Read Hebrews 2
Warning to Pay Attention
2 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.
Jesus Made Fully Human
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 honor
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. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor 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 humanityso 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.
Go Deeper
The main idea of Hebrews 2 is a continuation of the first chapter: Jesus is greater than anything or anyone in all creation, and we must not lose sight of what He has done for us. In the midst of the conversation about angels, we read that Jesus Himself was “made lower than the angels for a little while”. The Word of God had the humility to become a human being (v. 9). As believers, we must listen to the author of Hebrews’ opening words and not lose sight of how history-altering Jesus’ life was. We should remind ourselves often that the God of the entire cosmos became a human for 33 years to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19:10).
Next, we read that because human beings all share the common experience of a life on earth, Jesus “too shared in [our] humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death” (v. 14). In order for Jesus to be the pioneer of our salvation, He had to wholly share in what it means to be a human. We as people, committed sins against an infinitely good God, which means that humanity owed an infinitely large debt that we could never repay. But because YHWH is loving, merciful, and relentless, He became a human “in every respect” to redeem our lives (Hebrews 2:17). An old Church theologian, Gregory of Nazianzus, said it well: “That which is not assumed is not redeemed.” Jesus had to assume the wholeness of humanity and the wholeness of His divinity to free us from the curse of sin, and we must not forget it.
In light of all this, what do we do? The first thing this passage should lead us to is to thank God for all He has done for us. God has done something so beautiful and loving for us, and we should take the time to be grateful for it. Secondly, we should learn humility from our Servant King who ate with sinners and tax collectors, and stepped off His heavenly throne to live among us. Thirdly, we can share the amazing news that God freed us from sin with someone!
Questions
- How can we remind ourselves to say “thank you” to God for all He has done? Try putting a sticky note somewhere in your home, or setting a notification on your phone as a reminder.
- When during your day can you practice humility? Could it be by learning to be a better listener, or doing the mundane tasks/chores that no one else wants to do?
- Who can we share the Gospel with? Who needs to know that God died on a cross and rose from the dead for their sins so they could spend eternity with their loving Creator?
Watch This
If you want to learn more about the angels that this passage mentioned, click here to watch this short video from The Bible Project!
5 thoughts on “Hebrews 2”
Reading this chapter made me feel like I was wrapped in an immense blanket of love. Whether it be the past, present or future, we have the perfect Savior who fully understands our weaknesses and shows us mercy. He suffered pain and faced temptations as a human being, yet remained sinless as he willingly became the perfect Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. He gets us! He’s now seated at the right hand of God interceding for us. Whatever we are facing right now is not bigger than He is. Could we just cease striving, cast all of our care upon his capable shoulders and submit to the One who loved us from death to life? It’s time to tell that mountain how big our God is!
This chapter was so sweet and loving. Just the reminder I needed this morning!! So grateful for our perfect savior and great high priest who knows our struggles.
My reading this morning: John 13.31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
Verse 9 also spoke out to me, “ …now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
I have to agree with Ella and Laurel, this passage is breathed heavily with Love. The reading of Hebrews has come at a providential time for me. It has been beautiful both mornings to hear God speak alike in both books. Thank you to the writers of BRP, and the planning. 🤗
Verses 6-8 have always been especially meaningful to me. I loved singing this song that was composed from them-https://youtu.be/JU1paS6LxWw
There are better recordings out there, but I love the racial diversity of this choir. . . a glimpse of heaven.
I read Warren Wiersbe’s commentary. This is his breakdown. 1.His humanity enabled him to regain man’s lost dominion vs 5-9. 2. His humanity enabled him to bring many sons to glory vs 10-13. 3. His humanity enabled him to disarm satan and deliver us from death vs 14-16. 4. His humanity enables him to be a sympathetic High Priest to his people vs 17-18. This helped me to comprehend better. Jesus did not need to do this at all. BUT GOD knew there was no other way for us to be completely His. He had to cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s without mistake. Jesus made all the necessary sacrifices for our sins so that we can be reconciled to God. But DO NOT just skim past verse one ‘ We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.’ We know what to do as “christians” but when we think or act wrongly what kind of example are we giving the world. Is the sin of a “christians” sin different than the sin of a non-christian? Yes!!!!!! it is worse!!!!! The pastor of my church has a great book about this very kind of thing. “WHY DO I DO WHAT I DONT WANT TO DO?” We are going to mess up that is why Jesus died and God raised Him from the dead so that we can have life eternal. But live life with great gusto now.
Hi my name is Amy and I have a new life in Christ. I suffer from people pleasing, pride and many other daily dilemmas BUT GOD is doing a great work in me, would you like to know more.
God take the fear away of failure. Even if I bumble stumble over my words to tell someone about You help them to hear what it is that will be of help to them. God thank You for guidance in my life today. Help me to be still, to listen actively, to see through your love goggles and do what You need, want and desire for me to do in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!