2 For
this reason we must pay much closer attention to [a]what
we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For
if the word spoken through angels proved[b]unalterable,
and every transgression and disobedience received a just [c]penalty,3 how
will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? [d]After
it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by
those who heard, 4 God
also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various [e]miracles
and by[f]gifts
of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.
Earth
Subject to Man
5 For He did not subject to angels [g]the
world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But
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 [h]for a little while lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
[i]And have appointed him over the works of Your hands;
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”
Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him?
7 “You have made him [h]for a little while lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
[i]And have appointed him over the works of Your hands;
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.
Jesus
Briefly Humbled
9 But we do see Him who was made [j]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.
10 For 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 [k]author
of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both
He who sanctifies and those who are [l]sanctified
are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call
them brethren
, 12 saying,
“I will proclaim Your name to My brethren,
In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”
In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”
13 And again,
“I will put My trust in Him.”
And again,
“Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.”
14 Therefore, since the children share in [m]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, 15 and might free those who through fear
of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For
assuredly He does not [n]give
help to angels, but He gives help to the [o]descendant
of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He [p]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.18 For since He
Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to
the aid of those who are tempted.
Footnotes:
a.
Hebrews 2:1 Lit the
things that have been heard
b.
Hebrews 2:2 Or steadfast
c.
Hebrews 2:2 Or recompense
d.
Hebrews 2:3 Lit Which
was
e.
Hebrews 2:4 Or works
of power
f.
Hebrews 2:4 Lit distributions
g.
Hebrews 2:5 Lit the
inhabited earth
h.
Hebrews 2:7 Or ...him
a little lower than...
i.
Hebrews 2:7 Two
early mss do not contain And...hands
j.
Hebrews 2:9 Or a
little lower
k.
Hebrews 2:10 Or leader
l.
Hebrews 2:11 Or being
sanctified
m. Hebrews 2:14 Lit blood
and flesh
n.
Hebrews 2:16 Lit take
hold of angels, but He takes hold of
o.
Hebrews 2:16 Lit seed
p.
Hebrews 2:17 Lit was
obligated to be
1 Matthew
Henry's Commentary
Verses 1-4
The apostle proceeds in the plain profitable method of doctrine,
reason, and use, through this epistle. Here we have the application of the
truths before asserted and proved; this is brought in by the illative particle therefore, with which this
chapter begins, and which shows its connection with the former, where the
apostle having proved Christ to be superior to the angels by whose ministry the
law was given, and therefore that the gospel dispensation must be more
excellent than the legal, he now comes to apply this doctrine both by way of
exhortation and argument.
I. By way of exhortation: Therefore we ought to give the more
diligent heed to the things which we have heard, Heb. 2:1. This is the first
way by which we are to show our esteem of Christ and of the gospel. It is the
great concern of every one under the gospel to give the most earnest heed to
all gospel discoveries and directions, to prize them highly in his judgment as
matters of the greatest importance, to hearken to them diligently in all the
opportunities he has for that purpose, to read them frequently, to meditate on
them closely, and to mix faith with them. We must embrace them in our hearts
and affections, retain them in our memories, and finally regulate our words and
actions according to them.
II. By way of argument, he adds strong motives to enforce the
exhortation.
1.
From the great loss we shall sustain if we do not take this
earnest heed to the things which we have heard: We shall let them slip. They
will leak, and run out of our heads, lips, and lives, and we shall be great
losers by our neglect. Learn, (1.) When we have received gospel truths into our
minds, we are in danger of letting them slip. Our minds and memories are like a
leaky vessel, they do not without much care retain what is poured into them;
this proceeds from the corruption of our natures, the enmity and subtlety of
Satan (he steals away the word), from the entanglements and snares of the
world, the thorns that choke the good seed. (2.) Those meet with an
inconceivable loss who let gospel truths, which they had received, slip out of
their minds; they have lost a treasure far better than thousands of gold and
silver; the seed is lost, their time and pains in hearing lost, and their hopes
of a good harvest lost; all is lost, if the gospel be lost. (3.) This
consideration should be a strong motive both to our attention to the gospel and
our retention of it; and indeed, if we do not well attend, we shall not long
retain the word of God; inattentive hearers will soon be forgetful hearers.
2.
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1444
revelation, in NT
The NT fulfils and completes the
revelation of God which began in the OT. Jesus Christ is the central focus of
this self-revelation of God.
The
unity and progress of revelation
The unity of OT and NT Mt 5:17-18 See also Ro 3:21-22; 2Ti 3:14-15; 2Pe 3:15-16 The writings of Paul are
presented as having equal status with the OT Scriptures; Rev 22:18-19 These sanctions have the
same force as those of Dt 4:2; 12:32.
The progress of NT revelation Heb 1:1-2 See alsoHeb 2:1-4; Heb 12:22-27
The
NT fulfils and completes God’s revelation of himself
Jesus Christ is the supreme revelation
of God Col 1:25-27 See also Jn 1:9-18; Jn 14:6; Ac 4:12; Gal 4:4; Php 2:6-8; Heb 2:14
Jesus Christ has the nature of God Php 2:6
Jesus Christ is the exact
representation of GodHeb 1:3
Jesus Christ is the incarnate Word of
God Jn 1:14
The
role of the Holy Spirit in revelation
He is the divine agent of revelation Jn 16:12-15 See also Jn 14:16-17; Jn 15:26; 1Jn 4:6; 1Jn 5:6; Rev 2:7,11,17,29; Rev 3:6,13,22
He is the source of revelatory
manifestations 1Co 12:7-11 See also Ac 2:1-12; Ro 12:6; 1Co 12:28-30;1Co 13:8-12; 1Co 14:1-33; Eph 4:11
God’s
purposes in revelation
To reveal himself in Jesus Christ Col 1:15-20 See also Jn 1:14; Jn 12:44-45; Jn 14:9; 2Co 4:4; Heb 1:3
To reveal his plan through Jesus Christ Eph 1:9-10See also Ro 16:25-27; 1Co 2:7-10; Eph 3:3-11; Col 1:19-20
Fanny J Crosby’s Great Hymn
Redeemed, how I love to
proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.
Refrain
Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
Redeemed, and so happy in
Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.
Refrain
I think of my blessèd
Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long:
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.
I think of Him all the day long:
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.
Refrain
I know there’s a crown
that is waiting,
In yonder bright mansion for me,
And soon, with the spirits made perfect,
At home with the Lord I shall be.
In yonder bright mansion for me,
And soon, with the spirits made perfect,
At home with the Lord I shall be.
Refrain
Yours by His Grace
Blair Humphreys
Southport.Merseyside
January 12th 2014
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