Free Bible Commentary
“Philippians 2:5-8”
Categories: Philippians“ Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
---End of Scripture verses---
If we are going to “strive together for the faith of the gospel” (1:27), we must learn to “do nothing from selfishness and empty conceit,” humbly regard one another as more important than ourselves (2:3), and look out for the interests of other people (2:4). If we want to learn how best to achieve this difficult task, we must look to the perfect example of Christ Jesus, and adopt His “mind” or “attitude” as our very own (verse 5).
Jesus had all the privileges of deity. He “existed in the form of God” (verse 6). The meaning of the word “form” has been a much debated subject, and there are varying opinions on what it means in this context. But, the true meaning must be viewed in light of the fact that Jesus has always possessed “equality with God”. Existing in the form of God, Jesus possesses all of the nature, essence and attributes of deity.
But, Jesus did not regard his equality with God “a thing to be grasped.” Even though He had all the prerogatives of deity, He chose to not fully exercise them when He came to this earth in “the form of a bond-servant” (verse 7). Instead, Jesus “emptied himself” or “made himself of no reputation.” Yet another hotly debated subject is just what did Jesus empty himself of. The short answer is that He emptied himself of “self”. He did not stop being God. He did not divest himself of His divinity. He chose to not pursue the course of self-interest.
Jesus came to serve and not to be served. Many people think that they would like to be God, at least for a day. Well, that might not be exactly what they expect it to be. In Jesus “all the fullness of deity dwells in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). And yet He was often hungry, thirsty, sleepless, friendless, unappreciated, hated. It is not that He didn’t have the power to remedy these situations. It’s just that, as God, His love for His creation allowed him to (temporarily) lay aside any insistence for the reverence and honor and glory that was due Him.
It all boils down to this: Jesus “humbled Himself” (verse 8). If anyone had the right to be demanding and arrogant, it was Jesus. But He pursued the undesirable course (from purely human reasoning and standards) of humble submission instead. God came to the earth in the “form” of a man (which means that He was every bit as much man as He was God, simultaneously), and He lived for and served the people He created. And He served all the way “to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
If Jesus willingly sacrificed His rights and privileges and ego and life for sinful, inconsistent, ungrateful people like you and me, certainly we can take it on the chin for our brothers and sisters in Christ in order to be more like our Savior, and promote grace, love and unity in the church He died to purchase.
Please read Philippians 2:9-11 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day.
- Louie Taylor
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