Hebrews 2:5-18 | "Jesus: Our Brother and Helper" [Live Stream Edition]

I. Reading of Scripture

Hebrews 2:5–18 ESV

5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Pray

II. Introduction

A. Introduction to Theme

Christianity is not lived in a vacuum. What we believe is not a set of hypotheticals.

Christianity exists in a very real and difficult world. And God is not unfamiliar with that world and all the trials we experience in it.

B. Proposition

Because God became human like us, He is able to help us overcome fear, suffering, temptation and death through faith by the Spirit of Christ in us.

C. Introduction to Text

Hebrews 2:5 continues the theme that began in Hebrews 1:4 — where the Son, Christ, is shown to be better than angels.

There was a short word of exhortation in Hebrews 2:14, an appeal to act on what what has been heard through the Son, but in 2:5 the discussion of the Son in relation to angels continues.

The theme now is not on the divinity of the Son (his eternal throne, being God), but now the Son’s humanity.

III. Exposition | Hebrews 2:5-18-

A. Hebrews 2:5-9

Hebrews 2:5 ESV

5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking.

The author of Hebrews is looking forward, at something that is to come.

And what is to come?

It is described as a “world.”

This is not the word usually translated “world” in the Bible.

This is not the word “world” used in:

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

That is the word “κόσμος.”

Hebrews here uses the word “οἰκουμένη” (“economy”), which in most places refers to the inhabited world, the place where mankind dwells (LN).

But here, it is speaking of that which “will be inhabited” the place where mankind will dwell. The future home of all who are in Christ.

The place where Jesus said:

John 14:3 ESV

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

It is not a world that WILL BE subjected to someone, it is a world that ALREADY HAS been subjected to someone!

And that someone is not angels, that someone is Christ.

This world is a world that already is, and is a world that is yet to come.

What according to the Scriptures “already is” and at the same time is “yet to come”?

It is the Kingdom of God in Christ! (Lk 17:21)

It is eternal life in Christ! (Jn 11:25-26)

It is every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Eph 1:3).

Jesus, “after making purification for sins” (Heb 1:4) was brought again into this same world (Heb 1:6, NET) to sit upon an eternal throne with everything in subjection to him.

That word “subjected” is a relational word.

It is the kind of relationship Ephesians 5 says Christians are to have one to another out of reverence for Christ (Eph 5:21).

It is the kind of relationships wives are to have with their husbands as to the Lord (Eph 5:22, 24).

It is the kind of relationship the Church has with Christ (Ephesians 5:24).

It is a word that means to be “submissive to,” “subordinate to” (BDAG).

It is a word that co-exists with the theme of humility in recognition of order, and authority in God’s economy.

The “world to come” is firmly under Christ’s control (see LN).

This is not not a new development in terms of God’s plan of salvation. This WAS and IS God’s plan of salvation, from the first word of gospel hope as far back as Genesis 3:15, when God spoke to the serpent in Eden:

Genesis 3:15 ESV

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

And quoting from Psalm 8 the author of Hebrews says this:

Hebrews 2:6-8(a) ESV

6 It has been testified somewhere,

“What is man, that you are mindful of him,

or the son of man, that you care for him?

7  You made him for a little while lower than the angels;

you have crowned him with glory and honor,

8  putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

While it is true that dominion was given to the first man, to Adam, it is also true that that dominion was lost because of sin.

And this Psalm, while it alludes to what was to be, and what was to belong to mankind, it now find fulfillment in this “son of man” who was made lower than the angels for “a little while.”

This is the Incarnation. God became human in Jesus Christ.

And because of this, Christ has been crowned with glory and honor and everything has been put in subjection under his feet.

Hebrews 2:8 (b) ESV

English Standard Version Chapter 2

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control.

Because everything is in subjection to Christ, there is NOTHING that can control Christ.

Adam let sin control him and lost his control of what was given to him by God.

Christ, the last Adam, took back all Adam lost, and has been given all things by God.

Hebrews 2:8 addresses the “present” moment. The “now.”

And says this:

Hebrews 2:8 (c) ESV

At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.

Here is the “we” again. The perspective switches to “our” point of view.

While everything IS subject to Christ, “we” do “not yet see” everything in subjection to him.

If everything were in subjection to Christ, there would be no need for evangelism. No need for preaching the Gospel. There would be no lawlessness or sin or violence or disease.

We know, because we can see that everything is not yet subject to Christ.

In other words, the moment of Philippians 2:10-11 has not yet happened:

Philippians 2:10–11 ESV

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

That will happen, but it has not yet happened. We can’t see that moment. We can only see it with eyes of faith.

Why did Hebrews exhort the people with a warning to “pay much closer attention” to the word of the Son “lest” they “drift away from it”? (Hebrews 2:1)

This wasn’t an academic statement. This was practical. This was spoken into the circumstances of the original audience.

BECAUSE there were things happening to them that that were causing them to doubt the message of salvation in Christ.

What they were seeing did not match with what they were hearing about Christ.

If Christ is King, if nothing is outside of his control, then why do not all bow the knee in submission to him?

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

Faith means believing in what IS even if we cannot see it.

But God has given us something we can see. Someone we can have faith in.

Hebrews 2:9 ESV

9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

We see Jesus as the fulfillment of this Psalm. Not just perceived, but He was seen by eyewitnesses.

It was because Jesus suffered and died that he is crowned with glory and honor.

Because in his dying, he tastes (or experiences) death for everyone.

Christ did something unique to human experience — he died.

This means, that the death Christ died, he died for all humanity. Christ’s work on the cross was a work for all!

This great salvation of God in Jesus Christ is available for all!

“He who has ears let him hear”…and pay attention!

B. Hebrews 2:10-18

1. Hebrews 2:10-13

Hebrews 2:10 ESV

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

“it was fitting…through suffering” means it was right that Christ should suffer and die.

Think through the Garden of Gethsemane. When Jesus before his death prayed:

Luke 22:42 ESV

42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”

Christ had to die:

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And through his death, sons are brought into glory.

All are accounted as sons in Christ, co-heirs with Him in glory.

Jesus is called the “founder” of “salvation” made “perfect through suffering.”

Through suffering Jesus became our perfect salvation. All of our salvation is complete and finished in Him.

2. Hebrews 2:14-18

Hebrews 2:14–16 ESV

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.

Jesus became like us so that he might die for us.

God cannot die— but God as man could die in His humanity.

And only in this way could death be destroyed.

And in destroying death, Jesus destroyed the “fear of death” that sin assured us.

We were slaves to sin, and sin leads to death, but Jesus frees us from our slavery to sin, and frees us from the fear of death.

And this is something God does for Abraham’s offspring. Not for angels.

Certainly it makes us wonder about the angels that were with God in the beginning but that fell and were cast out of heaven. God doesn’t offer redemption to them. But as Abraham’s offspring, by faith, God offers redemption to us!

God did not become an angel to help angels. But God did become a human to help humans.

IV. Conclusion | Hebrews 2:17-18

Hebrews 2:17–18 ESV

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

“he had to” a word of obligation (LEB). It was a necessity (LN). For only in becoming like us, could he become a merciful and faithful high priest.

The “high priest” was the one that entered into the Holy of Holies every year to make atonement (propitiation) for the sins of he people. Because God became human in Christ, God is able to be a merciful high priest.

What we experience in our humanity is not foreign to God. God knows what it is like to struggle in the flesh. He did that in Christ. You and I are not alone in our humanity. God understands what we are like more than we do.

“propitiation” means to make atonement with a focus on HOW.

Jesus took upon HIMSELF the wrath of God that we deserved, so that we might be forgiven of sins and brought into a relationship with God.

BECAUSE He has suffered, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Application

In light of the exhortation/warning of 2:1, to “pay much closer attention” — we see that attention is competitive.

It is easily taken by other things.

And “our allegiance to Christ is costly” (Lane, WBC, 54)

Hebrews begins to show us WHY the original audience of this letter may have been tempted to drift away from the message of Christ — “fear of death,” or “suffering” or “testing.”

So we are reminded that God gave us Christ in the midst of these things so that even when what we SEE doesn’t match with what we hear, we SEE Christ fulfilling what we hear and have faith in Him.

Even in fear of death, we see Christ who died and was raised victorious.

Even in suffering, we see Christ who suffered and overcame.

Even in temptations we see Christ as our helper who was also tempted yet without sin.

Jesus is able to help us. Because he became one of us. And overcame as one of us. He is able to supply everything we need (LN) when our faith is put to the test.

Proposition

Because God became human like us, He is able to help us overcome fear, suffering, temptation and death through faith by the Spirit of Christ in us.