The writer of Hebrews has spent the first chapter emphasizing that the Jewish messiah, Jesus, is the exact imprint of God, creating the universe. This Jesus is greater than the angels. Why is this important? Jewish tradition (and the Septuagint translation) has the angels giving the law to Moses. So the angels are the agents through which the Law was passed down. But if Jesus is even greater... then we must take Jesus very seriously!
2:1-4
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
The salvation offered by Jesus has been passed on by those followers who personally saw and heard Him. Unlike Paul, the writer of Hebrews appears to have received this message from one of those followers.
Like the miracles of the Exodus, this message has been confirmed by similar miracles in Jesus's day, including the gifts and confirmation of the Holy Spirit.
2:5-8a
It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet." In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him.
"It is said somewhere". The writer knows the passage (from Psalms 8:4-6) and knows that his (her?) readers know the passage also. There is no need to mention David. The Davidic passage appears to be talking about mankind but the writer interprets it as speaking of the Son of Man, the Messiah.
Here we are reminded that although Jesus is superior to all angels, he stooped to become a man, for just a time lower even than the angels.
2:8b-10
Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
The suffering Messiah (of Isaiah 53) was, just for a time, lower than the angels, in order to lift mankind up. So we too are (eventually) even superior to angels, as we are lifted up by the Messiah.
In the next passage, we are told that Jesus is both "brother" and "high priest".
2:11-13
Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."
These passages are from the messianic Psalm 22 (verse 22) and from Isaiah 8:17-18.
2:14-18
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers 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. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
2:1-4
We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
The salvation offered by Jesus has been passed on by those followers who personally saw and heard Him. Unlike Paul, the writer of Hebrews appears to have received this message from one of those followers.
Like the miracles of the Exodus, this message has been confirmed by similar miracles in Jesus's day, including the gifts and confirmation of the Holy Spirit.
It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet." In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him.
"It is said somewhere". The writer knows the passage (from Psalms 8:4-6) and knows that his (her?) readers know the passage also. There is no need to mention David. The Davidic passage appears to be talking about mankind but the writer interprets it as speaking of the Son of Man, the Messiah.
Here we are reminded that although Jesus is superior to all angels, he stooped to become a man, for just a time lower even than the angels.
Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
The suffering Messiah (of Isaiah 53) was, just for a time, lower than the angels, in order to lift mankind up. So we too are (eventually) even superior to angels, as we are lifted up by the Messiah.
In the next passage, we are told that Jesus is both "brother" and "high priest".
Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."
These passages are from the messianic Psalm 22 (verse 22) and from Isaiah 8:17-18.
2:14-18
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers 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. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
This passage has a theme we will hear a number of times. Jesus, the exact imprint of God (verse 1:3, at the beginning of this letter) was also human, so that he might be a sympathetic representative for us.
Note that final verse, Hebrews 2:18. Don't pass it by. We have a "brother" who has been tempted and suffered as we have. As his brothers and sisters, we have One who wants to help.
In the next passage, the writer will move away from angels and compare Jesus to Moses, that ancient hero who brought the divine Law to the people of Israel.
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