For it was not to angels that he subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 Instead, someone has testified somewhere: “What is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, 8 subjecting all things under his feet.” In “subjecting” all things [to him], he left nothing not “subject to him.” Yet at present we do not see “all things subject to him,” 9 but we do see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death, he who “for a little while” was made “lower than the angels,” that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers,” 12 saying: “I will proclaim your name to my brothers, in the midst of the assembly I will praise you”; and again: “I will put my trust in him”; 13 and again: “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” 14 Now since the children share in blood and flesh, he likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. 16 Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; 17 therefore, he had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
The author refers to the Messianic kingdom, the eschatological fulfillment of God's kingdom, as “the world to come (Mt. 12:32)” which is not under the dominion of angels but under the authority of Christ. Man is insignificant when compared to God (Ps. 8:5-7). Man, who is inferior to the angels, was initially exalted to glory and honor, and all things were made subject to him (Cor. 15:27) before the fall of Adam and Eve. God created man to, “Fill the earth and subdue it (Gen 1:26-28),” although that has not yet fully come to pass. God, out of His boundless love and mercy for humanity, chose to humble His Son, through whom all things were created and lowered him briefly beneath the angels by his incarnation. Through the resurrection of Christ, humanity finds redemption and is ultimately exalted to glory and honor. However, creation is not yet fully subjected to man in the same way that all things are under subjection to the Glorified Christ.
Christ was exalted through his suffering and death, the divine paradox of redemption through suffering, whereby Jesus experienced the full weight of humanity's sin and its consequences, offering himself as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of all humanity. This act of self-sacrifice was made possible solely by the grace of God out of his love for humanity. It was necessary that the one through whom all creation was brought into existence(Col. 1:16-17), should lead the way for believers to follow. Christ, who for a little while was made human and therefore had the same origin as mankind, became the firstborn from the dead through his suffering, death, and resurrection by the mercy of God so he could bring believers to salvation to share in his glory. Christ was made perfect through his suffering which enabled him to empathize with human weakness and intercede before God on behalf of humanity.
Christ’s primary mission was to reconcile humanity to God. While remaining fully divine, he entered fully into the human condition sharing in its joys, sorrows, temptations, and sufferings (Phil. 2:7-8; Heb. 4:15). Christ is the high priest who represents humanity before God, offering Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Through his sacrificial death on the cross, Christ defeated the power of sin and death (1 Cor. 15:55-57). Through Christ, mankind now has access to God and can live with courage, hope, and confidence in God's promises (Rom. 8:15). Jesus, through His own experience of suffering and testing, shared in the suffering and trials of humanity. Therefore, he can intercede on behalf of believers, offering them the grace, mercy, and support needed to persevere in faith and overcome adversity (Rom. 8:34).
Almighty God, we thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, who, though exalted above all, humbled himself to share in our humanity, to taste death for our sake, and to bring us salvation and glory. Help us to find comfort and strength in his loving sacrifice and to trust in His victory over sin and death. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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