Bible Commentaries
Hebrews 2

Introduction

GIVE THE MORE EARNEST HEED

-- HEBREWS TWO --

We must attend diligently to the things that were spoken by the Lord and not allow ourselves to slip away from them. The writer of Hebrews shows what Jesus accomplished by becoming the man who died for all. His message is greater than the Old Law.

People gave heed to that Old Law. Should we not even more heed the New Covenant which was given by one who was greater than the angels? Jesus has the right to be heard because: (1) The world to come has been put under Him, (2) He was crowned with glory and honor, and (3) He tasted death for every man.

Jesus became a man and suffered severely to provide salvation for humanity. Jesus took upon Himself our nature and suffered for our sins. The Hebrew writer wrote, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." ( Heb_2:9 ) Jesus conquered him who has the power of death, the Devil.

Verses 1-4

How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation -- Heb_2:1-4 : We must give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard because Jehovah made them available. We must give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard because they relate to the Christ and to our eternal salvation. We must give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard because they relate to God's great promises of forgiveness and an eternity in heaven. We must give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest we lose the joy of our salvation.

The great salvation which was spoken of by the Lord can be ours through: (1) Our faith in the truth that Jesus is the Son of God ( Joh_8:24 ), (2) Repentance from our past sinful living ( Luk_13:3-5 ), (3) Confession of our faith in Jesus as Lord and Christ ( Rom_10:9-10 ) and (4) Baptism for the forgiveness of our sins. ( 1Pe_3:21 ) Since the Christ is so far exalted above the prophets, angels, and Moses we ought to give the more earnest attention to all that He has spoken.

The word spoken by angels refers to the Law given by the ministry of angels. Under that Old Law all transgressors were justly and severely punished. So then, how can we escape eternal damnation if we neglect the gospel of Christ! The gospel of the Son of God was confirmed by signs and wonders, by miraculous powers and gifts of the Holy Ghost. The use of all the signs and wonders was controlled by the will of God.

Jesus is our great Savior. Therefore, let us be careful that we esteem the greatness of His person, that we respect His authority, and that we receive His message.

Verses 5-9

How could we not appreciate one who died for all -- Heb_2:5-9 : We must give loving obedience to Jesus Christ because God has put the world to come in subjection unto Him. The church can depend upon Jesus Christ as her loving head. The unbelievable love of the Son of God toward mankind is seen in the fact that He willing condescend to this earth and suffered terribly to provide our salvation.

Jesus Christ has the government over that church. The words of Psa_8:4-6 are here applied powerfully to Him. "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet."

God is mindful of Jesus and He is also always mindful of us. Therefore, let us never be forgetful of Him. Let us remember God daily as we approach Him by doing our duty. God accomplished in Jesus what he could accomplish in no other. As a result of His suffering and death, Jesus was crowned with glory and honour.

Salvation was not provided by any right which man had earned, but it was provided by the grace of God. By the favour of God, Jesus experience death for the sins of the world. Jesus bore the bitterness and unpleasantness of death (physical and spiritual) for every man, whether Jew or Gentile, bond or free. The atonement made by Jesus was unlimited in its nature and design. When we look upon the sinfulness of man, we too, can only exclaim, "What is man that thou art mindful of him?"

Verses 10-15

How touched we should be by the suffering of the Saviour -- Heb_2:10-15 : The Hebrew writer refers to Jesus with many wonderful terms. Among then, he calls Him "the captain of our salvation." ( Heb_2:10 ) His purpose is and our purpose also is to bring many to heaven so they can be treated as sons. God as God could not die for our sins -- God cannot die. So God took our nature that he might die for us. He became one with us that we might become one with Him.

Observe these truths: (1) Jesus Christ has a church. (2) Christians are one of another and brethren to Christ. (3) Jesus declared the Father's name to them in the church. and, (4) Jesus sang praise to the Father in the church. If He would praise the Father with song in the church so should we.

Jesus undertook the work of destroying him that had the power of death. This was accomplished by His own dying. When it was said that Satan had the power of death I understand this to mean that the Devil was the cause of death being introduced into the world, and he was the means of its long and depressing reign.

Jesus Christ, by dying, has freed all His children from the tormenting fear of death. Christ took away the reason to fear death, namely, the curse or condemnation of the Law of God. Sin is now curable by the precious blood of Jesus.

Verses 16-18

How the Saviour is able to succor those that are tempted -- Heb_2:16-18 : Christ did not take upon himself the nature of angles because the angels sinned without a tempter. There was no one who seduced them to evil. Also the angels sinned against knowledge. The angels sinned by purposed malice.

We shall never fully understand the riches of God's amazing grace toward sinful man until that Judgment Day when Christ appears as both our judge and our justifier. Christ is ready, willing and able to succour those who under their temptations come to Him. He became man and was tempted in every way that He might be qualified to succour His people.