“…Who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.”

While the authorship of the book of Hebrews is still in doubt even to this day, one thing is quite clear:  the author had a commanding knowledge of the Old Testament.  This book, more than any other New Testament letter, connects the Old and New Covenants convincingly and with precise detail.

One example of that attention to detail is found in 8:1, where the writer makes a real distinction between the “High Priest” and “the Majesty in the heavens.”  The two are not the same.  The context of the preceding chapter and what follows in this chapter is all about Jesus as our High Priest.  But this High Priest is the one who is “seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,” or God the Father.  The Father is majestic in contrast to the Son because the former has not had to take on the numerous roles that the Son did while he was on the earth accomplishing salvation.  The Father was not limited as the Son was in his putting on flesh, living among a fallen race, and dying on the Cross.  The Father kept all his glory; thus He alone is majestic.  The same distinction is seen in chapter 1, verse 3.  Speaking of Christ, it says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being sustaining all things by his powerful word.  After he had provided purification for our sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

In America where it seems that virtually everything is informal, we lose an important aspect here.  Back in Europe for hundreds of years governments ruled by what was called ‘the divine right of kings.’  This political philosophy said that because all power came from God, and those kings ruled countries, then kings were personally appointed by God and could rule as if they were God on earth.  Based on such a notion, many kings became tyrants and ruled harshly, often taking the law into their own hands, or having their personal desires become law.  In such a setting it was common in most royal courts where the king conducted the country’s affairs, that no one could sit in the presence of the king without being personally given that right.  It was rarely granted except to very special individuals.  The grandeur of such royal courts in Europe was usually quite impressive, and the no-sitting rule increased the sense of awe.  Kings believed it should be this way because they were “God’s servants” (see Romans 13:4).   For Christ to sit “down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” is not only a supreme compliment to him, but it also pictures the indescribable Majesty that enthrones heaven itself, and speaks marvelously of God the Father.

The word majesty comes from a Greek root word with the prefix, mega.  From this word we get words like “mega-church” and “mega-trends.”  In such usage it means “incredibly large church” and “exceedingly important trends,” respectively.  Thus mega enhances whatever it is describing.  The fact that it is used of God the Father in all his glory in heaven should not surprise us.

The only other time it is used in the Bible is found in Jude 25.  For the context, let’s begin in verse 24:  “to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore!  Amen.”  Jude wraps up his short letter with a fitting doxology by describing the Father as the One who keeps us from stumbling spiritually in heaven in the full presence of his glory.  Imagine that when you’re having a bad day!  But then he says that “glory and majesty” is to be to God.  How can that be when he is already majestic and has all majesty?  Because God is majestic, the statement reflects the reality that we are to verbally acknowledge this fact in praise and adoration.  In other words, it demands a proper response that confirms this truth “now and forevermore.”

God alone is majesty.  One day we will see and be fully enveloped in that majesty and not be consumed.  Let that grab you: we will be faultless in his presence “with exceeding joy”, not fear or dreading judgment!  Have you spent any time contemplating what this incredible part of your inheritance will be like, riveting your mind to this certainty and the assurance of his acceptance and love?

Do you agree with Jude that it is to “God our Savior be glory [and] majesty”?  In heaven we will praise him “forevermore” and never tire.  Does your current praise reflect his strength or your weakness?