The Secret of True Philanthropy
Hebrews 2:16
For truly he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.


Great philanthropic programmes must begin at Bethlehem, and comprehend the mysteries of Golgotha, if ever they would ascend from Bethany into the heavens. He who would make life redemptive mission must go to the very base of society, and begin his work there. Men invariably fail when they begin at the high twig rather than the buried root. To serve man, Christ became man. So in serving others we must identify ourselves with them. Christ was in the darkness, but the darkness was not in Him. This identification of Himself with the human race made Christ accessible to all classes. Man needed for a season — only for a season, as one summer in the year is enough — a visible manifestation of God. So by coming to us, and being like us, trod humbling Himself to the death of the Cross, He saved us. We, too, in our philanthropic work must go down. Kings are only the blossomings of the great communal tree. "Down to the roots" is the cry of the true philanthropy.

(J. Parker, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

WEB: For most certainly, he doesn't give help to angels, but he gives help to the seed of Abraham.




The Reasons Why Christ Redeemed Men Rather than Angels
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