Read Hebrews 2:1-4
1 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Whenever we buy a new electrical product at least half the instruction booklet seems to contain dire health and safety warnings. How many of us just ignore them?
We simply can’t afford to ignore the warnings given in the Bible.
What is the warning in verse 1?
There is a very real danger that we may drift away from Christ.
How might that happen?
The message of salvation is truly life or death (v3).
Our journey of life is like a ship at sea – we will encounter winds and currents that can imperceptibly take us off course. To guard against this we regularly need to check where we are, and what direction we are headed in.
Read Hebrews 2:5-8
5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:
‘What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him?
7 You made them a little lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honour
8 and put everything under their feet.’
In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.
The writer now returns to his theme of angels – pointing out that although mankind was created lower than the angels, he put mankind over the rest of his creation. Although, to be honest says the writer, there are thing over which we don’t at present have control. But although having a human form, Jesus was different.
Read Hebrews 2:9-18
9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says,
‘I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.’
13 And again,
‘I will put my trust in him.’
And again he says,
‘Here am I, and the children God has given me.’
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
We will need to break these verses apart to understand what the writer is saying.
Verse 9:
But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while,
He was born fully human – just like us.
now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
As a human, his destiny was not only physical death but also spiritual death: cutting off from God for eternity. But it was not the end; Jesus only tasted death – for three days – but was then completely restored to his position in the Godhead. His atoning sacrifice on the cross was the full and final expiation of our sins for all who will accept it, and all this by the grace of God (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense) see Ephesians 2:4-10.
Verse 10:
In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.
What do we understand by the word pioneer?
A trail-blazer.
The first into uncharted territories.
A representative of all who will follow.
Jesus was the first human to be truly ‘born again’.
And the first ‘human’ to be made perfect through his sufferings!
Verses 11-13
11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says,
‘I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the assembly I will sing your praises.’ (Psalm 22:22 – the psalm that starts with: ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’)
13 And again,
‘I will put my trust in him.’ (Isaiah 8:17)
And again he says,
‘Here am I, and the children God has given me.’ (Isaiah 8:18)
Romans 8:16-17 has:
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
And in Ephesians 1:4-6 we read:
In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
So now we are sanctified (‘made holy’ in verse 11) we are fully adopted as children of God and heirs of all the riches he chooses to pour out on us.
Verses 14-16
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.
Sometimes, to differentiate us from ‘higher beings’, we humans are called ‘mortals’. What does the word mortal mean? What is a mortal disease?
Jesus’ ministry was not to angels but mortals, whose very name is a reminder that our lives are lived in fear of impending death.
And it was only by becoming one of us that Jesus could finally overcome the devil’s power and restore to us the prospect of everlasting life.
Verses 17-18
17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
What was the purpose of the high priest? (Leviticus 16 especially Leviticus 16:32-34)
To make atonement – once a year – for the sins of the people.
The High priest was also a human, who understood all the temptations of fellow humans.
Jesus suffered temptation, not only at the beginning of his ministry but also at the end. When was that?
Luke 22:41-44 where the temptation was to not go through with the impending crucifixion, and he suffered as a result.
Read Hebrews 3:1-6
1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.
3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honour than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honour than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.
5 ‘Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,’ bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.
Now we return to the thought in chapter 2 verse 1 – What was that?
Pay . . . . careful attention . . . . so that we do not drift away.
Read 3:1
1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.
We’ve just seen what a High Priest does – what does an Apostle do?
A teacher who shows by example Do we ‘acknowledge’ Jesus in that way?
Look at verses 2-6
Now the writer turns his attention to Moses – one of the most revered of the Jews ‘heroes of faith’. Could Jesus be greater than him?
Yes – look at verses 2 and 5: Jesus was faithful just like Moses was faithful. ‘Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,’
But as God is the builder of the house, and Jesus is God’s son, and (verse 3: ‘the builder of a house has greater honour than the house itself’, so therefore ‘‘Jesus has been found worthy of greater honour than Moses’
Who or what claims our worship? For 1st century Jews, Angels and the traditions of their faith competed with Jesus.
What philosophies, personalities or attractions compete for our attention today? How can we maintain our focus on Jesus?
What was the warning in Hebrews 2:1?
