Hebrews Chapter 2 Notes

Chapter 1 Notes Found Here

This chapter starts out pretty heavy, with a reminder of the cost of sin. "For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 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;" If we neglect the work of salvation, I daresay if we, like the Jewish Christians in Scripture, fall into the temptation to put something BEFORE salvation, or as a per-requisite or whatnot requirement, as in works, we would be greatly neglecting the finished work of the cross. For salvation is not of us, but of God: "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..."

Next we see the dominion of the "world to come" (footnote: 'world' = oikoumene 'inhabited' earth) given over to the Lord, and the Lord being made a little lower than the angels, like we are, and then being exalted. " 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? 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: 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."

Then the REASON for Christ being made a little lower than the angels: "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. 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."

That part just stops me in my tracks. The Lord of all Creation, the One who is exalted in Chapter 1 for laying the foundations of the earth and creating the Heavens by His own hand, was made a little lower than the angels for the purpose of the suffering of death, that He should taste death for every man. The King of creation, He came for the sole purpose of dying, and dying for us even while we were yet sinners. He died for us while we still hated him and mocked him. "Sinners of whom I am chief." His death for me was "crowned with glory and honour," the spotless Lamb slain for a filthy rag like me.

However, that is not without it's promise. "bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." How I long to ALWAYS purpose to exalt the Lord as the Captain of my salvation! I had honestly never thought of the Lord in this distinct manner before reading this! The Lord is my Captain!

CAPTAIN, n.

1. Literally, a head or chief officer; appropriately, the military officer who commands a company, whether of infantry, cavalry, artillery or matrosses.

Not ONLY that we would be saved, but that we would be all of ONE with HIM! "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, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee."

"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; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Back to the good and better theme, the Lord brought something better. The letter of the law was not salvation, it was only a symbol, a foreshadowing of things to come (Colossians 2:16-17). Out of fear of death, those under the law were subject to bondage, however, Christ came to give us something better, as found extensively in Galatians as well, and that is freedom from that bondage. No longer under the schoolmaster of the law, but under the liberty of faith. And the Lord LIKEWISE became a partaker of flesh and blood so that He might destroy the devil and conquer death to set us free, those who believe!

Our Lord, the Creator of all things, could have done anything. He really could have made the rocks cry out! Yet He chose the cross before the foundation of this world. "For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham."

But why?

"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. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."

#1 - To show Himself as the merciful and faithful High Priest
#2 - To make reconciliation for the sins of the people, that which the blood of the old covenant was unable to do
#3 - That He might be of help in times of difficulty (succour) having suffered Himself being tempted

~At the close of this chapter, I am left in awe of the Grandeur and Grace of the Lord. I am just speechless, really. All I can say is simply "Thank you, Lord, and Amen."~