ANOINTED. Hebrews 1:9 There is no doubt of His superiority; His kingdom will last forever. Every other anointed king has failed somehow in the role he was sent to fulfill. This one is the King of Righteousness, judging with purity, impartiality, and perfect justice. He is also higher in His nature because He alone is the King of joy. He is anointed, not appointed. His position, authority, deity, and perfect righteousness are timeless, as is His essence. He has always loved righteousness and despised iniquity.
The Holy Spirit has anointed him. Because He was “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross,” God has “highly exalted Him and given Him a name that is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” The Lord Jesus Christ was not only “The Man of sorrows,” but He is also “The Man of gladness.”
The Holy Spirit anointed Him to preach the Gospel to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to captives, give those who mourn beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness [Isa. 61:1-3]. The Trinity is revealed as God and man in one person, who is “Fairer than all the fair, who fill the heavenly train,” and the only perfect Man among men. The throne of God is filled with the Son, who loves righteousness and hates iniquity.
His words are always words of truth. He spoke gracious words when He taught and blessed the people who came to hear Him. He is a human, but not merely humanity, because He stands alone in the universe as the Almighty and Most High God, and the Perfect Man who embodies both deity and manhood with eternal perfection in His person. His conception by the Holy Spirit was in the womb of the Virgin Mary. He was led by the Spirit, identified by the Spirit and the Father as one of the Trinity.
Righteousness originally meant “straight” or “right.” It has expanded to include “to do justice,” “to be just,” and to “vindicate.” In the Old Testament, righteousness was a covenantal term with both positive and negative implications. Israel was not exempt from judgment when they sinned, but when they repented and God delivered them after justice was carried out, He could again declare them righteous. Benevolence on God’s part does not mean that punishment for sin will be avoided. God is just, but He is also the only one who can justify the ungodly.
In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus spoke about false righteousness found in those who trust in themselves and believe their own actions justify them. The Lord taught that those who admit their sin and put their trust in Him are forgiven, and His righteousness is credited to them. They are declared righteous before God because the sinless Savior died for sinners who receive Him by faith. His righteousness fulfills all the demands of divine justice. The righteousness of Christ is of infinite worth, making eternal salvation available to all who trust in Him as their personal Savior.
The moral attributes of God, His righteousness, are all seen in His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Goodness is His nature; His hatred against sin is holy; His holiness is without any taint of compromise and partiality. His justice is always absolutely fair and appropriate in its degree. He is long-suffering, abounding in love, mercy, and truth. Vengeance and wrath against sin are always suitable, needed, and undisputable in fairness. His grace is always offered to those who acknowledge their guilt and need for His forgiveness. He does not want any to perish, but that they will come to the knowledge of the truth.