CONSIDER
Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved 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 succour them that are tempted.
Hebrews 3:1 ¶ Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
This is the only passage in the Holy Scriptures where the Lord Jesus is referred to as an “Apostle.” This Greek word appears 81 times in the Bible, and is translated “apostle” 80 times. The only other time this word is translated differently into English is found in 2 Corinthians 8:23. And there it is seen as “the messengers.” Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
And the Lord Jesus Christ is “the Word” sent from God as the only authorized Messenger to cause mankind to truly know the Father. John 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Matthew 11:27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
It is important that we notice that there are two titles given to one person in our Hebrews 3:1 verse. The one person is Christ Jesus. And the two titles are, Apostle and High Priest. This is highly important because of the single word command within that verse, which is the title of this article. For we are told to “consider” our Lord in both these offices. That Greek word means, “to fully observe.” It is translated as, “perceived” in Luke 20:23. And it is seen as “behold” in Acts 7:31 & 32.
The Father would have us set out hearts and minds upon His Son! Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. John 3:35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
And having come to this first verse of chapter three of Hebrews, we find it beginning with the word, “Wherefore.” That is, we are to fully observe Christ’s already having been set forth as the one person with these two offices. Because that was what was set forth in the first two chapters of this book! In chapter one was saw him as The Sovereign Son, who was higher than the angels! Hebrews 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
And as the Sovereign Son, he is the word made flesh to dwell among us! (John 1:14). So we see him as the Apostle, the “messenger” sent from God! He was in existence before he got here! For in order for him to be a child that was born, he had to be a son that was given! Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
But in chapter two we saw him as The Suffering Savior, for a little while made lower than the angels for the suffering of death. (Hebrews 2:9). In this we see him taking care of our sins as the High Priest. Hebrews 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
We see then that we have two “Wherefores,” found both in Hebrews 2:17 and here in 3:1. Both of which are listed above. Therefore, because he was made like unto his brethren, we are to consider him, giving him full honor in both our hearts and minds. Consider him as Apostle to bring us the only authorized word of truth from God. And also consider him as the High Priest to mediate our prayers to the Father!
He is Jacob’s ladder connecting heaven with earth! Genesis 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. John 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
We should glorify him not just in that he has brought us truths, but that he IS “THE truth!” John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. For before man came to be, the “father of lies” was already established to distort the revelation and purposes of God! John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
For these two offices of the one Person of the Son of God are wholly about mediation! 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Hebrews 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
That is a great deal to “consider!” It is not just a great deal of information, but it is a great depth of revelation! But it is so very important to the well-being of the spiritual man. For his inner peace depends upon it. Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
And it is essential for survival in the endurance of sufferings. Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Dwelling upon him is said to have his name inscribed upon one’s forehead. Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
Eventually every being, whether human or celestial creatures – including Satan himself – shall, without distraction, consider the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ! For it is not a matter of “if” they shall bow to him, but “when!” Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This is that which shall make heaven to be heavenly. And this is that which shall make Hell unbearable! – That is the full manifestation of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ! Of the believers we read: Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And of the unbelievers – those souls in eternal darkness we read: Revelation 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: Of Satan in that place of darkness and torment read Isaiah 14:15-17.
The Book of Isaiah begins with this matter of considering the Lord God. It is set forth there that even the domestic animals have a better record of considering than did their masters. Isaiah 1:3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
And later, the prophet instructs of the resulting judgments against such people for failure to keep the Lord in their considerations. Isaiah 5:13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
And to consider the Lord – to have a God consciousness – is a great deterrent against committing sin. It was the consideration of God that kept Joseph from yielding to the adulterous desires of his master’s wife. Genesis 39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
There is no ‘place’ that is absent from the Lord’s presence. In fact, there would not be a ‘place’ without the Lord’s spiritual presence providing it existence! Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (That word, “consist” means “to stand together,” or exist!)
Psalm 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
So when it states that Cain “went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.” (Genesis 4:16), it only means that Cain ceased to consider the Lord within his own heart and mind. For God was in the land of Nod when Cain arrived! No one can actually go out from the presence of the Lord! The world is contained in God, and not just that God is in the world! For it is in him we live and move and have our being! (Acts 17:28).
One can only go out from the consideration of the Lord! Psalm 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
This consideration is what God said would be the salvation of a previously wicked man! Ezekiel 18:27 Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. 28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. (that phrase, “let them slip,” in Hebrews 2:1 means, “to flow by, or to carelessly pass.”) 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; The Lord God has not left this world without constant strong and evident witnesses. But the greatest of these is the Person of God, the Word. For the eternal Person of God, the Son, has come among us, walked around on this very earth, and imparted to us the true witness of the Father himself! John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
It would be very detrimental to our eternal souls to casually drift by this valuable revelation without proper consideration! James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Pastor Gene Breed, May 26, 2017
