Sermon Tone Analysis

Hebrews 2:1–4 (NASB95)

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.

For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

We Covered Verse 1 Last Time

And an Important Thing to Remember as We Look at Verse 2 is:

We are Still in the Context of Chapter 1

Verse 1 Begins With “Because of This”

“Because Jesus is Superior to the Angels…

We Need to Pay Closer Attention to What We Have Heard From Him”

Hebrews 2:2 (NASB)

For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,

What was the Word Spoken Through Angels?

From the Context, We Know the Author is Talking About the Old Law Given to Moses On Mount Sinai

It was a Commonly Accepted Belief in Jewish Tradition that the Old Covenant Had Been Delivered/Mediated By Angels

Some Jewish Texts as Well as the Jewish Historian Josephus Prove This to Be the Case

And There are a Few NT Texts that Seem to Convey that Same Idea

Some Believe the Author of Hebrews is Saying, “For if the Word Spoken Through Human Messengers”

But Based On the Context of Chapter 1, Where Heavenly Beings are Being Referred to…

It Seems that the Hebrews Writer is Referring to this Belief that Angels Were Involved in the Giving of the Old Law

The Point is Not Whether Angels Had Anything to Do With the Giving of the Old Law or Not

The Point the Hebrew Author is Continuing to Make is:

Jesus is Better Than the Angels

The Gospel is Better Than the Old Law

Hebrews 2:2 (NASB)

For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,

The Old Law Proved Unalterable

It was Reliable, Steadfast, Binding, in Force, Valid, Verified, Firmly Established

The Hebrews Writer Doesn’t Want to Diminish the Importance and the Validity of the OT

It was a Law Given By God

Hebrews 2:2 (NASB)

For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,

Under the Old Law, Every Transgression and Disobedience was Punished

Transgression = Going Outside the Boundary of What God Has Said to Do

Disobedience = Unwillingness to Hear and Submit to God’s Law

One Commentator Described it Like This:

Transgression Represents the Character of Sin

Stepping Out of the Boundary God Has Set

Disobedience Represents the Cause of Sin

Refusing to Listen to God

Another Commentator Described:

Transgression as Sins of Commission

Doing What is Wrong

Disobedience as Sins of Omission

Not Doing What is Right

Doing Either Resulted in a Just, Fair, Appropriate Reward

What was the Reward?

Punishment

Verse 2 Summary:

If the Old Law/Covenant was Binding…

And Brought About Just Punishment to Those Who Refused to Listen to and Obey it…

Hebrews 2:3 (NASB)

how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,

This Type of Argument is Called a fortiori

“If the Lesser Thing is True, Then the Greater Thing is Even More True”

If Transgressing and Disobeying the Law Spoken By Angels Brought About Just Punishment…

Then Neglecting the Great Salvation that Comes Through the Gospel of Christ…

Is Even More Inescapable

He Already Made the Point that Jesus is Better Than the Angels

Now He’s Helping Us Apply that Point

If Neglecting What the Angels Spoke Deserves Punishment…

Then Neglecting What Jesus Spoke Definitely Deserves Punishment

“Neglect” = To Disregard, Ignore, Be Unconcerned With, To Not Care About

Those Who Disregard Such a Wonderful Salvation Made Possible By the Son of God…

Will Have No Way of Escaping Punishment

This was a Powerful Warning to Those Hebrew Christians On the Verge of Forsaking the Christian Life

Hebrews 2:3 (NASB)

how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,

The Gospel of Christ that Brings Such a Great Salvation was First Spoken By Jesus…

Then it was Confirmed By the Apostles and Earliest Disciples

Hebrews 2:4 (NASB)

God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

God was Also a Witness to the Validity of the Gospel

How?

By the Signs, Wonders, and Miracles that Were Performed By the Power of His Spirit

All of the Signs, Wonders, Miracles, and Gifts Were Meant to Validate/Confirm the Gospel Message to Be True

It Proved to the Listeners of the Message that it is Truly a Message From God Himself

Summary of Verses 2-4 in Light of the Context of Chapter 1:

If Jesus is Superior to the Angels…

And the Old Law Spoken By Angels was Firmly Established and Binding…

And Brought Deserved Punishment to Those Who Refused to Listen to it and Obey it…

Then the Gospel Spoken By Jesus, and Confirmed By the Apostles and God Himself…

Will Even More Surely Bring Deserved Punishment to Those Who Neglect it

This Warning Passage is Based Upon the Teaching of Chapter 1

Jesus is Better Than the Angels

Therefore His New Covenant Gospel is Better Than the Angels’ Old Covenant Law

Application

Jesus and His Gospel are Superior to the Angels and the OT

So We Need to Pay Much Closer Attention to/Heed the Message of the Gospel

So That We Do Not Drift Away and Eventually Neglect it Altogether

To Do so Would Be to Lose Out On Such a Great Salvation

And to Have an Inescapable Punishment Waiting for Us

Hebrews 2:5-9

In Verse 5, We Leave the Warning Passage and Go Back to Theological Teaching

But We Haven’t Started Anything New Yet

The Author is Still Focusing On Jesus’ Supremacy to the Angels

Hebrews 2:5–9 (NASB95)

For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.