October 30, 2022
Evening Service

Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

            “Therefore” in the scriptures is always a call to look back to what was just said.  The writer had just made a very powerful argument in Chapter 1 that Christ was superior to the prophets and even the angels.  He did this through sharing OT scriptures that made his case very clear.  Christ was superior because of His Deity; the fact that He was the Son of God.  Before beginning his next point which is Christ’ superiority as the Son of Man, he pauses to give the first of many warnings in this letter.  The warning is against the danger of “drifting away” from the message of the gospel; the truth.  False teaching was rampant in that time as it still is today.  The believer needs to pay careful attention that we do not take any detours that do not line up with the Word of Truth.  The greatest danger of drifting away is that there is no guarantee that you will ever get back on track.  Stay in the Word as one who reads, studies, and meditates on it and then applies it to our lives.  This message has come from this pulpit from the beginning and will remain until the end.  Read your Bible and know the Word to keep yourself from being deceived in these last days.

 

Hebrews 2:2-4 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, (3) how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, (4) God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

            Again referring to what he discussed in chapter one, the Jews placed great value on both words spoken by angels and the prophets.  They both proved to be true and punishment came with the disobedience to them.  However, if their words were true and faithful, how much more powerful are the Words of Lord Himself?  These words were confirmed by the Apostles’ testimony and witness along with the evidence of the many signs, wonders, miracles, and the gift of the Holy Spirit which came from them as well.  What excuse can we use if we choose to neglect so great a message of salvation from these?  The many things that Jesus did are impossible to list.  The healing of all who came to Him, the feeding of the five thousand, the raising of the dead, and the gift of speaking in languages that could be readily understood were facts they had all heard of and believed.  The Apostles were also gifted to perform many of these miracles as well.  These all pointed to the fact that Jesus is Lord.  With all that proof, how can we not listen to His Words and believe?  How much a greater judgment will we receive is we have all this and “neglect so great a salvation.”  The writer now begins his argument that Jesus is superior in His humanity.  He again returns the OT and quotes Psalms 8.

 

Hebrews 2:5-8 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.  (6)  But one testified in a certain place, saying: "WHAT IS MAN THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM, OR THE SON OF MAN THAT YOU TAKE CARE OF HIM?  (7)  YOU HAVE MADE HIM A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND SET HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS.  (8)  YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.

            The Jews viewed that men were on a level below the angels, but the writer uses the Psalms to remind them that it is man that has been “crowned with glory and honor and set over the works of God’s hands.”  From creation, man was set a little below than the angels in knowledge, mobility and power and subject to death.  However, God has chosen man to rule the world not angels and have all things under his subjection.  Man, however, lost his dominion along the way as sin entered the picture.  Now the writer turns the light back onto to Jesus who restored mankind through his death on the cross.

 

 Hebrews 2:9-10 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.  (10)  For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

            It was Jesus, the very Son of God, who became a Man for a single purpose; to taste death for everyone.  He was born to live a perfect, sinless life only to die the death that we sinners deserved.  The Creator Himself through grace (unmerited favor) paid the price to restore mankind’s relationship with Himself.  Through His suffering and sacrifice, He now is the perfect One to become the “captain of our salvation.”  “He paid it all and all to Him we owe.”  The One we are following fulfilled His ministry, making Him worthy to lead us.  He did not delegate this task to any man or angel, but fulfilled sins price Himself once and for all time.  The writer continues on this thought.

 

Hebrews 2:11-15 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, (12) saying: "I WILL DECLARE YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN; IN THE MIDST OF THE ASSEMBLY I WILL SING PRAISE TO YOU."  (13)  And again: "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again: "HERE AM I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME."  (14)  Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (15) and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

            The writer here declares Jesus rightly as our Brother as He too was like us flesh and blood.  He who “sanctifies and the ones being sanctified are all of one.”  He could not just declare us righteous, but the price for sin had to be paid to maintain the righteous character of God.  So Jesus became a Man like us to die a death that overcomes the power of death and release us from that debt that held us so tightly in bondage to our enemy.  Without Jesus we have no hope; our righteousness is like “filthy rags” not a royal robe.  But through the sanctifying work of Jesus we are saved.  “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

 

Hebrews 2:16-18 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.  (17)  Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  (18)  For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

            Salvation is not for the angels, but for man (the seed of Abraham).  Jesus became the final and perfect High Priest in that He walked in our shoes without sin.  He knows the struggles, temptations, and heartache that this life offers us.  He can relate to our prayers when these things occur to us.  He knows the need we have for mercy.  He willingly became the “Propitiation for the sins of the people,” which includes us His chosen followers.  Propitiation means substitute or atonement for.  He took our place upon the cross and died a death we deserved for the wages of our sins.

            The writer’s point here is that through Jesus being fully God and fully Man He became the perfect and only candidate to offer to us the free gift of salvation.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for this Word and confirming faith it builds within us that Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life and only through Him is salvation offered.  May our lives be impacted by our faith and change us into the faithful servants You desire us to be.