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Hebrews 2 – Text and Notes
- An important demarcation between chapters one and two is that chapter one emphasizes Jesus’ superiority to the angels because He is the Son of God while chapter two emphasizes Jesus’ inferiority to the angels because He is the Son of Man. Hebrews 1 and 2 are perfect for showing the dual nature of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Lessons from Christ’s Humanity (Adapted from Life Application Bible, p.2221)
- Perfect Human – (vv.14,17)
- Perfect Human Communicator – listen to Jesus (vv.1-4)
- Perfect Human Leader – he wants to lead you (v.10)
- Perfect Human Model – and he is worth imitating (v.18)
- Perfect Human Sacrifice – and he died for you (v.14)
- Perfect Human Conqueror – and he conquered death to give you eternal life (v.15)
- Perfect Human High Priest – and he is merciful, loving, and understanding (v.17)
Vv.1-4 – Jesus, Angels, Man – Message
- Heb.13:22 – Exhortations:
- 2:1-4; 3:7-4:16; 5:11-6:12; 10:19-39; and 12:1-13:22
1 [Extended Notes] For this reason [chapter 1 – Jesus is a Son, while angels are ministering spirits] we must pay [present] much closer attention [1) Hearing; 2) Thinking; 3) Obeying] to what we have heard [lit., the things that have been heard], so that we do not drift [pararrhueō; aorist] away [pararrhueō – Heb.2:1 is only place in N.T. where this word is found] from it. [Drifting away describes most sin because of its subtlety.] [When thinking of drifting, I immediately think of the counter action of paddling. I am not sure that is the contrast here. I don’t think we are to be paddling, but rather be anchored (Heb.6:9).]
2 [The following argument follows the logical progression of lesser to greater.] [Vv.2-3 show the effect of law – condemnation] For if the word [Law/Torah – logos] spoken through angels [angelos means “messengers;” Acts 7:53; Gal.3:19] proved unalterable [or, steadfast – bebaios (3:6 – firm; 3:14 – firm; 6:14 – steadfast; 9:17 – valid)], and every transgression [parabasis (3847) – “an ‘overstepping’ (Ardndt/Gingrich); a deliberate breaking of the moral law; the willful overstepping of the clearly drawn line or boundary.” (The Discovery Bible, p.544)] and disobedience [parakoe (3876) – lit., “hearing amiss” and then “a refusal to hear”] received a just penalty [unlike the N.T., the O.T. had temporal punishments often detailed for immediate consequences], [Gal.3:10-13]
3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? [The implied answer is that we will not. This is an example of necessary implication. Hebrews 10:26-31 applies here] After it was [lit., Which was] at the first spoken [present] through the Lord [#1 – Jesus], it was confirmed to us [#3 – Christians] by those who heard [#2 – Apostles],
4 [Extended Notes] God also testifying with them [#2 – “those who heard” Jesus], both [implies that the signs, wonders, and miracles different than the “gifts of the Holy Spirit] by signs [emphasis – “hmmm” (mind)] and wonders [emphasis – awe (imagination)] and by various miracles [emphasis – “wow” (power)] [or, works of power] and by gifts [lit., distributions] of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. [This verse implies that miraculous gifts had either ceased, or else were on the decline.]
Vv.5-9 – Jesus, Angels, Man – World
5 [The point of the following is that Man is not what God created him to be. Question – is the subjection more than just the dominion granted in Gen.1:28-30. Does the subjection also include the “breaking of natural law” via the signs, wonders, and miracles as seen in v.4?] For He [i.e. the Father] did not subject to angels the world [lit., the inhabited earth] to come [not looking forward to another world, but rather looking forward to this world before creation; Extended Notes], concerning which we are speaking. [1:14]
6 But one has testified somewhere [Ps.8:4-6], saying, [In reading this poem it is imperative to understand the concept of Hebrew parallelism – the “son of man” is another way of saying “man.” Therefore, the psalm is not about only about Jesus as “The Son of Man,” but includes Jesus with the rest of us as being “sons of man” – human.]
[Ps.8:4-6; 155:3; also notice a different take on this in Job 7:17] “What is man [human being – The Hebrew interrogation, מָה, what, what kind of, implies “how small or insignificant” compared with the array of the heavenly bodies; not “how great is man.” Vincent Word Pictures], that You remember him?
Or the son of man [human being; Heb – “son of adam”], that You are concerned about him? [Why? What is the comparison that makes man so obviously pitiful and not worthy of attention? The rest of God’s creation in the “heavens” – the stars and moon. Our fragile nature betrays our eternal worth.]
7 “You have made him for a little while [or, a little lower (v.9)] lower [or, a little lower] than the angels [Heb., elohim];
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
And have appointed him over the works of Your hands; [some manuscripts do not contain this last line from And to Hands]
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”
For in subjecting [aorist] all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected [perfect] to him. [1:13]
9 But we do see Him who was made [perfect] for a little while lower [or, a little lower (v.7)] than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of [lit., the] death crowned [perfect] with glory and honor, so that by the grace [charis (5485) – Heb.2:9; Heb.4:16; Heb.10:29; Heb.12:15; Heb.12:28 (translated “gratitude”); Heb.13:9; Heb.13:25] of God He might taste [aorist] death for everyone. [The Holy Spirit purposely chose words that do not normally belong together: “suffering of death” with “crowned with glory and honor;” “the grace of God” with “taste death for everyone.]
[Verses seven and nine, if the translation should read as the NASB as it, “a little lower” imply that once in heaven man (i.e., human beings) will no longer be lower than the angels – but instead equal to or above them.]
Vv.10-18 – Jesus, Angels, Man – Salvation
10 For it was fitting for Him [i.e., the Father], for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons [i.e., us] to glory, to perfect [aorist] [teleios – “…in the New Testament teleios has a very special meaning. It has nothing to do with abstract and metaphysical and philosophic perfection. It is used, for instance, of an animal which is unblemished and fit to be offered as a sacrifice; of a scholar who is no longer at the elementary stage but mature; of a human being or an animal who is full grown…. The basic meaning of teleios in the New Testament is always that the thing or person to described fully carries out the purpose for which designed. Therefore the verb teleioun will mean not so much to make perfect as to make fully adequate for the task for which designed. So, then, what the writer to the Hebrews is saying is that through suffering Jesus was made fully able to fr the task of being the pioneer of our salvation.” (Barclay, Hebrews, p.26)] the author [or, leader; i.e., the Son] of their salvation through sufferings. [Why did Jesus have to suffer? Is it because of the way God made man? No (vv.6-8). It is because of what man chose to be] [Many Jews had trouble with a suffering Messiah due to passages dealing with His everlasting success: Ps.72:17; 89:36-37; 110:4. Later in the Talmudic period, some dealt with the seeming incongruity by creating two Messiahs: Son of David and Son of Joseph. Extended Notes]
- Our Hurts Help Us Heal Others
11 For both He [i.e., the Son] who sanctifies and those who are sanctified [i.e., us] are all from one Father; for which reason He [i.e., the Son] is not ashamed to call [present] them brethren,
12 saying, [Ps.22:22]
“I will proclaim Your name to My brethren,
In the midst of the congregation [or, church] I will sing Your praise.”
13 And again,
[Isa.8:17] “I will put [perfect] My trust in Him.” And again, [Isa.8:18] “Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.” [Dual Fulfillment – Isaiah and Jesus]
14 Therefore [oun (3767) – then, therefore, accordingly, consequently, these things being so (Thayer); Heb.2:14; Heb.4:1; Heb.4:6; Heb.4:11; Heb.4:14; Heb.4:16; Heb.7:11; Heb.8:4; Heb.9:1; Heb.9:23; Heb.10:19; Heb.10:35; Heb.13:15], since the children share [perfect] in flesh [sarx – 2:14; 5:7; 9:10; 9:13; 10:20; 12:9] and blood [lit., blood and flesh], He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render [aorist] powerless him who had the power [kratos (2904) “manifest power (Thayer); dominion; might; power that is exercised or applied, and hence that which prevails; mastery; force (The Discovery Bible, p. 540)] of death, that is, the devil,
15 and might free [aorist] those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels [Why? The text infers it is because they do not have flesh and blood and therefore cannot die (Heb.9:22)], but He gives help to [lit., take hold of angels, but He takes hold of] the descendant [lit., seed] of Abraham.
17 Therefore [hothen (3606) – Heb.2:17; Heb.3:1; Heb.7:25; Heb.8:3; Heb.9:18; Heb.11:19], He had [imperfect] to be [lit., was obligated to be] made [aorist] like His brethren in all things [Had to/Obligated for two reasons: 1) Because we are flesh; 2) Because have sinned], so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest [archiereus (749) – Hebrews is the only place outside of the Gospels and Acts where this term is used. In fact Hebrews is the only N.T. book referring to Jesus as such. So without Hebrews, we would be missing this important theological link (Heb.2:17; Heb.3:1; Heb.4:14; Heb.4:15; Heb.5:1; Heb.5:5; Heb.5:10; Heb.6:20; Heb.7:26; Heb.7:27; Heb.7:28; Heb.8:1; Heb.8:3; Heb.9:7; Heb.9:11; Heb.9:25; Heb.13:11)] Much of the rest of the book explains how the Son of David of Judah could be the High Priest] in things pertaining to God, to make [present] propitiation [(2433); Lk.18:13; related words found in Rom.3:25; Heb.9:5; 1 Jn.2:2; 4:10] for the sins of the people.
18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered [perfect], He is able to come [aorist] to the aid of those who are tempted. [Jesus suffered the temptations of the flesh, but without sin. It is helpful to ready 2:17-18 immediately followed by 4:14-16]
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