of the Father. Let us then look at some of these things. How comprehensive the expression; what a wide scope it affords for thought. But time and opportunity only allow me to hint at a few of them.

1. First, all PERSONS, from the Queen upon the throne to the pauper in the workhouse, are put in subjection under Christ's feet. The Queen's throne is not her own. She is only there because Jesus has put her there, and will only be there as long as he sees fit. We see men high in power and place, the rulers of our land, to whom we owe subjection, as powers ordained of God, on the same gospel principle as we owe honor and loyalty to our Queen. But who gives them that power? Who exalts them to that authority? The Lord Jesus Christ! He is Sovereign king over them all! Now if this be true, and it must be so unless the word of God be false, how it represents men of every station, rank, and degree as completely subject to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. They cannot move hand or foot, except by his sovereign good pleasure; and to lift up a hand against him, is to lift up a hand against that Sovereign, who, with one frown, could crush them into the very dust!

Now could we carry about with us a realizing sense of this Sovereign supremacy of Jesus, how little we would fear the face of man. We should still render to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor (Rom. 13:7); but we should stand in slavish fear to no man. You may have those placed in worldly circumstances over you, who seem not only to have the will but the power sadly to oppress you. Need you fear them if you are one of the Lord's? Why need you fear the face of any man? Look around you; view your oppressor; look him fairly and steadfastly in the face. Need you fear his frown, or cower before his angry look? Is he not, with all other men, put in subjection under the feet of Christ? Could he lift up a hand against you, except the Lord Jesus Christ gave him permission? Can he go a single step beyond the will and intention of the Lord Jesus Christ? He cannot! Fear not then the face of the oppressor—he has no power against you, except so far as the Lord Jesus Christ gives him power; and that power he will never allow him to do you any real harm. I can speak here from experience; for I remember on one occasion being much afraid of one high in power who could have done me, and indeed threatened to do me serious injury. But before the appointed day came for my coming before him, he was in his grave! And O how sweet were those words made to me, "Who are you, that you should be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass?" (Isaiah 51:12.)

2. But again, as all persons are subject unto his authority, so all THINGS are equally subject to his almighty power. There may be circumstances in your earthly lot which at this moment are peculiarly trying. You look round and wonder how this or that circumstance will terminate. At present it looks very dark; clouds and mists hang over it, and you fear lest these clouds may break, not in showers upon your head, as Cowper speaks in his hymn, but burst forth in the lightning flash and the thunder stroke. But all things, and if all things then this circumstance also that fills your mind with apprehension, are put in subjection under Christ's feet. The thing cannot take place except by his sovereign will, nor can it move any further except by his supreme disposal. Then make yourself quiet; he will not allow you to be harmed. It shall only execute his sovereign purposes, and it shall be among those all things which, according to his promise, shall work together for your good.

3. But all TRIALS are also put in subjection under him. Many are the trials of the righteous, for we read, "The Lord tries the righteous" (Psalm. 11:5); and if the Lord himself try them, how can you escape if you are one of the righteous nation which keeps the truth? (Isaiah. 26:2.) But none of these trials come upon them by chance. They are all appointed in weight and measure, are all designed to fulfill a certain end; and however painful they may at present be, yet they are intended for your good. When the trial comes upon you, what a help it would be for you if you could view it thus—"This trial is sent for my good; it does not spring out of the dust; the Lord himself is the supreme disposer of it; for I am sure it could not come without his sending or permission. It is very painful to bear; but let me look up to him who sits at God's right hand; let me believe that he has appointed me this peculiar trial; it is in subjection under his feet along with every other circumstance. He will bring about his own will therein, and remove the trial, or give me patience under it, and submission to it."

You may be afflicted by sickness. It is not by chance that such or such sickness visits your body; that the Lord sees fit to afflict head, heart, chest, liver, hand, foot, or any other part of your body. If all things are put in subjection under him, has he exempted sickness and disease? Whatever you suffer in bodily disease, if you can but believe that it is put in subjection under his feet, and that he appoints and arranges it for your good, it will give you resignation to his holy and almighty will.

4. Again, if all things are put in subjection under him, then are all TEMPTATIONS also put under his feet. Do we not read? "And the God of peace shall bruise (margin "tread") Satan under your feet shortly." (Rom. 16:20.) And why under your feet, but because Satan and with him all his temptations are put under Jesus' feet as your risen and exalted Head? How sweet to see and feel this. Your path may at present be a path of great temptation; snares of the most dangerous and most deceitful kind may be laid for your feet in various directions; Satan may be allowed to assault your soul with all his infernal arts and weapons. You may have a sad conflict with the vile lusts of your depraved nature, and feel that you have as many sins alive in your heart as there are hairs upon your head. But are not these things put in subjection under his feet? Would it be true that God has put all things under his feet if temptations were omitted? Is it not expressly said of our gracious Lord?

"For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to support them that are tempted." (Heb. 2:18.) And again, "There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man—but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Cor. 10:13.) "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations" (2 Pet. 2:9); and we are told, that "Blessed is the man that endures temptations," so that you are bidden even to count it all joy when you fall into them. (James 1:1, 12.) Can Satan tempt you a single point beyond the Lord's permission? How was it with Job, when Satan was allowed to tempt him? Did not God fix the exact length of Satan's tether when he said, "Touch not his life?"

He was allowed to destroy all his property, to sweep off all his children at a stroke, to smite him with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown, and, what was worse, to fill his carnal mind with the most horrid suggestions to blaspheme God and die. But he could not touch his life, either natural or spiritual, or drive him to blaspheme God, though he so far prevailed as to make him curse the day of his birth. "Hitherto shall you come, but no further," the Lord virtually said to him, "and here shall your proud waves be stayed." (Job 38:11.) So with you—if indeed you are the Lord's, whatever temptations you may have to endure, they can never touch your life; for that is "hid with Christ in God"—safely lodged in his heart and hands who reigns supreme in power and glory.

5. So with all AFFLICTIONS also. They too are put under the feet of Jesus. You may think at times how harshly you are dealt with; mourning, it may be, under family bereavements, sorrowing after the loss of your 'household treasures'--a beloved husband, wife, or child; or you may be severely fretting in your own soul under such afflictions of body and mind, as you could not disclose even to your nearest friend; or you may be even, what is worst of all, murmuring and rebelling against the Lord himself. But O that you could bear in mind that all your afflictions, be they what they may, are put under the feet of Jesus, so that, so to speak, not one can crawl from under his feet but by his permission, and, like scolded hounds, they crawl again beneath them at a word of command from his lips.

Next Part The Subjection of All Things 2

Back to J. C. Philpot Sermons