Heir

Property and power in biblical times normally descended from father to son. Jesus Christ is therefore called God's heir, and believers are said to inherit in him.

The heir in ancient Israel

The heir of property

Genesis 15:3–4 See also Proverbs 13:22, Proverbs 19:14

Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the LORD came to Abram, saying, “This one will not be your heir, but one who comes from your own body will be your heir.”

The heir of power

1 Kings 2:12 parallel 1 Chronicles 29:28 See also 1 Kings 11:43, 1 Kings 14:31, 1 Kings 15:3

So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was firmly established.

Lack of an heir regarded as a very serious matter

Deuteronomy 25:5–6; Judges 21:17; 2 Samuel 14:4–7 The woman of Tekoa was interceding indirectly for Absalom, David's heir, who had been banished.

Daughters and other relatives could be heirs if there were no sons

Numbers 27:1–11

Property could be inherited before death

Luke 15:11–12 The prodigal son's request of inheritance before death could perhaps be regarded as an insult, but graciously the father complied out of love.

An heir must not give up his inheritance

Hebrews 12:16 See also Genesis 25:29–34; Numbers 36:6–7; 1 Kings 21:3; Jeremiah 49:1

See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.

The firstborn son was heir to a double share

Deuteronomy 21:17

Jesus Christ as the heir of God

Hebrews 1:2 See also Matthew 28:18; Luke 19:12; John 3:35

But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.

Jesus Christ is heir as the Father's firstborn

Hebrews 1:6

Envy of Jesus Christ as heir

Matthew 21:37–39 parallels Mark 12:6–8, Luke 20:13–15

God's people as heirs

God himself as his people's inheritance

Joshua 18:7; Psalm 73:26, Psalm 119:57, Psalm 142:5; Jeremiah 51:19

Israel as heirs to land

Exodus 32:13 See also Psalm 105:44

Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’”

And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.

Heirs under the covenant

Hebrews 6:17 See also Hebrews 9:15

So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath.

Heirs through God's grace

Galatians 3:18 See also Colossians 1:12

For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.

Co-heirs with Jesus Christ

Romans 8:17

And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ — if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.