¹⁰ For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

The means of bringing many sons to glory rests on both the incarnation and death of Christ.

in bringing many sons to glory,

The “glory” here refers to the glory of Psalm 8, the glory of dominion over the created order (He 2:7-8). The Son of Man will bring “many sons to glory.” “Sons” in this context refers to the universal church. They are not “sons” in their own right but because of their relation to the Son.

“To glory” means that the church will share Christ’s glory (He 2:7, 9; cf. 2 Ti 2:10). One day the “sons of God” will be set free from bondage to decay and obtain glorious liberty (Ro 8:20f).

to make the captain [trailblazer, originator, author, pioneer] of their salvation

The word “captain” occurs three other times in the New Testament and always refers to Christ (Ac 3:15; 5:31; He 12:2). The idea is a leader who stands at the head of a group. He is a person who opens the way for others to follow—a pioneer. Jesus was the trailblazer for our salvation. He is both the source of our salvation and He brings those He saved to His intended goal. As Joshua led Israel into the promised land, so Jesus will lead us into glory.

perfect [complete] through sufferings.

“Perfect” does not imply imperfection in Jesus. The Son was never imperfect in any sense. He was sinless. However, it was not His perfect life that brought many sons to glory. It was His death that paid for the sins of the world; it was His sufferings that did it. Jesus perfectly paid the price for sin. Our Lord completed His office for redeeming man.

The Greek word “perfect” means to carry something to a goal or completion. Jesus consummated the work of saving our souls. It was appropriate for Jesus to go through much suffering as the Captain of the salvation of souls. His “sufferings” made Him complete for saving those who would trust Him. His sacrifice was so complete that nothing was needed to be added to it (He 5:9; 9:9; 10:14).

The Father perfected (completed) Jesus by designing His path to glory through sufferings. Jesus went through this to fulfill the Father’s appointed office for Him. The Father will do the same with Jesus’ followers as well. Believers associate with Jesus in both His suffering and future glory.

“Perfect” means that Jesus was qualified to bring salvation through His suffering on the cross. “Sufferings” in the plural indicates that He suffered everything necessary to be the “captain” of our salvation.

PRINCIPLE:

Jesus suffered with men to suffer for them.

APPLICATION:

There is a connection between the Son and many sons; there is a common humanity between them. There was a grand purpose in God’s sending Jesus to die on the cross. The drastic action that the Father took about His death was fitting and fully warranted. He did not suffer needlessly but He did this to meet the absolute righteousness of God. Christ’s death is our only hope of salvation. He had to become a genuine human being to accomplish this.

Jesus suffered through His incarnation and He ultimately suffered by His death upon the cross. That work of His on earth came to a completion; He did everything necessary for the salvation of the soul and for bringing many sons to glory.

The Father ordered the Son’s sufferings from eternity. He was the cause and director of it all. His plan will bring many sons to glory. Jesus completed the Father’s plan perfectly.

God put Christ’s sufferings within the sweep of purpose for creation. It was no mistake that Christ died on the cross. The Father perfectly fulfilled His plan in the crucifixion of Christ for our salvation.

Any other plan of salvation than through the cross is totally inappropriate. The fitness of Christ’s death on our behalf accords with God’s character and view of things, not on man and how he deems things should be.