This exert is entirely from The Reign of the Servant Kings By Dr. Joseph C. Dillow1Chapter 4—The Inheritance: New Testament. The Rights of the Firstborn. Page 84
Esau was the firstborn son and therefore by birth had the rights and privileges described as belonging to the firstborn. The law of the firstborn sheds great light on the biblical condition for obtaining the inheritance. Among the sons, the firstborn son enjoyed special privileges. When his father died, he received a double share of the inheritance (Dt. 21:17). During his life he was pre-eminent among his brothers (Gen. 43:33). God had originally intended to make the firstborn of the sons of Israel His priests. However, due to the disobedience in the wilderness he took that blessing from the firstborn and gave it to the Levites instead (Num. 8:14-18).
God often violated His own rule regarding the firstborn blessing. Sometimes this was based upon grace. Isaac was selected ahead of Ishmael, the firstborn; and Jacob was chosen instead of Esau for the blessing of the firstborn. Sometimes the reversal of the firstborn right to the inheritance was based upon merit. To the end of his life it was the father’s prerogative to determine the disposal of his property.21 Chronicles 26:10: Shimri the first, for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him the first). If the eldest son was not qualified, then the father could [Page 85] give it to the son who was. The Scripture only requires that, if the firstborn right is denied to the eldest, that it not be a matter of favouritism (Dt. 21:15-17). Even though Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn, the inheritance rights passed to Simeon (Gen. 49:3-4) and ultimately to Judah, the fourth in line, because he saved Joseph’s life (Gen. 37:26-27).
The rights and privileges of the firstborn were given, provisionally, at birth. The right to the inheritance was his, but he could lose it. It was necessary that the firstborn son maintain these rights. He must be worthy of the elevated status and honour. All the sons are heirs, but only those who met the conditions of the firstborn achieved the elevated status and authority and retain their inheritance. The many New Testament references to something conditional in the future life of the [regenerate] believer may reflect this Old Testament distinction between the firstborn son who retained his privilege and those like Esau who did not. Those Christians who suffer with Him (Rom. 8:17), who endure (2 Tim. 2:5), and who are the overcomers of the book of Revelation are the firstborn sons.
Esau, although heir to the rights of the firstborn, counted them of little value. In order to satisfy his passing appetite, he sold them for a meal. Later in life he changed his mind and regretted his rash decision. Yet he was unable to change his father’s mind.
Whether or not Esau was saved is not relevant to this discussion. The writer uses him as an illustration of the fact that the saved can lose their firstborn inheritance rights. His example is applied to those who have come to the church of the firstborn ones (Heb. 12:23).3The Greek word translated “firstborn” is plural, and therefore the firstborn ones are referred to and not Christ as firstborn. To come to the “church of the firstborn” means to be called to the privilege of being a firstborn son. All Christians are called to be part of that assembly and by birth have a right to be there. However, they may forfeit that right and never achieve their calling. That is the thrust of all the warnings of the book of Hebrews. See chapters 19 and 20.
True Christians fully parallel the description of Esau. We are children of God and we are firstborn sons. Because of that we possess the rights of the firstborn. We do not have to earn these rights. They are given to us through the grace of God. However, we must value and keep these rights and [we] are warned by Esau’s example regarding the possibility of not doing so. But even though we cannot forfeit eternal life, we can forfeit our firstborn rights.
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