Hebrews Chapter Twelve, Being In Subjection

 

Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

 

The writer continues to elucidate his point. Furthermore, he says, our human fathers corrected us, and we respected them for said correction. Our Father in Heaven corrects us for our spiritual and eternal good, which the author refers to as chastisement. The former two verses created the case explaining that such correction is a characteristic of being part of God’s household. Now he likens that image to human parental correction, and when we receive it not despising or despairing, but respecting it.

The idea is acceptance of a human father’s position and wisdom. He is temporally in charge of our instruction, welfare, and correction until such time as we have grown and entered into adulthood. Not that a father ever ceases to be a father; but when we reach maturity, our father’s role shifts from one of provision, direction, and discipline to guidance and reinforcement. Nonetheless, we ought all of our lives to respect our fathers.

 

Then the writer asks the question: shall we not more zealously submit to God? God is a perfect, Heavenly parent; His rule is only wise, and His judgment flawless. The writer asserts that Christians ought to be “in subjection” to such a God. The Greek for subjection is, “hupotasso,” and simply means, “to subordinate, to obey, put under.” It connotes the idea of subjecting oneself to the authority of another. This, the saints are called to do, “much more readily.” Human fathers are typically well meaning but sometimes err for numerous reasons. I can easily attest to this. But God—who is THE Father—is without flaw or foible. He is also called the Father of spirits. Why? Because God formed our spirits, and they return to Him upon death. We read in the Scriptures, “Thus says the Lord, who…forms the spirit of man within him,” Zechariah 12:1. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being,” Genesis 2:7.

 

Breath and spirit are not the same, despite the contention the Watchtower of the Jehovah’s Witnesses proclaim. The breath of life of Genesis 2:7 is the spirit God forms within man in Zechariah 12:1. This spirit returns to God, who originally gave it, as we saw in Genesis. “Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it,” Ecclesiastes 12:7. What does this mean? That believers will enter into Christ’s presence immediately upon death, (Philippians 1:23) while the unsaved enter Hell, awaiting the final judgment of the Great White Throne and the Lake of Fire, Luke 16:22, 23.

 

God is the Father of spirits. Mankind is a spiritual race, clothed in corruptible flesh, but soon to be clothed in incorruptible, like our Lord, dressed and fit to be in His presence for eternity. To this God, the author commends subjection for our good, that we may live. Human fathers sired our flesh, Genesis 5:3. We are made, to that extent, in their likeness. God sired our spirit, and when born again in His image, we are made, to that extent, in His likeness. We are members of His household.

 

The notion of living, used in this context, seems to indicate a temporal one. Human fathers disciplined or corrected us for a time; God disciplines or corrects us perfectly. Both have the ultimate goal of our safety and betterment in mind. The idea then, is not eternal life, but the blessing of a long, temporal one. Being in subjection to God prevents us from wading into waters that would expedite our demise, or hasten God’s disciplinary measures to the point that we are chastened to death, as was Ananias, Sapphira, and certain Corinthian Christians. Again, we read, “But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world,” 1 Corinthians 11:32. Chastisement accompanies poor conduct. Conduct, good or poor, does not reflect our salvation, but our sanctification. We are not saved (or kept) through conduct. But the Holy Spirit seeks for us to lead lives that glorify Jesus Christ, so that His gospel suffers no impediment. To this end, we are chastised because we do not have the Father’s interests in mind, but our own. It is like being caught shoplifting as a child. Your father doesn’t disown you, but he will firmly discipline you in the way that seems best. So it is with the Father. He will teach His children wisely, as only God can, for our improvement, that His Son is glorified in us.