The Letter to the Hebrews, Lesson 3 Chapter 2
by Lane Rogers
Hebrews 2
There are several points about the text here that should be mentioned. We just left a section where it has been argued that Jesus was greater than the angels, and this argument was used to show that Jesus was deity (God). The last section of chapter one has positive statements about the role of angels (1:14-22). (1) They work for Jesus in mistering to the saints. (2) They delivered the law of Moses. We now move into a Rabbinic qal wahomer argument (from the lesser to the greater) or in Western philosophical terms an a fortiori (even more so or for even stronger reason) argument. In short, what the argument tells us is that since Jesus was really God (the author of chapter one has just proven this with the OT), then we sure ought to LISTEN to what he is about to say.
THE TEXT CHAPTER 2
1For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
A. The writer includes himself with those he writes about. He is not an apostle but makes a reference to those who heard them in person. In fact, notice the "we" in this verse and the "we" and "us" also in v. 3.
B. We should notice here that it is possible to "drift away." The implications here are that there is a true and correct teaching (what they heard) and anything other than what they heard is false.
2For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,
A. The law was steadfast and it was delivered by angels (Acts 7:38). We are now introduced to Moses in this argument. Moses and the superiority of Christ is the subject matter of the next chapter.
B. Punishment in the OT times was related to the law. For every law had a penalty and these penalties were severe and inescapable.
3how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard.
A. The word was spoken first by the Lord. Eliminates the Mormons. Once again the writer includes himself (we). It ought to be noticed that salvation can be neglected. The Word of God was spoke first by Jesus and then (them) to the apostles. "It then was confirmed to us" means they saw apostolic miracles.
B. Notice, the author claims absolutely no authority for himself in this text. The message has been proven valid and that is enough. This mirrors some of the works of Luke (Luke 1:1-4).
C. The message then was not brought to us by angels but by the Son of God Himself.
4God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
A. (v.4) God confirmed the Word by signs and miracles through the Holy Spirit. [There was an apostle in the congregation performing miraculous works of the Holy Spirit.]
B. This passage will be key to understanding later verses in Hebrews. In Hebrews 6:4, the writer once again makes a reference to this text when he states that these people who were enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift, became partakers in the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 6:4 and statements are a reference to people who saw the apostolic miracles and miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, not us.
EARTH HAS BEEN MADE SUBJECT TO A MAN (5-18)
The central argument of chapter one was that Christ was really deity, God in person. Now we have a shift to an argument that Christ was really a man. No, the writer is not contradicting himself but is making the point that Jesus was fully God (deity) and at the same time Jesus was fully man. While we have included verses 17-18 in this section of text, those verses are transitional in the sense they will introduce us to the High Priesthood of Christ.
5For
He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we
are speaking.
I. The angels have been responsible for world government but not so in the world to come. The LXX version of this is what the writer is referring to. Listen to Deut. 32:8:
"When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children of men, He sat bounds of the people according to the number of the angels of God."
The verse then goes on to say that YHWH reserved Israel for Himself. All one must do to follow through with this idea is read Daniel 10. Here is the point, angels as administration officials of world events have been replaced by Jesus.
2. "The World to come." What is the world to come? Ten mellousan, (literally, about to come) is not as later writers thought the world for which the psalmist was future, but which for Christians is a present reality. V.8b contradicts that idea. "We do not see everything in subjection to Him." The "world to come" is something which is already possible for the believers, not only to speak about, but to some extent experience. The previous verses with their references to "soterias " (salvation) are not only future (1:14) but also present (2:3) reality, have given examples of the "powers of the world to come," (6:5) which are already at work (2:3f). Later, it will become clear that the author thinks of the future world or age as qualitatively new and heavenly, not merely as a restoration of the present age. Thus, if read closely, the above verse has the main stress on the "world to come" and not the angels.
6But one has testified somewhere, saying,
"WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM?
OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?
7"YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS;
YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR,
AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;
1. The writer of the letter is not careful at all about his quotes. All OT to him is divine and a near enough quote is good enough.
2. With that said, he quotes (almost) Psalms 8:4-6. There is a notable difference between the Hebrew text and the LXX. The Hebrew text says "thous has made Him but little lower than God" whereas the LXX says "thou has made Him for a little while lower than angels."
3. The idea of Jesus being crowned will be discussed later.
4. Jesus has been put in charge of all creation.
8"YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET "
For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him but now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.
A. Notice, we are back to the "we" section again. The author includes himself in this section.
B. panta (all things) in this context is used twice. This is a reference to God's (Jesus's) cosmic works. It is true that the context wants us to dwell on Christians, and the earth but we are ever reminded as to the bigger picture.
9But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
A. The point of this text is how we ought to see Jesus now.
B. Verse 9 has this theme stated. This is the first time in the letter that this name has been used.
C. The "crowning of Jesus was because he did not sin, therefore Jesus died "still crowned."
10For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
(1) I think the above verse has several functions. First it marks the start of a new paragraph (10-18) in which there is no reference to the readers and is concerned with twin themes: (1) as sharing trials and sufferings with believers,
(2) As the one who thereby leads them to salvation.
(3) Suffering then had its purpose in Jesus. It was to make Him perfect in respect to the model that was required to be the savior of all mankind. This idea will be expanded on as we move on through the text.
11For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
(1) This is unity in holiness. We are all united through holiness.
(2) Since that is the case, Jesus is not ashamed of us since we are all from the same Father.
12saying,
"I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN,
IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE."
The Humanity of Jesus vs. 13-18
1. Made lower than angles.
2. He died like a man.
3. Unity in Holiness (Psalms 22:22).
4. He suffered like a man and not just in death.
5. Adopted brethren, we are his brethren.
6. He trusted like a man (v.13).
7. In like manner, which is by birth (v.14).
8. Partook of the same (He was flesh and blood).
9. Came to destroy Satan (v.15).
10. Came to help (v.16).
11. He was made in all things equal to His brethren.
12. He was tempted like a man.
13And again,
"I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM "
And again,
"BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME."
14Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
(1) Jesus then was the fulfillment of Numbers 19 and the sacrifice of the Red Heifer.
(2) See notes on the Red Heifer for an expanded explanation.
15and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
16For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
1. The descendant or "seed of Abraham" would be Christians. (Gal. 3)
2. God takes care of the seed.
17Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
1. Jesus was exactly like us.
2. If He had not been like us, then He could not have been a merciful High Priest. Jesus knows what we experience.
3. Because of this, Jesus made a propitiation for the sins of people.
a. The word (hilaskesthai) is literally "mercy seat." But the present form of this word denotes a continuous activity by one who then, and now, remains the High Priest. Thus, here as in 9:28, Jesus was to become the mercy seat, or make propitiation for sin.
The Humanity of Jesus 2:1-18
In Chapter two verse one, the writer says to "take heed" reminding them that they were once told the truth but now they are drifting. From this point on in the chapter the author offers logical arguments as to the humanity of Jesus. As mentioned in the last chapter, Jesus came to earth as man. He "emptied Himself" (gave up His deity) and came to earth as a man (Phil.2:7). We then see that in John 17:5, while in the midst of suffering, Jesus praying to have His glory returned to Him as it was before the foundation of the world. Of course His request was rejected and thus, He suffered and died as a man.
In verse 2 the writer reminds us (and them) that the law of Moses was delivered by angels (Acts 7:38....Gal. 3:8). It was steadfast. It was delivered by a lessor (Heb. 10:38-12:25). In verse 3 we learn that the salvation they know was first spoken by the Lord and then to those who heard Him (the apostles). The writer of this letter was not an apostle (v.4). God bore witness through the apostles by signs and miracles, thus we just learned the entire reason for miracles was to confirm the Word. The message came from God to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit, and then to the apostles. From the apostles it made it to the congregation. In verse 5 we learn that the world to come was not to be administered by angles. This world to come was both a predicted reality of the psalmist and a current reality of the author. As we read further, we learn that when this world to come appears, it is to be subject to a man. In other words, when God enthroned Jesus, or at minimum the announcement of that enthronement in Acts 2, from that point on, the world was under the dominion of that man, Jesus.
Now we have a rhetorical question, what is a man? Why should a being as great as God be aware of the presence of man? As modern translations more aptly state, the word "visit" in verse 6 is just another way of saying that God responds to our needs. In verse 7 we have some of the above questions answered. God made man, but He made man a little lower than the angels (Ps. 8:4). But, man was made in the image of God, so God made man the ruler over the universe (Gen.1). This was God's way of giving glory and honor to man. We have already stated that man was the icon of God. In verse 8 we find that God did not withhold anything from man at Eden. Because of sin, that no longer remains so. Sin has aborted the plan of YHWH. Jesus will restore man to man's former status. It was desire and pride on the part of man that brought sin into this world. The humility of Christ will be that which restores man.
Verse 9 tells us that Jesus died "still crowned" with glory and honor. Adam lost his crown that was given to him at creation (Lam. 5:16). Notice that when a person sins, they lose their crown. With his glory and honor gone (his crown) instead of man ruling the world, the world was ruling man. In verse 10 we find that it is only through Jesus that we are restored to honor. Jesus has restored the privilege of Eden. It was necessary for Him to become perfect (sinless) in order to save us. This is the task that was finished at His death.
The arguments made in the context are:
1. He died like a man. 2. He was made a little lower than the angels. 3. He suffered like a man, not just in death but also in life. 4. There is unity in Holiness, bringing us glory (1st Peter 2:9; Rev. 5:). 5. He made us Brethren (Psa. 22:22). In verse 11 we find that Jesus sanctifies us. Notice that in chapter 3:1 the term "Holy brethren" is used. Jesus made us Holy. In verse 12, Christians are called "those brethren" (Psa. 22:22). 6. In verse 13, Jesus trusted like a man. We find that statement in Psalms 22:10. "I have always trusted God." Jesus had to rely on God, since He emptied Himself.
Verse 14. Flesh and blood are the nature of men. In like manner, Jesus was flesh and blood. He was the same as us through birth and death. He was born to die and Jesus destroyed the powers of Satan through His death (v.14).
In verse 15, Jesus came to deliver humans from the fear of death. The veil was removed in Heb. 12:34. In verse 16, we find that Jesus did not come to save angels because there isn't any redemption for fallen angels. The seed of Abraham here are Jews. Gentiles are not yet mentioned until chapters 8 & 9 where we become partakers of the covenant. In verse 18 Jesus suffered through temptation just as humans do. In fact, He was tempted more than man since humans will give in before Satan uses his greatest powers.
I must apologize for my Greek fonts. I don't have exactly what I need as of yet in this Linux system.
by Lane Rogers
