THEME: This is a Biblical overview of the matter of the FIRSTBORN (with commentary) as it is founded in the Torah and fulfilled in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus the Messiah).
“But you are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
“To the general assembly and CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.
“See that you refuse not him that speaks.”
(Hebrews 12:22-25a—the last reference in the Bible to the FIRSTBORN, KJV, updated)
he progression of biblical revelation concerning the firstborn is very intricate.
I
The Bible begins this subject with the first reference to the FIRSTBORN of Canaan, his son Sidon.
A reference to the land of Tyre to the north of Israel can be seen here in terms of the city of Sidon. In Genesis 10:15-19 we are told that the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon.
In the time of our Lord Jesus we have the record in Matthew 15 of his visit “to the coasts of Tyre and Sidon” where he encountered a Canaanite woman whose faith obtained a miracle of deliverance by appealing to our Lord. To her he said, “O woman! Great is your faith! Be it unto you even as you will. And her daughter was made whole from that hour.”
This moment Is the only recorded time that Jesus went beyond the border of Israel and Samaria to minister directly to a person from a thorough-going pagan culture. The faith of this woman astounded Jesus. (“Yes Lord; but even the little dogs eat from the crumbs of bread that fall from the childrens’ table.” And he answered, “O woman! Great is your faith! Be it unto you as you will.”
Thus, the blessings of God are obtained among all peoples by simple faith in Messiah Jesus.
Interestingly, this woman obtained the miracle of deliverance from a demonic spirit when she implored GOD’S FIRSTBORN—THE MESSIAH OF THE LINE OF DAVID, God’s only-begotten Son who thus has inherited all that belongs to the Father (cf. Psalm 2 with John 3, Proverbs 30:4 and Psalm 89:3-37).
Dr. Richard Booker has made clear that the Threshold Covenant was the most ancient form of worship and that it was practiced as a Household Covenant and Rite in which the Father acted as the Priest of the Home and, upon the human Father-Priest’s death, his FIRSTBORN became his father’s successor to the family priesthood.
In this light the passage in Ephesians 3:14-15 takes on heightened meaning: “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom THE WHOLE FAMILY in heaven and earth is named.”
Our Lord Jesus is the eternal fulfillment of the Priesthood of the Firstborn (a Melchizedekian Order that never ends). (Genesis 14:18; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:5-10)
Our walk with God in eternity will be with God the Father whose FIRSTBORN SON the Resurrected and Glorified Messiah will be the ETERNAL FAMILY PRIEST over His house as Mediator (Hebrews 2:16-18—THE ETERNAL SON OF MAN at the right hand of GOD, making intercession forever on behalf of Mankind—see Revelation 21-22).
Back to Earth:
In 1 Samuel 20 David asked leave from the table of Saul to attend a yearly sacrifice of his family at the new moon—the reason being that “his brother” (that is, his elder brother, the priest of the family) commanded him to present himself there.
Thus, Jesus is not only our Savior and Lord, he is also our very compassionate and responsible Elder Brother who cares for us—his Family–forever.
II
This devotion has already reached its limit. At another time, perhaps, I shall be able to consummate the entire thread of biblical revelation concerning this great matter, especially that aspect in which the Messianic Nation of Israel is also spoken of as “God’s Firstborn” (Exodus 4:22 with Romans 9-11). It will include the very important matter of Israel’s National Constitution in which the LEVITICAL TRIBE was taken unto God INSTEAD OF THE FIRSTBORN in order to be the PRIESTLY TRIBE that served the entire nation through Mediation before God both in Jerusalem and in all the cities and towns of Israel’s dwelling in the land (Numbers 3:11-13 with Nehemiah 10, et al).
