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Philippians 2:8, 9

by Don Costello  
6/18/2008 / Bible Studies


Philippians 2:8

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

a. humbled (5013 * tapeinoo) signifies to make low. Bullinger: to depress, lower, to humble, to bring low.

1. Crucifixion was a very shameful death. The person condemned was considered cursed of God. "And if a man have committed a sin worthy death, and he be put to death, and thou shalt hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance."

2. This is exactly what Isaiah 53:4 says, "yet we did esteem him smitten of God and afflicted."

a. And in one sense he was. Isaiah 53:10 "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him."

b. Acts 2:25 "Him, [Jesus] being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:"

3. Jesus agonized in the garden, Luke 22:44 "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

a. Why did this happen? I am fully persuaded that Jesus was agonizing over the fact that he was going to die spiritually, be separated from his Father when he would be made sin.

4. Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

a. The joy that was set before him was the knowledge that through his obedience to be the sacrifice, the whole world would be redeemed.

b. When the LORD saves people he rejoices over them with joy: Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." [The last part of that verse literally means, "he will leap for joy over thee and shout for joy."

c. Jesus will present us to himself with exceeding joy, Jude 24.

d. Cp. Luke 15:4-10.

e. Jesus endured the cross because of his great love for man and because the Father gave him a glimpse of the result of his obedience. Millions, perhaps billions of souls saved because of his obedience.

5. One reason the Holy Spirit included this along with these other thoughts was because it was part of the joy set before him. Jesus knew before the cross he was going to be exalted after his resurrection. During the week prior to the crucifixion, Jesus was ministering in the Temple. When some of the religious leaders tried to make him look bad in front of the people and failed, Jesus gave them a taste of their own medicine. He asked them to explain Psalm 100:1. This exchange reveals that Jesus knew he was to be exalted after his death.

a. Matthew 22:41-45 "While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?"

b. When Jesus was before the Sanhedrin before they took him to Pilate, Jesus not only declared he was the Messiah, but he also said Psalm 110:1 was a prophecy of his exaltation.

1). Matthew 26:63, 64 "But Jesus held his peace, and the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said:nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."

Philippians 2:9

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

1. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,"

a. Wherefore is a conjunction and joins what was said in the last sentence with what is said here.

b. Because God/Jesus humbled himself, became man and went to the cross, God also highly exalted him. [There are two acts mentioned here. God humbled himself, God exalted him, hence, the use of also].

2. "and given him a name which is above every name:"

a. Because of his exaltation, the name of Jesus is above every name. "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the world to come:"

b. Inheritance according to Webster's means "the action of inheriting, something inherited". When you get something by inheritance, you receive it from both or one of your parents. As the Scriptures clearly show, God was the one who named Jesus. Joseph and Mary merely followed instructions.

1). Luke 1:30-33. "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."
2). Matthew 1:20, 21 "But while he [Joseph] thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

c. The name of Jesus has been given to the Church to be used not only in prayer, but to use as a weapon praying with authority over the devil.

1). John 14:13, 14 "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."

2). Mark 16:15-18 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

3. One of the main points of this passage the Apostle Paul is attempting to get across to us is the link between humility and exaltation, so to see this more clearly I want to combine verses 8 and 9 and then look at some other related verses. "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:"

a. Humility is an attitude that Jesus ministered and lived out all through his life on earth. Matthew 23:12 "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that humble himself shall be exalted."

b. Luke 14:7-11 "And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever sxalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

c. Cp. Matthew 20:20-28.

4. Examples in the Epistles.

a. James 4:6-10 "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

1). resist (498 * antitassomai; anti-against; tasso-to arrange) To set oneself against.

2). Wow! God will set himself against us if we are prideful.

b. 1 Peter 5:5, 6 "Likewise, ye younger, submit tourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"

My name is Don Costello. Ever since I received Christ in November of 1976 I have had a passion to study and know God's word.My wife Melissa and I have 5 children.

My e-mail address is [email protected]

I have a blog located at:
www.theophilus-loverofgodsword.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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