Study of Hebrews

Hebrews Chapter 2

Hebrews 2:1-4 Describes the superiority of the New Testament message. The Danger of Neglecting the Word.

In the Old Testament God used angels to deliver His messages. Under the New Covenant the Word of God is the primary way God speaks.

The Word is ever living and breathing.

Heb 2:1 ‘Therefore’ is referring to everything we have read in Chapter 1.

Christ’s superiority to angels and the prophets.

When we see the word ‘therefore’ we back up and find what it is there for.

Slip is the Greek word ‘pararheo’ which means to flow past or glide by.

Vine’s dictionary says that this is referring to allowing the things we have heard to pass by without giving due heed to the things heard.

God’s Word will pass us by and we will never fully benefit from it if we do heed His sayings.

Heb 2:2-4 The Word spoken in the New Covenant was greater in that it was for all mankind and was the word that brings salvation.

If that which was spoken by angels was not to be ignored. Then certainly we are not to ignore the word that bring so great a salvation.

This word neglect is also translated indifferent.

In other words unbothered or unmoved by what we have heard.

This seems to be a pretty significant warning about how serious of a matter the Word is.

God confirmed this word spoken by Jesus Christ through signs and wonders and the outpouring of the gifts of the Spirit to believers.

Mark 16:20 “And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the accompanying signs.]”

God always confirmed His Word with signs and wonders. This is a major hang up in the church today as most believers are powerless.

Without the confirming of the word through signs and wonders it would

Hebrews 2:5 Christ is superior because of His humanity.

Man was given all authority on the earth when he was created.

Genesis 1:26-29; 2:1-7

Jesus restored this authority when He rose from the dead.

Heb 2:5 lets us know that God has entrusted the New Covenant world to believers.

Angels are for our assistance in the New Covenant, not to do the work.

Hebrews 2:6-7 is quoting Psalms 8:4-7 stating the position of man in creation that we are a little lower than the angels.

The word angels here in Psalms is actually the Hebrew word Elohim which is the name used for God 2,075 times in the Old Testament.

Psalms 8:5 is the only place it is translated angels.

Man was made in the image of God a little lower than God Himself and set in charge of the works of the hands of God (Genesis 1:26-29).

Heb 2:8 There is absolutely nothing that is not subjected to man.

The reason we don’t see it yet is because Romans 8:19-21 says that creation is waiting for the full manifestation of the sons of God. Also that when man fully realizes their freedom so will creation. See Eph 3:20

Heb 2:9 what we do see is our savior who became lower than the angels so that he could conquer death and pioneer the way of salvation for the bringing in of sons and daughters to glory.

Jesus took back the authority that was originally given to man and restored it. Matt 28:18.

Jesus had to do this as a human, because it was a human that surrendered the authority to the devil in the first place.

Heb 2:10 God started the work and now through His son has finished the work of restoring us to a pre-fallen state through the new nature.

Some have misused this verse to suggest that it is through sufferings that we are made perfect.

The problem with this teaching is that Jesus was already perfect and did not need to be made perfect.

Jesus was God at birth and the work was completed when He said “it is Finished.”

Heb 2:11-13 Jesus recognizes everyone of us as brothers and sisters as He know we all have the same father. Matthew 12:50.

He doesn’t look at us as lower but as joint-heirs with Him. (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:29)

He is at all times declaring the name of God to us and teaching us how to praise with thanksgiving. (John 12:49; John 5:19)

If Jesus puts His trust in God and he is the Son of God, how much more important is it for us who are not divine to trust in Him? (see Matt 4:1-11)

Heb 2:14 Jesus took part in flesh and blood like the rest of us for the conquering of death.

As we have stated before, it was a man that brought death on all mankind, therefore it had to be a man to restore all things. (Romans 5:15-19)

Heb 2:15 Jesus delivered us from the fear of death when we were in bondage to this fear.

When there is no hope of life that is when fear becomes dominate.

But as long as life is guaranteed then fear is powerless. (2 Tim 1:7; 1 John 4:18)

Heb 2:16-18 Jesus chose to take on a human nature so that he would know what humans experienced and be able to overcome and redeem us.

There was no way to accomplish this outside of taking on flesh.

He would not have been a merciful and faithful high priest

As difficult as it is to remember, we must recall that Jesus walked our shoes and experienced every temptation so that we could take on his nature and overcome it.

Conclusion:

Everything from His divinity to His humanity, from His words to His priesthood are superior in every way.

This is not true because Jesus sought to be the best, but it is true because everything He did, He did for the father to restore us to right relationship.

Suffering temptations and even the temptation of death so that we could partake in his overcoming victory.

Discussion Questions:

1.Why are the words of Jesus Christ superior to that spoken by angels?

2.Group Discussion: What are the dangers in drifting off course?

3.When we see the word ‘Therefore’, what is required of us?

4.What does the word ‘slip’ mean in the Greek?

5.What will occur or not occur if we do not give heed to God’s Word?

6.How has God always confirmed His Word?

7.What is a major hangup in the Modern Church?

8.Group Discussion: What makes Christ superior through His humanity?

9.Based on Psalms 8:5, who are we a little lower than?

10.What is not subjected to man on the earth?

11.Why did Jesus become lower than the angels for a short time?

12.What does Jesus recognize us as?

13.What are we delivered from through Jesus Christ that had us bound?

14.Why did Jesus take on a human nature?