Chapter 2
Pay Close Attention to the Word of Salvation
1Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.
Now that God speaks to us in these last days directly by His Son, the Word of God, we need to pay close attention to His Word. Why is that? One reason is because we are in the last days. Jesus can return at any time so we need to be ready. Two, we don’t want to drift away from the truth of God’s teaching and backslide into sin. Reading and studying the Word of God daily will keep us close to God and help us remain faithful.
2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward,
Angels are messengers of God. The elect angels (1 Tim. 5:21) are holy and only speak the truth of God. Those individuals or nations that did not heed the Word of God sent from angels received the just punishment for their sins and disobedience. That punishment was both earthly and spiritual. The ultimate judgment for rejecting Christ, the Word of God, is eternal damnation in the lake of fire.
3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
People and nations were judged by God for their disobedience and lack of repentance when angels sent God’s message. Certainly people will be punished who reject Jesus Christ, and His message of salvation which was spoken of by the apostles and others who were eye witnesses to the Lord?
4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
God has proven the trustworthiness of His Word and prophecy through the miracle-working power He gave to the apostles. Peter, John, Paul, Stephen, and others worked miracles from healing the sick to raising people from the dead. Some at that time received the gifts of the Holy Spirit in speaking in unknown tongues and prophecy. All spiritual gifts that we receive come from God.
All Things Will Be Made Subject to the Son
For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:
“What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him?”
In the future, God will not appoint angels to rule over the world. God has chosen His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the King of kings, to rule over all creation. (Rev. 19:11-16; Phil. 2:5-11) Next the author quotes from Psalm 8:4-6. In verses 6 and 7 above two rhetorical questions are asked. Why would God concern Himself with mankind? Mankind is so full of sin, selfishness, and disobedience to God’s Word. The answer is that God loves us so much He was willing to die for us. His love, compassion, and forgiveness is greater than our sinfulness. (John 3:16) Why would God concern Himself with the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, who became cursed in taking our sins upon Himself and dying on a tree or wooden cross?
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), (Gal. 3:13)
The Father loves the Son and chose Him to be the Great Prophet, High Priest, and King of kings. His mission was to save everyone the Father gave Him (John 6:37-39).
7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands.
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”
In eternity past, Jesus Christ was equal to the Father in glory and honor. However, the divine plan of God called for Jesus to be born in humility and obscurity to a virgin. He is God and He became a human being. As a human being He was made a little lower than the angels in that He had some self-imposed human limitations. He required rest, sleep, food, drink, and could die like all humans. Angels do not have these limitations.
Jesus fulfilled the plan of God in the redemption of mankind. He was victorious over sin and the satanic-led demonic world by His atoning death on the cross and His resurrection on the third day. The Father has crowned Him with all glory and honor. The Father is well pleased with His Son Jesus and told others to listen to Him. (Matt. 17:5) The Father has made His Son to be ruler over all creation. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords! Everything is under the rule of Jesus by declaration of the Father. (Col. 1:12-20)
For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
As just stated, Jesus as a human was made a little lower than the angels. His blessed atoning death on the cross and resurrection has brought Him great glory and honor. By His death and the grace of God, everyone, meaning both Jews and Gentiles, will be saved if they have faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Is the Captain of Our Salvation
10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Here we see that it was absolutely appropriate for God, who has created all things and rules over all things, to bring many people to salvation and glory by the work of Jesus Christ in His sufferings on the cross. Jesus is the Captain or Leader of our salvation. He paid the price so that we could enjoy the blessings of eternal life. He is the slain Lamb of God who arose from the grave in His resurrection on the third day after His death.
Jesus is the sanctifier or the One who makes believers holy. So both Jesus and His followers are one together. Since they are one together, Jesus is not ashamed or embarrassed to call His followers brothers.
And again: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”13 And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”
Jesus will declare God’s holy name to His followers. He will praise the Father to both angels and Christians. Jesus trusts His Father in all things. We too should trust Christ in all things being obedient to all His commands in the New Testament.
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
These children God gave to Christ became flesh and blood. To be their Savior, Jesus also took on flesh and blood that He might die for them and destroy Satan who has the power of death. Although Satan cannot kill people without the permission of God, he seeks to kill them spiritually. He does this by tempting them to commit sin hoping they will not turn to Christ for forgiveness. His objective is for people to be condemned to the lake of fire for all eternity since that is his destiny. However, God in His mercy and grace gives spiritual new life to those who come to Christ, releasing them from a lifetime of spiritual fear and bondage under Satan. Eventually, the devil will be cast into the lake of fire to receive eternal torment and damnation (Rev. 20:10).
16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.
It is interesting that God gives aid and assistance, both physically and spiritually, to the seed of Abraham. Who are the seed of Abraham? They are believers in Jesus Christ.
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:26-29)
God gives help to Christians but not to angels. The elect angels (1 Tim. 5:21) who did not rebel against God serve God in heaven. However, the fallen angels or demons, many of whom are in hell now, will all be cast into the lake of fire after the judgment. They will get no mercy, aid, or help. They did not need to rely on faith. They witnessed the majesty and glory of God yet still rebelled. They will receive no forgiveness of their sins. However, we who have to rely on faith for salvation and eternal paradise have a redeemer and Savior to save us from our sins and the lake of fire! Thank you Lord Jesus!
17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
For a perfect atonement to take place, it was necessary for God to provide a like-kind sacrifice. The one sacrificed had to be perfect, without spot or blemish. The sacrifice had to be of the greatest value to satisfy God’s wrath toward sin. The blood of bulls or goats could never take away sin, just cover it. Only a perfect human sacrifice could pay the penalty for our sins. That perfect human was Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, who is both merciful and faithful. He is our faithful High Priest who was tempted in all ways as we are. Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness in a weakened state after fasting 40 days and nights. He was tempted by Satan through Peter to not die for believers. He suffered the cruelty of humiliation, a flogging, and a crucifixion. God was satisfied to forgive our sins by allowing Jesus to be punished in our place. Since Jesus was made a man and experienced human temptations and suffering, He is well-qualified to help those who are tempted to do evil and comfort those who suffer in this life.