Heir
“To possess or take possession, often implying forcible occupation”
Summary
An heir is one who enters into a possession through relationship rather than personal exertion; in Scripture the term applies both to Jewish laws of inheritance and to believers' position as heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.
☩Hebrew Laws of Inheritance
Under the Mosaic law, property was divided among sons, the eldest receiving a double portion while the others received equal shares. Daughters had no share in the patrimony unless there were no sons; they received only a marriage portion. If there were no sons, the inheritance went to daughters, on condition they marry within their own tribe to prevent the patrimony being transferred to another tribe. If there were no daughters, the inheritance passed to brothers, then to paternal uncles, then to the nearest kinsman. The object of these regulations was to prevent alienation of the land and retain it in the same family—the Mosaic law enforced a strict entail.
☩The Levirate Marriage
If a brother died childless, the surviving brother was obligated to marry the widow and raise up seed to his deceased brother. The Mosaic law adopted existing usages that still prevail in parts of Arabia and Africa. Childlessness was considered such a calamity that ordinary laws of forbidden degrees of marriage were set aside in this case. The obligation could be evaded, but with indignity—the widow loosing the brother-in-law's shoe and spitting in his face, marking him as one who refused to build up his brother's house.
☩Christ the Heir
Christ, the Son, is appointed heir of all things. In the parable of the Wicked Husbandmen, Jesus applies the term 'heir' to Himself, where the tenants say, 'This is the heir; come let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours.' The heirship of the Son was realized in the Incarnation and in its essence is independent of the Fall, though conditioned by it as to circumstances. He inherited in the eternal purpose of God a name more excellent than the angels.
☩Believers as Heirs
The title of 'heir' passes to those who have obtained Divine sonship. Believers are 'heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.' 'If ye are Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, heirs according to promise.' The position is one of present privilege as well as assurance of fuller possession in the future. The Old Covenant could not make men perfect; therefore God provided in Christ a spiritual and eternal inheritance. We are called to inherit a blessing, entitled to Divine privilege through adoption.
☩Conditions of Inheritance
The title of heirship may be forfeited if those called are not worthy of their inheritance. 'He that overcometh shall inherit these things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.' The meek shall inherit the earth; those who have given up earthly possessions for Christ's sake shall inherit eternal life; those who show mercy shall inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world. But no fornicator, unclean person, or covetous man has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Related Verses38 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Heir," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Heir," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 3.George Morrish, "Heir," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Heir," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 5.James Hastings (ed.), "Heir Heritage Inheritance," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).