Hebrews Chapter Two

(Continued from: "Chapter One: God's Communication with the Hebrews in Extraordinary Ways")

The second chapter of Hebrews continues the contrast of Jesus and the angels –in regard to the messages that they carry –and to the functions they perform.

Angels are God's messengers –we learned many of their stories as children in Sunday School. Two of them flashed their swords to stop Adam and Eve from returning to the Garden after the fall. An angel warned Lot to flee with his family and avoid Sodom's destruction. The Death Angel killed all of the first-born in Egypt who did not have the lamb's blood on their doorposts. One warned Gideon to be reliant upon God –not on the strength of his army. And angels announced the births of God's appointed leaders –like Isaac, Samson, John the Baptist, and of course Jesus.

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how 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, God 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. (Hebrews 2:1-4)

Throughout the Hebrews' history, God used angels as messengers to preserve earthly life –such as those noted above. Yet, He had a more important message –a message that had to be made perfectly clear so that no one could deny hearing it. God delivered His message of salvation through the One who knew Him and His intentions best –His Son.

On Judgment Day some will claim that they didn't realize who Jesus was. But the Hebrews had no excuse –they were responsible for carrying the word of God. They knew the Scriptures and lived their lives based on them –set apart from the rest of the world for centuries. Those Scriptures contain God's own testimony that identifies Jesus as His Son –and their long-awaited Messiah. We read some of those Scriptures in chapter one and there will be more throughout this study.

Verse four of this passage says that Jesus declared that His message was from God, His audience confirmed its authenticity and His Father testified that Jesus was His Son –how to recognize Him– "by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit."

Signs and wonders:

Signs and wonders are things that are seen; they are warnings about upcoming, life-changing events.

John the Baptist's life itself was a sign –arrayed with wonders– to let the people know that the Son of God was among them: The archangel Gabriel appeared to John's parents, Elizabeth and Zacharias, to announce and explain their son's birth. John's father was silenced to draw attention to John as the one "who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17) John "leaped" when Jesus came into his presence –that happened while they were both still in their mothers' wombs. John watched as the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus –it was the sign for him to herald the arrival of the Lamb of God. He was killed –beheaded– for bringing attention to the sins committed by leaders.

Jesus' birth was proclaimed with a sign in the heavens and His life was marked with wonders: Gabriel foretold Jesus' birth to Mary and Joseph –and an angel reported it to the shepherds in the field. Jesus amazed the religious experts with His teaching in the synagogue as a young boy. He demonstrated His identity and authority by fulfilling prophecies in the Scriptures. The disciples heard the Father's audible voice saying "This is My Son in whom I am well pleased." And His death and subsequent resurrection were unique in all of history.

Miracles and gifts of the Spirit:

Unlike signs and wonders, miracles and gifts of the Spirit are demonstrations of God's power that are worked within people.

Isaiah prophesied approximately 700 years in advance of Jesus' coming:
- "Then the eyes of the blind will be opened And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy." (Isaiah 35:5-6)
- "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD." (Isaiah 61:1-2)
These prophesies predicted Jesus' miracles that are recorded in the Gospels.

The purpose of the gifts of the Spirit is to unify and strengthen the whole body of Christ. They were first given on Pentecost, after the resurrection. From the Spirit comes understanding of Scripture and comfort for the Son's followers. And the Spirit is the seal of God's promised eternal life.

All of these –the prophesies, signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Spirit– are evidence proving that Jesus was the Son of God. Have you read and wondered about the meaning of Jesus' parable when He told about the Vineyard Tenants? Ironically, it's there that Jesus foretold His own death for presenting His Father's message.

The Message His Son Delivered Has Eternal Consequences

Obedience to the angels' messages safeguarded physical life –and not heeding their messages brought physical death. More importantly, obedience to the Father's message –delivered through His Son– guarantees eternal, spiritual life. And disregarding that message equally guarantees spiritual death –an eternal separation from life and from God.

For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. But one has testified somewhere, saying, "WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM? "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; 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. But 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. (Hebrews 2:5-9)

The quote in this passage is from the Psalm eight. Its phrase "You have made him for a little while lower than the angels . . ." predicted that the Father would send His Son on a mission. It was a mission that was beneath His position and the respect He was due. During that time, He would endure dishonor and He would be viewed by His creation as less important than the angels –the very angels that were actually His servants. But there would be a reward at the end –a crown of glory and honor, and the submission of the entire creation to Him.

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 author of their salvation through sufferings. For 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, saying,

"I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE." And again, "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM " And again, "BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME." (Hebrews 2:10-13)

Jesus is "the author of their salvation" –He is the Word that was spoken to bring the creation into existence. As the author, He set the standard to be acceptable to God. Without exception, a man must live his entire life by faith in God's provision. Failure to do so demanded his death –or the death of a perfectly sinless substitute. Jesus became that sinless substitute and suffered death to make salvation achievable. By that act He sanctified –set apart from the rest of creation– all who put their trust in Him.

Much of the above passage comes from the twenty-second Psalm –one of the greatest messianic psalms in the Scriptures. The first part, Psalm 22:1-11, contains a haunting picture of what He experienced on the cross from the tormenting crowd ("All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: 'He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.'"). Psalm 22:12-21 predicted the attempt to quench His thirst ("my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth"); His piercing ("a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet") and the dividing of His clothing ("They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing."). Although Psalm 22:22-31 only hints at His resurrection, it declares that He lives and governs for all eternity. Psalm 22:22 ("I will proclaim your name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.") is what Jesus will do and say when all are gathered together on Judgment Day.

The last quote in this passage ("Behold, I and the children whom God has given me") is from Isaiah chapter eight. It states that God made the Hebrews separate and different from the rest of the world. And they were supposed to live that way –not fearing and not doing what the other nations did. Rather, they were to be mindful that their Lord was coming. He would be the holy place –a sanctuary– for those who submitted to Him; and He would be the downfall –a stumbling stone, a trap, a snare– to those who did not.

Watch and Wait for the Son –then Welcome His Arrival

We've looked at just a few of the many prophecies foretelling the Messiah's coming. That event was highly anticipated for hundreds of years. The Scriptures told the people how to recognize Him; to wait for Him; and to welcome Him as their king. But when Jesus did come –accompanied by God's own testimony of signs, miracles and fulfilled prophecies– the nation as a whole rejected Him. Only a few put their trust in Him and they became children of God.

Therefore, 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, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, 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.

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. (Hebrews 2:14-18)

This passage reveals an extraordinary title that was given to Jesus –He is the merciful and faithful High Priest. The penalty for violating the Law was death and it was the high priest who offered the sacrifice of another's life in their place. He had to take its blood into the most holy place to show that payment for their sins had to be made. Every year another life had to be sacrificed because the ritual was only symbolic –the life of an innocent animal didn't pay the price for sin. The debt really had to be paid with the sacrifice of a man's sinless life. Animals didn't bring sin into the world –man did.

For a man to be innocent, he would have to experience the temptations the world has to offer –and not succumb. Jesus fulfilled the Law by living the perfectly sinless life and then by offering His life upon the altar –His blood on the cross– as the substitute for all. He is the One who carried His own blood into heaven as the High Priest so that no one has to fear or to suffer spiritual death –the second death –eternal torment. Since Jesus personally experienced the same kind of temptations as the people, He knows the mercy needed to overlook their sinful nature.

Continue reading: "Chapter Three: God Warned That Jesus would be More Important than Moses"