Hebrews 2: Giving Heed and the Humanity of Christ

I. Overview of Hebrews

A. The Two Major Sections of the Book

Christ is the way.

Do not give up.

B. Christ Is the Way

The superiority of Christ’s person — Hebrews 1:1–4:13.

The superiority of Christ’s work.

Christ is superior to:

The prophets

The angels

Moses

C. The Structure of Hebrews

The book alternates between doctrinal sections and warning sections.

There are five major doctrinal sections and five major warnings.

The first doctrinal section establishes Christ’s superiority to the prophets and angels.

Hebrews 2:1–4 contains the first warning:

Do not neglect your duty

Do not drift away

II. Introductory Questions

A. What Is the Main Thought of Hebrews 2?

We must give earnest heed to what we have heard.

We must remain faithful lest we drift away.

The Text Focuses on Christ being both divine and human.

A. The chapter addresses an important question:

If Christ is superior to angels, why did He become a man?

How could He be superior to angels while being made lower than they?

Why did he die?

Even in His humanity and death, what He did and accomplished demonstrates that He is superior to the angels.

B. What Old Testament References Appear in the Chapter?

The word spoken through angels — Hebrews 2:2.

. Deuteronomy 33:2.

Psalm 68:17.

Acts 7:53

Galatians 3:19.

Psalm 8:4–6 — Hebrews 2:6–8.

Psalm 22:22 — Hebrews 2:12.

2 Samuel 22:3 and Psalm 18:2 — Hebrews 2:13.

Isaiah 8:18 — Hebrews 2:13.

C. How Hebrews 2 Encouraged Its Original Readers

A. The readers were discouraged.

They were being pressured to return to Judaism.

They were ready to give up and abandon their faith.

Hebrews was written to encourage them to remain faithful.

B. They were warned not to drift away (Hebrews 2:1).

They needed to pay careful attention to what they had heard.

Drifting away is often a slow and gradual process.

They were encouraged to stay on course.

C. They were reminded of their great salvation (Hebrews 2:2–4).

They needed to recognize the greatness of what they possessed.

Returning to Judaism would mean neglecting their salvation.

They needed to consider what they would be giving up and losing.

D. They were reminded that their faith rested upon reliable evidence.

Their faith was not a blind leap into the dark.

The message of salvation had been confirmed by those who heard the Lord.

God confirmed their testimony through:

Signs

Wonders

Various miracles

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

E. They were given a clearer understanding of Christ.

Jesus lived as a man upon the earth.

Yet He is superior to both prophets and angels.

His humanity and death did not make Him inferior.

What He accomplished through His suffering and death demonstrated His superiority.

Therefore, the readers could be confident that Christianity was the right course.

D. How Hebrews 2 Relates to Us

A. We must take heed lest we drift away.

We face the same danger as the original readers.

We must pay careful attention to God’s Word.

We must continue faithfully and refuse to abandon Christ.

B. We must appreciate the greatness of our salvation.

We must not neglect what Christ has provided.

We must recognize what we would lose by turning away.

We must remain thankful for the salvation we possess in Christ.

C. We can have confidence in the foundation of our faith.

Christianity is supported by reliable testimony.

God confirmed the message through signs, wonders, and miracles.

Our faith is based upon evidence rather than a blind leap into the dark.

D. We gain a clearer understanding of the nature of Christ.

Hebrews 2 explains important truths about Christ’s humanity.

Jesus truly lived and suffered in the flesh.

His humanity helps us understand His mission.

The closing verses of the chapter explain these truths with exceptional clarity.

E. We gain a better understanding of the mission of Christ.

He came to suffer and experience death.

He came to accomplish salvation for mankind.

He became like His brethren so that He could help them.

Hebrews 2 strengthens our confidence in who Christ is and what He accomplished.

Hebrews 2 is about as we have it here “Giving Heed and the Humanity of Christ”

I. Give Heed to the Things You Have Heard (Hebrews 2:1–4)

A. Pay careful attention to the message.

B. Guard against drifting away.

II. Christ’s Superiority to Angels Is Seen in His Humanity (Hebrews 2:5–18)

A. The writer continues to demonstrate Christ’s superiority over angels.

B. Christ’s humanity does not make Him inferior to angels.

C. Even in His humanity, Jesus is superior to the angels.

D. The writer will change subjects later, but his present focus remains upon Christ’s superiority over angels.

III. Give Heed to the Things You Have Heard

Hebrews 2:1–4

A. We Must Give the More Earnest Heed — Verse 1

“Therefore” connects this warning with chapter 1.

God has spoken to us through His Son — Hebrews 1:1–2.

Because the message came through the Son, we must pay much closer attention to it.

Giving heed involves more than merely hearing.

We must listen carefully

We must not pick and choose what we like

We must obey what we hear.

They were to hold firmly to what they had already been taught and obeyed.

B. We Must Take Heed Lest We Drift Away — Verse 1

Drifting pictures a boat being carried downstream by the current.

A person who is not watchful or anchored can drift without realizing it.

Drifting is usually a slow and gradual process.

The slow nature of drifting makes it especially dangerous.

Rapid movement is easily noticed.

Gradual movement may continue for a long time before it is recognized.

The King James Version’s marginal reading says, “run out as leaking vessels.”

A vessel may have only a pinhole.

It loses only a drop at a time.

Over time, it loses everything it contains.

Faith may be lost in the same gradual manner.

This warning demonstrates that apostasy is possible.

C. We Cannot Escape If We Neglect Salvation — Verses 2–3

The word spoken through angels refers to the Old Testament law.

Angels played some role in revealing or delivering the law.

Deuteronomy 33:2

Psalm 68:17

Acts 7:53

Galatians 3:19

Scripture does not reveal the precise role the angels played.

Speculation about their exact role should be avoided.

Angels are mentioned because the writer is demonstrating Christ’s superiority to them.

The Old Testament message came through angels, but the gospel came through the Son.

The Old Testament law was steadfast and binding.

Every transgression and disobedience received a just reward.

If violations under the old covenant were punished, how can we escape if we neglect the greater message of Christ?

Salvation through Christ is “so great” because:

a. Christ is greater than angels.

b. His covenant is greater than the old covenant.

c. His sacrifice is greater.

d. His salvation is greater.

To drift from Christ is to neglect and abandon great salvation.

D. The Gospel Was Confirmed — Verses 3–4

The message was first spoken by the Lord during His earthly ministry.

Christ preached the gospel of the kingdom.

Matthew 4:23.

It was confirmed by those who heard Him.

The apostles heard Christ.

They continued proclaiming His message.

God bore witness to their message through:

Signs.

Wonders.

Various miracles.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His will.

“Signs” and “wonders” describe different aspects of miracles.

They were signs because they provided proof.

They were wonders because their supernatural nature produced amazement.

The word has already been confirmed.

It bears God’s stamp of approval.

It does not need to be confirmed again.

We do not need modern miracles to prove the gospel.

Miracles did not force people to believe.

Luke 16:31 — those who reject Moses and the prophets would not believe even if someone rose from the dead.

Matthew 12 — some witnessed miracles but continued demanding more signs.

Judas saw and performed miracles but still rejected Christ.

The human will can become so stubborn that a person chooses his own desires over God’s will.

The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all referenced in this section.

IV. Christ’s Superiority Is Seen Even in His Humanity

Hebrews 2:5–18

A. Man’s Dominion Over the World Was Lost

Hebrews 2:5–8

1. Difficult Questions in the Passage

a. What is “the world to come” in verse 5?

b. Does Psalm 8 refer primarily to mankind or directly to Christ?

c. What has not yet been placed fully under “him” in verse 8?

d. Interpretations may vary, but the chapter’s final conclusion remains the same.

2. The Meaning of “the World to Come” — Verse 5

a. It likely refers to the Messianic age.

b. The phrase “of which we speak” points back to the subject under discussion.

c. The writer was already living during the Messianic age.

d. It was “to come” from the perspective of Old Testament prophecy.

e. This world was not placed in subjection to angels.

3. Dominion Was Given to Mankind — Verses 6–8

a. The writer quotes Psalm 8:4–6.

b. Psalm 8 describes God’s original purpose for mankind.

c. Genesis 1:28 shows that God intended mankind to exercise dominion over creation.

d. Man was made a little lower than the angels because he was made flesh.

e. God crowned mankind with glory and honor.

f. God placed the works of His hands under man’s authority.

g. Nothing was excluded from the dominion God intended for man.

4. Man Lost the Full Enjoyment of His Dominion

a. Man’s intended dominion was never fully realized after the fall.

b. Sin entered the world in Genesis 3.

c. Because of sin, man became subject to:

Disease.

Suffering.

Death.

Forces within creation that can overcome him.

d. Man lost the glory and honor God originally intended for him.

e. “We do not yet see all things put under him” refers to mankind’s lost dominion.

f. What mankind lost through sin is restored through Christ.

B. Christ Became Flesh to Restore Man

Hebrews 2:9–18

1. “But We See Jesus” — Verse 9

a. This phrase provides the contrast with man’s failure in verse 8.

b. What was lost through Adam is regained through Christ.

c. Jesus was made a little lower than the angels when He became flesh.

d. He became human so that He could suffer and die.

e. Through His suffering, He was crowned with glory and honor.

f. His humanity did not make Him inferior to angels.

g. Through His humanity and death, He accomplished something no angel could accomplish.

2. Christ Became Flesh to Die for Everyone — Verses 9–10

a. By God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.

b. His death was not limited to a predetermined few.

c. Limited atonement is refuted by the statement that He died for every person.

d. His death made salvation available to all.

e. Christ brings “many sons to glory.”

f. The Author of salvation was made perfect through suffering.

g. “Perfect” does not mean Jesus had previously been sinful or morally defective.

h. It means He was completely fitted or qualified to be our Savior.

i. Without His death, there would have been no blood sacrifice for sin.

j. Only by suffering death could He become the perfect sacrifice.

k. Through His suffering, He fulfilled the point made in Psalm 8.

3. Christ Became Flesh to Be One with the Sanctified — Verses 11–13

a. Christ is the One who sanctifies.

b. Christians are those who are being sanctified.

c. Christ and the sanctified are “all of one.”

d. They share one Father.

e. Christ is not ashamed to call the sanctified His brethren.

a. Psalm 22:22 — Verse 12

Psalm 22 is a Messianic psalm.

The emphasis is upon the word “brethren.”

Christ identifies those He saves as His brethren.

He became like those whom He sanctifies.

b. 2 Samuel 22:3 and Psalm 18:2 — Verse 13

“I will put My trust in Him.”

Christ trusted the Father just as God’s children trust Him.

This identifies Christ with His brethren.

c. Isaiah 8:18 — Verse 13

“Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”

Christ identifies Himself with God’s children.

These quotations establish that He became one with us.

4. Christ Became Flesh to Destroy the Devil’s Power — Verses 14–16

a. Humanity partakes of flesh and blood.

b. Christ likewise shared in flesh and blood.

c. Through death, Christ destroyed the one who had the power of death—the devil.

d. No angel:

Became flesh.

Tasted death for mankind.

Overcame Satan through death.

e. Satan holds people in the bondage of sin.

f. Through Christ, people may be released from Satan’s power.

g. Christ’s victory demonstrates His superiority to angels.

5. Christ Became Flesh to Release Us from the Fear of Death — Verse 15

a. Those who remain in the bondage of sin have every reason to fear death.

b. Death leads the unprepared sinner toward judgment.

c. Those released from sin through Christ do not need to fear death.

d. There is hope in Jesus Christ.

6. Christ Gives Aid to Mankind — Verse 16

a. The saving aid provided by Christ was not given to angels.

b. He gives aid to the seed of Abraham.

c. His death was for humanity.

d. This further demonstrates His superiority to angels.

7. Christ Became Flesh to Be Our High Priest — Verses 17–18

a. He had to be made like His brethren.

b. He became a merciful and faithful High Priest.

c. As High Priest, He stands as the mediator between humanity and God.

d. He fully understands the nature of God because He is God.

e. He fully understands humanity because He became flesh and dwelt among us.

f. He is the perfect High Priest because:

He is faithful to God’s principles.

He is merciful toward mankind.

He understands human weakness and suffering.

g. He made propitiation for the sins of the people.

Propitiation concerns atonement.

Christ offered the perfect sacrifice for sin.

He took our place and provided what was necessary for forgiveness.

h. He personally suffered when He was tempted.

i. Because He suffered temptation, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

j. Christ completely understands everything His people experience.

V. Evidence of the New Covenant’s Superiority

A. The Contrast Between the Two Messages

The old covenant was the word spoken through angels.

The gospel was spoken by the Lord.

The gospel was confirmed by those who heard Christ.

God bore witness to the gospel through miraculous confirmation.

The contrast shows the superiority of Christ’s covenant.

B. Christ’s High Priesthood Requires a Change of Law

Under the law of Moses, priests came from the tribe of Levi.

Jesus came from the tribe of Judah.

Under the old law, Jesus was not qualified to serve as a priest.

If Jesus is our High Priest, the law must have changed.

Hebrews contains both direct and subtle arguments for the superiority of the new covenant.

VI. Practical Lessons from Hebrews 2

A. We Must Pay Careful Attention to God’s Word

Hearing alone is not enough.

We must carefully receive and obey the message.

We must hold firmly to what has been confirmed as true.

B. Apostasy Is Possible

A Christian can drift away.

The warning would be meaningless if falling away were impossible.

“Once saved, always saved” is refuted by this warning.

C. Drifting Usually Happens Gradually

Spiritual decline often occurs too slowly to be noticed.

A person may become weaker little by little.

After several years, he may be ready to quit without realizing how far he has drifted.

We must continually examine ourselves and remain watchful.

D. Congregations Can Also Drift

Churches rarely abandon the truth all at once.

Changes are often introduced slowly and gradually.

Over several generations, a congregation that once stood firmly may embrace practices it formerly opposed.

Neglecting teaching about biblical authority contributes to such drifting.

Congregations must continue teaching:

Biblical authority.

The distinction between the old and new covenants.

The danger of apostasy.

The necessity of remaining faithful.

E. Christ Gives Us Hope in the Face of Death

Those who remain in sin should fear death.

Those who have been released from sin through Christ possess hope.

Christ defeated the devil’s power.

Faithful Christians do not need to live in bondage to the fear of death.

F. Christ Understands and Helps Us

He became flesh.

He experienced suffering.

He faced temptation.

He understands human weakness.

He is able to aid us when we are tempted.

He is our merciful and faithful High Priest.

Conclusion

Give earnest heed to the gospel.

Guard against the slow danger of drifting.

Do not neglect the great salvation offered through Christ.

Remember that the gospel has been fully confirmed.

Jesus became flesh in order to:

Die for everyone

Restore what mankind lost through sin

Identify with those He sanctifies

Defeat the devil’s power

Release us from the fear of death

Become our merciful and faithful High Priest

Christ’s humanity and death do not make Him inferior to angels; they demonstrate His superiority and make our salvation possible.