THE BOOK OF HEBREWS
CHAPTER TWO
Brief Introduction

James Deering, AncientPath.net

BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Our Analytical Outline of Hebrews (D. A. Carson) reminds us that Chapter 2:1-4 is an "Embedded Warning: Do Not Turn Away from the Word Spoken by God's Son."

Hebrews 2:1-4 addresses spiritual drifters with stern warnings to which every Christian needs to pay attention. Now that the author of Hebrews has established the supremacy of Christ in chapter one, he wants his readers to embrace Him with total commitment--and not drift away. It’s important to remember that Hebrews was written to Jews in varying states of their walk with Christ. Many who had professed Christ were being attacked by other Jews for being traitors to Judaism and were in danger of drifting away from their newfound faith (Hebrews 10:32-33).

D. A. Carson has identified perfectly the dynamic of drifting:

"People do not drift toward holiness. Apart from grace-driven effort, people do not gravitate toward godliness, prayer, obedience to Scripture, faith, and delight in the Lord. We drift toward compromise and call it tolerance; we drift toward disobedience and call it freedom; we drift toward superstition and call it faith. We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation; we slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourselves into thinking we have escaped legalism; we slide toward godlessness and convince ourselves we have been liberated."

Hebrews 2:5-18 will describe "Why Jesus became a man." David Jeremiah outlines this section of Hebrews:

I.            Jesus Became a Man to Regain Our Destiny

              A.   GOD's Original Intention for Man

              B.   God's Own Intervention for Man

II.          Jesus Became a Man to Recover Our Unity

              A.   Unity through Suffering

              B.   Unity through Sympathy

III.        Jesus Became a Man to Release Us From Our Captivity

IV.         Jesus Became a Man to Relate to Us in Our Frailty


THE VISUALIZED TEXT

Hebrews 2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

II B     Embedded Warning: Do Not Turn Away from the Word Spoken by God’s Son, 2:1-4

2:1

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[1]

                                                  proved [b]unalterable, and

                                                            every transgression and

                                                            [every] 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

                                                  [by] wonders and

                                                  by various [e]miracles and

                                                  by [f]gifts of the Holy Spirit

                                                            according to His own will.

5 For

        He

                did not subject

                        to angels

                                [g]the world to come,[2]

                                        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

                WITH honor, [i]And
        You have appointed him

                over the works

                        of Your hands;
        8 You have put

                all things

                        in subjection

                                under his feet.” [Psalm 8:4-6] [3]

 

For

        in subjecting all things

                to him,

                        He left nothing

                                that is not subject to him.

But now

        we do not yet see

                [that] all things [are] subjected to him.

 

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[4]

                        crowned with glory and

                        [crowned with] 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.[5]

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.” [Psalm 22:22]

13 And again,

                        “I will put My trust in Him.”

And again,

                        “Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.” [Isaiah 8:17-18][6]

 

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 [He] might

                                        free[7] 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[8]

                                                                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.[9]

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


[1] Refers to the Mosaic Law. In latter Judaism it was held that angels had delivered the law.

[2] The coming millennial kingdom of Jesus Christ – not ruled by angels but by Christ and the redeemed.

[3] The reference is to man, having had the rule over all things placed under him but lost it when he sinned [Romans 8:20] and who will regain it in the future millennial kingdom because of Christ’s death for sin.

[4] Christ took this lower position of humans that He might suffer death on their behalf.

[5] The righteous suffering of Christ were in accordance with The Father’s plan to accomplish the salvation of man.

[6] Believers are united in Christ as brothers in the family of God.

[7] Absolute freedom In-Christ.

[8] Propitiation – What Christ has done completely satisfies God’s demands for righteousness, and
Expiation – The removal forever of the demands of sin and restores God’s fellowship.

[9] Christ not only was tempted by trials that befall humans generally but also by those that were designed to sidetrack Him in the purpose of His coming to earth.

ABOUT: (Questions to be explored based on this study's verses)

(Hebrews 2:1)
"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." (KJV)
"For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it." (NASB)

1.  When you see the word "therefore" what are you supposed to do?

2.  In this context, what have the members of this Hebrew-Christian congregation heard?

3.  Was this congregation made up of believers only?

4.  Were there some who have not received Jesus Christ as their personal savior amongst them?

5.  Were there some who have received Jesus Christ as their personal savior amongst them?

6.  When God makes a contract with someone, is He able to keep it?

7.  Can a believer "drift away" from his salvation in Christ if Christ is able to keep that contract?

8.  Is the power of God greater than all my sin?

10.  If there are two kinds of members of this Hebrew-Christian congregation, those who believe, and those who have not yet believed, which ones are in danger of "drifting away"?

(2:2)
"For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;" (KJV)
"For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense," (NASB)

1.  Could angels participate in the salvation offered by Jesus Christ?

2.  Were angels punished directly for "every transgression and disobedience"?

3.  Was there any escape for them?

4.  Was the punishment of disobedient angels just?

5.  What is "recompense"?

(2:3)
"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;" (KJV)
"how shall 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," (NASB)

1. Who is the writer of Hebrews speaking to here?

2.  If God's judgment upon the angels was a "Just Recompense," how shall an unbeliever escape?

3.  How can salvation be neglected?

4.  Who spoke "the good news" first?

5.  Who were those who "confirmed" those words?

(2:4)
"God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" (KJV)
"God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will." (NASB)

1.  Who bore witness through wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit?

2.  Were wonders, and miracles only performed by God through Jesus Christ?

3.  Make a chart of the "wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit" from the New Testament writings.

4.  In what circumstances are wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit" found? (give context, people present, and new revelation given in each instance)

5.  By who's own will do wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit occur?

Editor's Note:
God's Plan for man - "What is man, that thou remembers Him." The writer now turns to ask the question as to "Why us? Who are we to God?" Janie B. Cheaney* wrote in a recent article, "...He (God) keeps His eye on one speck of dust on the surface of space: Our tiny planet with its tiny souls."  This may be just my opinion... but what if God desired to have a family that He could love and they would love Him, not because He created them with that special purpose (to love Him) but because they actually, by their own wills, desired to love and believe Him. How would He go about creating and administering that family? One way would be to develop a plan whereby individuals would have absolute free will in the choice to love and believe Him or not to love and believe Him. They would be created to live eternally and have minds, gifts, and powers that would suit a life eternal. Then, in that plan, those "benefits" would be taken away and sin (free choice to choose "I will not") was given free reign, and everything in their "world" would only be known by faith. Then each individual would be given the opportunity to experience the evidences of truth, acknowledge God's designs and purposes in that truth, and be responsible for the choice of "Yes, I will acknowledge Him, and love Him, and believe Him" or "No, anything but God." That opportunity becomes a test for each and every individual ever born. Those who chose "Yes" would become adopted members of His family and their First-Estate (eternal life and minds, gifts, and powers for that eternal life) would be restored to them at the end of their testing. This plan would have to take place in a far distant unknown corner of the universe... The effects of sin would by necessity need to be kept from the rest of that universe. Thus, this little planet, on a far flung edge of a tiny solar system, in one of millions of galaxies would be called home to the participants of God's plan. We would call it earth.

*Janie B. Cheaney, Selected specs, World Magazine, Aug. 17, 2019

(2:5)
"For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak." (KJV)
"For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking." (NASB)

1.  What does the word "For" signify here?

2.  What is the "world to come"?

3.  When is that going to happen?

4.  Has God, the Father, placed the "world to come" under the subjection of the angels?

5.  Who has God, the Father, placed the "world to come" under the subjection of?

(2:6)
"But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (KJV)
"But one has testified somewhere, saying, "WHAT IS MAN, THAT THOU REMEMBEREST HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT THOU ART CONCERNED ABOUT HIM?" (NASB)

1.  Where in the scriptures does it say, "What is man ..."? (name at least 4 places)

2.  Which one of the 4 places you found is the one referenced to Hebrews 2:6?

3.  Who are the persons spoken of in the reference here?

4.  What is the answer to this question?

(2:7)
"Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:" (KJV)
"THOU HAST MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; THOU HAST CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAST APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF THY HANDS;" (NASB)

Editor's Note:
 This verse presents difficulties for some. The context of the verse places mankind, and his state, as the object of this discussion. Some, because of the wording, wish to see the object as Jesus Christ. But, the statement of verse 6 is "What is man - that thou art mindful of him?" If we define the object as Jesus Himself, then we miss the intent of the verse. All the things said here are also true of Jesus Christ - but the intent of the verse is demonstrating why God is mindful of mankind - we already know that God is mindful of His Son.

1.  Who made "Him," man, a little lower than the angels?

2.  What does this mean?

3. Is man appointed over the works of God's hands?

(2:8)
"Thou hast 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 see not yet all things put under him." (KJV)
"THOU HAST 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." (NASB)

1.  Who put all things in subjection under "His feet"?

2.  How many things were put into subjection?

3.  Under who's feet?

4.  "but now we do not yet see all things subjected to him"?

(2:9)
"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (KJV)
"But we do see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone." (NASB)

1.  What is the significance of the word "but" here?

2.  Who do we see now?

3.  Have you "seen" Jesus, or have we now seen that Jesus was placed lower than the angels to suffer death, to be crowned with Glory and Honor, in that He tasted death, and defeated death for every man?

4.  How did Jesus taste "suffering and death"?

5.  For whom did Jesus do this?

6.  The last phrase, "that by the grace of God," does that mean that the death of Jesus Christ was the product of God's Grace?

7.  Does that mean that the free gift of salvation, provided for by Jesus Christ's death, is the product of God's Grace?

(2:10)
"For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (KJV)
"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." (NASB)

1.  Study this sentence carefully...

    For
        it was FITTING for Jesus Christ
            For whom ALL things were made, and
            Through whom ALL things were made
        To perfect Himself (the author of everyman's salvation) through the suffering of Death
        To bring about the bringing of MANY SONS to God's Glory.

(2:11)
"For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren," (KJV)
"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," (NASB)

1.  What is the significance of the word "For" here?

2.  What is the significance of the word "both" here?

3.  What does the word "sanctify" mean?

4.  Who is He that sanctifies? (before answering this question, read The Gospel of John, Chapter 17, verses 1-12)

John 17:1-12
 Jesus spoke these things; and lifting up His eyes to heaven, He said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, 2 even as You gave Him authority over all flesh, that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life. 3 This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. 6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You gave Me out of the world; they were Yours and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have come to know that everything You have given Me is from You; 8 for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them and truly understood that I came forth from You, and they believed that You sent Me. 9 I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom You have given Me; for they are Yours; 10 and all things that are Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11 I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. 12 While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the [c]son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.

5.  Who are the "those who are sanctified"?

6.  What does the word "all" mean?

7.  Who is "from one Father"?

8.  Who is the One Father?

 9.  What is the reason that Jesus Christ is not ashamed to call them brothers?

(2:12)
"Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee." (KJV)
"saying, "I WILL PROCLAIM THY NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING THY PRAISE."" (NASB)

1a.  Who is "saying"? (remembering this is a quote from the Old Testament)

1b.  This is a messianic verse, therefore Jesus will also declare the Father's name and sing His praises among the members of the "Book of Life" when they are all gathered together.

2.  Who will "declare or proclaim"?

3.  What does declare or proclaim mean?

4.  Who is "Thy"?

5a.  What is God's Name, as in "how do you do, my name is......"?

5b.  What is God's Name, as those things represented by a name?

6.  Where is God's name to be proclaimed.

7.  Who makes up the "congregation" or "church" spoken of here?

(2:13)
"And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me." (KJV)
"And again, "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again, "BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME."" (NASB)

1.  Same as Verse 2:12, but restated (consider rereading John 17:1-12)

(2:14)
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" (KJV)
"Since then 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;" (NASB)

1.  What is the significance of the word "forasmuch," or "since" here?

2.  Does this mean that Jesus Christ was "Flesh and Blood"?

3.  Does this mean that Jesus Christ died in His "Flesh and Blood"?

4.  What was the result of His "Flesh and Blood" death?

5.  Who is the "ruler" of this world?

6.  What powers does he have?

7.  What does it mean to have "the power of death"?

8.  By what other names is the devil known?

9.  What has happened to the devil's power through the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross?

(2:15)
"And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (KJV)
"and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives." (NASB)

1.  What is the significance of the word "and" here?

2.  Whom delivered Who?

3.  Describe what it means to you to be subject to bondage (slavery), all of your life (without Jesus Christ), through the fear of death.

(2:16)
"For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham." (KJV)
"For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham." (NASB)

1.  What is the significance of the word "for" here?

2.  "For, and this is the truth," Did Jesus Christ become an angel to save angels?

3.  Did Jesus Christ become a man to save man?

4.  What kind of man did Jesus Christ become?

5.  Who specifically is "the seed of Abraham"? (before answering read Romans 4:3-13, and Galatians 3:26-29)

(2:17)
"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." (KJV)
"Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people." (NASB)

1.  When you see the word "Therefore" (or wherefore) what are you supposed to do?

2.  How much like you and me was Jesus?

3.  What could be different about Jesus Christ from you and me that would prevent Him from becoming a merciful and faithful high priest (The High Priest)?

4.  Describe "merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God"

5.  What did Israel's High Priest do once a year?

6.  What did this accomplish for the people of Israel?

7.  Define the word "propitiation."

8.  Propitiation for what?

(2:18)
"For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." (KJV)
"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." (NASB)

1.  What is the significance of the phrase "for in that" here?

2.  What is significant about the words "He, Himself"?

3.  Who is "He Himself"?

4.  Can you define the use of the word "tempted" as used in this verse?

5.  Make a list of the things Jesus "suffered" during His life?

6.  Being truly God, and truly man, what was Jesus "tempted" to do during His sufferings?

7.  Would Jesus have hurt His relationship to His Father if He did not rely 100% upon His Father during Jesus' sufferings?

8.  Since Jesus relied entirely upon the will of His Father during His earthly life, He is able to come to the aid of we who suffer.

2020-02-02
2024-03-18 update