Articles and Notes
"THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"
Chapter Two
The author interrupts his comparison of Christ with angels with his
first of six warnings in this epistle: a warning against drifting by
neglecting our great salvation (1-4). He then illustrates Jesus'
superiority to angels by being made lower than the angels, whereby He
became the perfect captain of our salvation and a merciful and faithful
High Priest (5-18).
POINTS TO PONDER
* The very real danger of drifting and neglecting our salvation
* Man's fall from his exalted position over creation
* Jesus' humanity and its impact on His role as Savior and High Priest
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- A warning against drifting - He 2:1-4
- Jesus' superiority over the angels by virtue of His humanity - He 2:5-18
2) How can we avoid drifting away? (1)
- By giving earnest heed to the things we have heard
3) What proves we cannot escape judgment if we neglect our great salvation? (2-3)
- Disobedience to angels was punished, much more so if we neglect the
Lord Himself
4) How was this great salvation revealed and confirmed to us? (3-4)
- Spoken by the Lord Himself at first
- Confirmed by those who heard Him (i.e., the apostles)
- God bearing witness through signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit
5) What does Psalms 8:4-6 reveal about the creation of man? (6-8)
- He was made lower than angels, but placed over all God's works
[Psa 8:4-6 NKJV] 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all [things] under his feet,
6) Has man maintained his authority over all things? (8)
- No, now we do not see all things put under him
7) List eight reasons Jesus was made lower than angels (became flesh). (9-18)
- To taste death for every one
- To bring many sons to glory
- To be made perfect through sufferings
- To destroy the devil who had the power of death
- To release those subject to bondage through fear of death
- To give aid to the seed of Abraham
- To be a merciful and faithful High Priest
- To aid those who are tempted, having suffered temptation Himself
Do not neglect salvation
[Heb 2:1-18 NKJV] 1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 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?
The Son of Man made lower than angels
5 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. 9 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.
Bringing many sons to glory
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. 11 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. 16 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.
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