Hebrews · chapter 2 of 13
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Hebrews 2 warns the readers not to neglect so great a salvation and explains why the Son was made for a little while lower than the angels: to taste death for everyone, bring many sons to glory, destroy the devil and free those enslaved by fear of death. In this way he becomes a merciful and faithful high priest who can help those who are tempted.
After showing the greatness of the Son in chapter 1, the author gives his first pastoral warning and then answers a natural question: if the Son is so exalted, why did he become human and suffer? The answer lays the foundation for the main theme of the letter, the priesthood of Jesus.
The chapter begins with a warning: we must pay closer attention to what we have heard so that we do not drift away like a boat slipping from its mooring. If the message spoken through angels was binding and every transgression received its penalty, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? That salvation was first announced by the Lord, confirmed by those who heard him and backed by God with signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The author then cites Psalm 8: human beings were made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor, with everything under their feet. We do not yet see everything subjected to humanity, but we do see Jesus, made for a little while lower than the angels because of the suffering of death and now crowned with glory and honor, because by the grace of God he tasted death for everyone.
It was fitting that God, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. The one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source, so Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers, and the author quotes the Psalms and Isaiah to show it. Since the children share in flesh and blood, he too shared in the same, so that through death he might destroy the one who had the power of death, the devil, and free those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
For that reason he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God and make propitiation for the sins of the people. And because he himself suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
If we neglect so great a salvation there is no way to escape. The seriousness of the warning is measured by the greatness of what is offered.
We see Jesus, who for a time was lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because by God's grace he tasted death for everyone. His humiliation and death are the road to his glory.
Jesus shared flesh and blood to undo, through his death, the devil who had the power of death, and to free those who lived in lifelong slavery to the fear of dying. The cross breaks the bondage of fear.
Jesus had to be like his brothers to be a merciful and faithful high priest and make propitiation for sins. Because he himself suffered when tempted, he can help those who are tempted.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: Drifting away, like a boat slipping from its mooring. — Hebrews 2:1
Answer: Those who heard him, with God's testimony by signs, wonders and gifts of the Spirit. — Hebrews 2:3-4
Answer: Because he suffered death, by the grace of God, tasting it for everyone. — Hebrews 2:9
Answer: Brothers. — Hebrews 2:11
Answer: The one who had the power of death, that is, the devil. — Hebrews 2:14
Answer: Help them, because he himself suffered when tempted. — Hebrews 2:18
Hebrews 2 is a text for those who feel alone in temptation or fear death. Jesus knows suffering from the inside; he did not merely watch from a distance. In a small group you can share the moments when it is hard to believe that God understands, and read verses 17 and 18 together as an invitation to pray with confidence.
The opening warning is for today as well. Spiritual drift is almost never a leap; it is giving less and less attention. It is worth asking which habits (reading, prayer, meeting with other believers) help us not to drift from the salvation we have received.
Hebrews 2 ends by presenting Jesus as a merciful and faithful high priest, the theme that will fill the whole letter. Chapter 3 takes up that idea and compares his faithfulness with that of Moses, the great servant of the old covenant.
It means that in becoming human he accepted a condition of weakness and mortality for a time, as far as death. The author cites Psalm 8 to show that this humiliation was the road to glory and that he represents the humanity destined to reign.
It does not mean he had flaws, but that through his suffering and obedience he was fully qualified to be our savior and high priest. Hebrews 4:15 says he was tempted in every way yet without sin.
It is the sacrifice that turns away God's wrath against sin and makes forgiveness possible. Jesus made it by offering himself, as the letter explains later.