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Authority, Bible, Hebrews, Scripture, Subjection, Victors, Victory

NOT YET

HEBREWS 2:8

“‘YOU HAVE PUT EVERYTHING IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.’ For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.”

Today’s verse is both exciting and frustrating to me. On one hand, I am excited that God has placed everything under the feet of Jesus. We’ve mentioned this before. He is Lord over all. But on the other hand, I am frustrated that this has not happened yet. The time has not yet come. We know the time will come sooner or later. I may not see this in my lifetime, but then again, I might.

The quote is from Psalm 8:6. We’ve seen the writer quote Psalm 8:4-6 in verses 6-8 of Hebrews 2. He makes it perfectly clear that “all things” are subject to the Son. He says, “He left nothing that is not subject to him.” I like what Matthew Poole says about the last phrase of this verse. “it is evident to our sense and experience, that though he hath obtained this sovereign dominion over all on his ascension, yet he hath not exerted his power in utterly subjecting and triumphing over his enemies at present, nor in reducing all his own people to subjection to him; yet this shall be gradually done in every age, and completely when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, to punish his enemies with everlasting destruction,”

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

The Promise to claim is clear here. One day we will see this. 1 Corinthians 15:24-26 tell us so. “24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to our God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.”

Won’t that be a glorious day? Can you imagine a perfect kingdom ruled by a perfect ruler? No more elections to try and get a better President or Prime Minister or Governor. Jesus will reign supreme. He will reign with power and authority. He will vanquish all that is evil from this place and establish a new heaven and a new earth. We will see this one day.

I could also point us to a Command to Obey. Now, you may say I don’t see a command in that verse. And you would be right. But isn’t there one implied? If all things are going to be subject to Him, that includes us. We must subject ourselves to Him. We need to do that now. Don’t wait until that day. Subject yourself to Jesus today. Allow Him to rule your life supremely. You won’t be disappointed.

All things will be under Your feet, O Lord. I bow before You today.

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Newborn baby in manger with Mary, Joseph, donkey, and ox
Angels, Bible, Glory, Heaven, Hebrews, Humanity, Scripture

TEMPORARY STATUS

HEBREWS 2:7

“‘YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR;’”

When I travel to other countries as part of my missionary role with Every Man a Warrior, I know my resident status there is only temporary. In most cases, I have applied for a visa which clearly states how long I can stay in that country. If I overstay my visa, I could be arrested and deported. Temporary means exactly that – temporary. Oh, but I know my status in heaven will be eternal one day. Isn’t that awesome?

We see the writer of Hebrews continue the quotation from Psalm 8 by quoting verse 5. As he applies this Old Testament verse to Jesus, he is stressing the point that Jesus’ earthly dwelling was indeed a temporary thing. He voluntarily took on a human form to complete the mission given to Him by His Father. That meant for this season, He was “a little lower than angels.” But don’t forget that the angels knew exactly who He was and were even present at His birth declaring so. (Read Luke 2:8-14)


ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

I am going to call this verse a Promise to claim. Why would I say that? Because God didn’t send Jesus permanently in human form. This was always going to be a temporary status for Him. His true nature was never in doubt. That’s a promise we can claim. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. We’ll see that later in Hebrews 13:8. There is no other religion that can state that about their founder or their god. Only Jesus!

I am reminded of Philippians 2:5-11. Do you know that passage? It says, “5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. 9 For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Hallelujah! What a Savior! He came! He triumphed! He returned home! We also, as followers of Christ, will leave this world which is only our temporary home. Our real home is in heaven with Jesus. I get excited thinking about that, don’t you? Are you ready to go? I am anytime the Father calls my name.

Lord, thank You for the eternal status I will enjoy one day with You in glory!

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Smith-Wilson Family Tree: Progenitors John Smith (1680-1955) and Sarah Jones (1885-1960); Robert Smith (1910-1985) and Eleanor Davis (1912-1990), Mary Smith (1914-2002) and James Brown (1910-1980); grandparents Thomas Smith (1958-2015) and Catherine White (b. 1941), Linda Brown (b. 1940) and Richard Clark (1957-2010); parents David Smith (b. 1965) and Emma Johnson (b. 1965), Sarah Clark (b. 1970) and Mark Wilson (b. 1967); grandchildren Lily Smith (b. 1995), James Smith (b. 1998), Chloe Wilson (b. 2000), and Leo Wilson (b. 2004).
Bible, Family, Hebrews, Lineage, Scripture

THE SON OF MAN

HEBREWS 2:6

“But someone has testified somewhere, saying, ‘WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU THINK OF HIM? OR A SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?’”

I am a son of man. I was born to James Willis as his third child and second son. I have Willis DNA running through my body. I am proud to be a Willis and carry my father’s name. I have passed that DNA down to my children and through them to my grandchildren. I have traced my lineage back to the early 1500’s in England. I am a son many times removed of William Willis from Yorkshire, England. I can’t deny my roots.

The writer quotes from Psalm 8:4-6 in today’s verse and the two following. Who is this “Son of Man” mentioned in our verse? The Hebrew actually reads “son of adam” pointing back to the original man. Jesus was, of course, in the nature of Adam as far as flesh and blood was concerned. Jesus never tried to disguise His flesh. He called Himself “Son of Man” over 80 times in the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). He came in the form of man to redeem man. That was the plan!

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

These references to Jesus as “Son of Man” are really revealing. This is definitely Something new about God that Jesus wanted to show the world. Let’s take a look at a few of these. First, in Matthew 8:20 we read, “And Jesus said to him, ‘The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’” Later in Matthew 26:64 He really riles up the Jewish leaders when He said, “‘You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’”

When Jesus healed the paralyzed man who was lowered through the ceiling in Mark 2:10, He says, “‘But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…’” Later in Mark 8:31 we read, “And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise from the dead.”

When Jesus visited Zaccheus in Luke 19, He concludes His visit by stating, “‘For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.’” I could continue listing these references for a long time, but you can dig those out yourself. That would be a great study – looking up every reference to “Son of Man” in the Scriptures. We have seen that Jesus embraced His humanity because He knew it was the vessel necessary to ransom mankind. Aren’t you grateful? I sure am.

Thank You, Lord, for sending Your Son in the form of Adam so that He could share His blood for us. 

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Christ enthroned in heaven surrounded by praying angels
Angels, Bible, Hebrews, Jesus, Scripture, Subjection

THE SUBJECTED WORLD

HEBREWS 2:5

“For He did not subject to angels the world to come, about which we are speaking.”

We all have our roles, don’t we? My role currently is husband, father and grandfather. In that role I have some responsibilities. As a follower of Christ in that role, I serve as Provider, Protector and Priest of my home. Am I perfect in those roles? Not even close, but I do try to serve to the best of my ability. I am subject to the Lord in all things. My wife chooses to subject herself (submit) to my leadership, but I would never lord myself over her.

Why do I bring that up? Because we see it stated clearly here that the angels have their role which does not include ruling over the world to come. They are God’s messenger, but the world to come is under the dominion of the Son.  The writer of Hebrews is going back to the discussion he had in chapter 1 where he showed Jesus was superior to the angels. Angels, in fact, are subject to Him. God never intended to give angels this ruling power.

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

There has been a lot of talk in the past few years about angels. Some people have even come close to what I would call “angel worship.” We even talk about people getting their angel wings when they die. Let me state something clearly – we don’t get wings. We will not turn into angels when we get to heaven. We will be changed but not into angelic form.

There is Something new about God here. The Holy Spirit inspired the writer to clarify the roles in heaven. Jesus is the only One Who has the authority to rule over the world to come. Now right now we are told that Satan has dominion on this earth. I Peter 5:8 says he prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. But in the world to come, Jesus will reign. Hallelujah!

While angels (both good and evil) have subjection over the present world, I know where my help comes from. Psalm 121:2 tells us, “My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.” Even in the midst of trials and temptations on this earth, I know He is my help. I don’t rely on angels. I don’t rely on luck. I rely on Him. How about you? Look up, not for angels, but for Him.

I am so thankful, Lord, that You are the One Who will rule over the world to come.

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Sunbeams break through clouds over a rugged mountain valley with stone homes
Bible, Gifts, Hebrews, Holy Spirit, Miracles, Scripture, Signs, Testify, Wonder

A TESTIFYING GOD

HEBREWS 2:4

“God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders, and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”

Can I get a witness? Have you ever heard someone say that during a church service? I have more than once. I may have even said it myself a time or two. By asking that, the person is seeking collaboration of what they are saying as truth. I have never asked that unless I knew I was stating truth from God’s Word. After all, there is no other true truth. Can I get a witness?

The writer of Hebrews is telling us in verse 4 that God is confirming the message that the angels and His Son had given was from Him. How? By signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Spirit. There is a similar verse in Mark 16:20. “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.” God has always been a testifying God.

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

Here we see several things that are Something new about God in the way He testifies. Let’s look at each of them. Albert Barnes does a great job of defining each of these. He says, “The word rendered ‘signs’ – sēmeion – means any miraculous event that is suited to show that what had been predicted by a prophet would certainly take place.” In Matthew 12:38 some Jewish leaders even asked Jesus to give them a “sign” to show His authority.

Barnes goes on to say, “A ‘wonder’ – teras – denotes a portent, or prodigy – something that is suited to excite wonder or amazement – and hence, a miracle. The words together refer to the various miracles which were performed by the Lord Jesus and his apostles, designed to confirm the truth of the Christian religion.”

God used various “miracles” like healing the sick or raising the dead to point towards His authority of saving power. And of course, we know that “gifts of the Holy Spirit” were given to believers to show how the Spirit can and did work through them. We see these clearly in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. Paul starts out there by saying, “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.” Then goes on to list the gifts. What is(are) your gift(s)?

God is still testifying to His truth today in various ways. Do you believe in miracles? Have you witnessed a sign or a wonder? We cannot put anything outside the parameters of God. Look for Him and allow Him to testify in your life.

I am so thankful, Lord, that You have testified, are testifying and will testify of Your truth and Your supremacy.

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Firefighter assists a man beside a burning car as emergency crews respond
Bible, Escape, Hebrews, Rescue, Salvation, Scripture

NO ESCAPE

HEBREWS 2:3

“how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,”

We have all seen the videos of people being rescued from floods or fires. I saw one recently where a woman was trapped in a burning car after an accident. She was freed from the wreckage just in time by a police officer and some regular citizens who jumped in to help. She had one way to escape that burning vehicle. She had to rely on those doing the rescuing. She could not do it herself.

We are posed a question in today’s verse that you have probably heard preached. It is pretty simple. How can we expect to escape the consequences of sin unless we accept that great salvation? The word “escape” occurs eight times in the New Testament. The Topical Lexicon says it, “communicates a decisive, often miraculous deliverance from danger or judgment.” We only have one way of escape – Jesus.

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

This passage today shows us a Sin to avoid. What is that sin? Spurning the Gospel, denying the offer of salvation. That is the only unforgiveable sin. If we deny that, we have no hope. The word “neglect” in our verse literally means “pay no attention to.” You can’t do that and expect to make it to heaven. Just as the woman in that burning car couldn’t expect to survive if she refused the help of her rescuers, we cannot expect to escape judgment unless we yield to our Rescuer.

I also see an Application to make here. We have an obligation once we have received this great salvation to spread it far and wide. We need to look for those trapped in the burning fires of sin and offer them the way of escape. I love 1 Corinthians 10:13 which reads, “No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” Notice it says, “the way of escape.” The definite article is there in the Greek. There is only one way of escape, not many as the world declares.

The beautiful thing about this “great salvation” is that it is free for the asking. We simply have to believe and receive as John 1:12 says. That does not mean we just name it and claim. No! Believing and receiving requires us to follow and obey. If you are thankful for your “great salvation,” live like it and invite others to join you.

Father God, I am so thankful for the free gift of salvation that was offered to me and for Your Spirit’s wooing of me.

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Waves crashing around a large coastal rock beneath sunbeams
Bible, Firm, Foundation, Hebrews, Scripture, Unshakeable

THE UNSHAKEABLE MESSAGE

HEBREWS 2:2

“For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every violation and act of disobedience received a just punishment,”

God’s Word is God’s Word, no matter how or through whom it is delivered. All through Scripture we see how God used angels or prophets to deliver a message to a nation or a person. One of the most famous is when Gabriel appeared to Mary and gave her God’s message of a child to be conceived in her through the Holy Spirit. Gabriel spoke God’s Word.

The writer of Hebrews speaks of these messengers of God, the angels, and their role in delivering God’s message. The reason their message was “unalterable” was because it wasn’t their message. It was God’s! The Greek word used here is bébaios which the Topical Lexicon says “gathers nine New Testament uses that highlight the unshakable character of God’s work, word and promises. In every occurrence the term expresses a reality that cannot be overturned by time, circumstance or human weakness. It binds together covenant, salvation, hope, prophetic revelation and apostolic ministry with the single idea of enduring reliability.” I love that.

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

The best way to describe this verse today is as a Promise to claim. What better promise could we receive? God’s Word, His message is unshakeable. It cannot be moved. We will see bébaios used four more times in this book (3:6, 14; 6:19; 9:17). It is used to describe our hope, our assurance and our covenant with God. What a promise! Don’t you love knowing that our faith is immovable if we rest in God? He will not be altered by anything.

There is also a Sin to avoid. The writer even names them. He says, “every violation and act of disobedience.” Those are deliberate actions against God’s message or a refusal to listen to it. Either is subject to punishment. You see, God’s message is not the only thing that is unshakeable. So is His justice. God cannot and will not allow sin to reign in your life. If you are His child and choose to sin, He will deal with that. I am not saying you can “unsave” yourself. But there are consequences for deliberate sin as a believer. Of course, I’ve said too many times that for a Christian, sin should be an accident, not a choice of the will. Am I right?

Listen, dear friend, you are part of an unshakeable kingdom built upon God’s unshakeable Word. It does not matter how hard the world around you shakes, you are secure. Your foundation, Jesus Christ, cannot be moved. Do not let the worries of this life cause you the least bit of concern. Trust God’s unshakeable message of mercy and grace.

Father, You are the only solid rock. On You I will stand. 

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Older woman holding a brass listening horn while reading an open book
Attention, Bible, Hearer, Hearing, Hebrews, Listening, Scripture

PAY ATTENTION

HEBREWS 2:1

“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.”

When I was in school, my teachers were quite regularly saying to me, “Mr. Willis, please pay attention!” My mind wandered a lot. I didn’t have ADHD (that was pretty much unheard of back then), but I did get bored easily in class. When I became a Christian in 1977, my attention changed dramatically. The teachers were shocked at the difference in my attitude and my grades. The word in today’s verse for “pay much closer attention” fit me perfectly back then.

The Greek word is prosechó which means “to pay attention, to give heed, to be cautious, to devote oneself.” (Lexical Summary). It comes from two Greek words, pros (toward) and echo (to hold). Figuratively it means to hold your mind towards something. The writer of Hebrews makes the transition from discussing Jesus with “for this reason” and then tells us what to do. He basically says, “Listen closely so you won’t slip away.”

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

Well, this is a no brainer! There is certainly a clear Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid and an Application to make. We are told exactly what we should do. There is another little word here that is interesting. The Greek word dei is there before prosechó. It means behoove, ought to, should. In other words, we are told it behooves us to pay very close attention to what we have heard. Don’t fake your attention. Press the mute button on all the distractions.

The Promise to Claim is if we do that, we won’t slip away. Allowing distractions in your life can only lead to backsliding or passivity. Your salvation was expensive. It cost Jesus His physical life. Don’t cheapen His grace by getting busy with temporal things. Pay attention to the eternal. That’s the Application to Make.

Finally, the Sin to avoid is clearly implied. If we don’t pay attention, we will drift away. HELPS Word-studies has a great definition of the Greek word here. “Pararrhyéō (drift away from) only occurs in Heb 2:1 where it refers to going spiritually adrift – ‘sinning by slipping away’ (from God’s anchor). Pararrhyéō (gradually drift away) means to ‘lapse’ into spiritual defeat, describing how we slowly move away from our moorings in Christ.” Don’t let that happen to you! Pay attention to what you hear?

Help me, Lord, to pay close attention to Your Word and live by it.

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Group gathered beneath a HEIRS OF SALVATION arch at sunset
Bible, Hebrews, Heirs, Inheritance, Promises, Salvation, Scripture

HEIRS OF SALVATION

HEBREWS 1:14

“Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to provide service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”

To be named an heir is a promise given by the one who possesses the item(s) to be inherited. My dad named me and my three siblings heirs to his estate when he passed. I have named heirs to my estate when I pass on to glory. Sometimes heirs not only inherit possessions, but they may also inherit debts. Whatever the inheritance, it does not pass from the owner to the heir until the owner dies. That’s just how it works down here on earth.

For the first thirteen verses on Hebrews 1, we have been looking at the character and promises attributed to Jesus, the Messiah. We’ve seen several Old Testament references used by the writer of Hebrews to point to that. Now, here in the last verse of the chapter, he points to the purpose of Jesus – our salvation. Don’t you love that he calls us heirs of salvation. Look at this quote I found in a source. “The salvation is both the state of salvation here, and its full fruition hereafter. When we are ‘justified by God’s grace’ we are ‘made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7)” (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges)

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

In our verse today, we see a clear Promise to claim, don’t we? Jesus would not name us heirs of salvation unless He is promising to see that through. At His death He purchased our salvation. His sacrifice on the cross paid the penalty for our sin for which God the Father received and redeemed all mankind. That redemption is dependent on our accepting Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. Then and only then do we become heirs of salvation. Hallelujah!

There’s Something new about God also. The Lord tells us in the first part of this verse that He has commissioned His angels to be “sent out to provide service” for us who believe. I truly believe the Lord has His angels watching over us and interceding on our behalf against the evil one. In Psalm 91:11 it says, “For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways.” Jesus even referred to children having “their angels” in Matthew 18:10. “‘See that you do not look down on one of these little ones; for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually see the face of My Father who is in heaven.’”

We are promised salvation and told the angels will help us along the way. What more could you ask for? We all face trials and hard times, don’t we? But the end for we followers of Christ should never be something we are fearful of or afraid to face. We are heirs of salvation and therefore heirs of the kingdom. If we are God’s heirs, we are part of the royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Live like royalty today. Walk in victory!

The promise of my inheritance of salvation is enough, O Lord.

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Leather armchair with blanket and plaid cushion beside a window
Bible, Scripture, Satan, Victors, Devil, Enemies, Victory, Hebrews

A GOOD OTTOMAN

HEBREWS 1:13

“But to which of the angels has He ever said, ‘SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET’?”

I love how Jesus stumped the Pharisees using this same verse from Psalm 110:1. In Matthew 22:41-46 we read, “41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: 42 ‘What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?’ They said to Him, ‘The son of David.’ 43 He said to them, ‘Then how does David in the Spirit call Him “Lord,” saying, 44 “THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES UNDER YOUR FEET”? 45 Therefore, if David calls Him “Lord,” how is He his son?’ 46 No one was able to offer Him a word in answer, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him any more questions.”

The writer of Hebrews uses the same argument here in today’s verse to state Christ’s supremacy over the angels. God never said to any angel, “Sit at My right hand.” That was a place of honor and authority. Do you remember when James and John asked Jesus about sitting next to Him in heaven? In Mark 10:35-40 they posed that question to Him. Of course, Jesus was not the One to decide that. His Father was. No one sits to the right of the Father except His Son, Jesus Christ.

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

Once again, I see Something new about God. Don’t you just love the imagery of our enemies being our footstool? I love a good ottoman or footstool. I love even better a good recliner. Did I tell you I have a power recliner? That chair has the ability to recline and lift my feet so I can rest. That’s the image here. We can rest because our enemies have been defeated. Christ defeated death and the grave and thereby defeated the evil one and all his minions.

The Greek word for “footstool” literally means “a footstool used by a conquering king, to place his foot on the neck of the conquered” (Souter) – i.e. those under his total dominion.” (HELPS Word-studies) Some kings would force their conquered enemies to kneel and be used as a footstool on which they could step to mount their horse. They used it as a means of humiliation. Christ isn’t trying to humiliate His enemies. He is establishing His dominance. A defeated enemy does not need to be humbled.

I want to ask you to also see an Application to make. Because Christ has defeated His enemies, our enemies are also defeated. We do not have to fight these battles against the evil one alone. Jesus fights for us. Stop trying to do this by yourself. Stand firm and resist, of course. And then allow our conquering King remind Satan that he is a defeated foe and has no right to you. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Thank You, Father, for defeating the enemies of Christ and establishing Him at Your right hand.

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