Heb 2:5-8 Who is your president?

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.

Hebrews 2:5 ESV

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

Hebrews 2:6–8 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.” 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.

Hebrews 2:8 ESV

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.

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.

Heb 2:5-9 Who is your president?

A few years back the slogan Trump is not my president was somewhat popular. The interesting aspect it wasn’t just a slogan but it was a belief held by many. They would argue that even though they are American citizens they would give some reasoning why the current president at that time was not their president. Just a few weeks ago I saw a sticker on the back of a pick-up truck saying Biden is not my president. I don’t know how popular this is, but I assume that there might be people today using the same argument about the current president. Let’s put politics aside and consider the reasoning behind these slogans.

It seems to me that there are two main messages that these slogans are trying to communicate. One is to claim that you don’t recognize someone as the president meaning you are not going to submit to that authority. The other possible message is to indicate that someone’s policies and character are not representative of you as a person or the country in general.

However, our acceptance or not of a president doesn’t change the reality of the active authority of that person in the office. We could say whether we like it or not, if the person in the office is making good or bad decisions, our opinions and even deep-felt emotions will not change an active administration.

The scripture passage that we are going to study today points out that independently of our physical nationality, our opinions, and even deep-felt emotions, none of this can change Christ’s reign. Jesus' position of authority and reign is above not only the current president of this country, but He is above every president and king. There is a day coming when every knee will bow and confess that Jesus is Lord. For now, this world is in rebellion, but even in their rebellion their not outside of sovereignty, meaning everything is subject to Jesus. If you don’t remember anything else this morning, I want you to remember this Christ is reigning, knowing Jesus is more important than seeing Him reigning now.

Before we start our study in Heb 2, let’s recap our studies so far in this letter. As it’s been “a few” weeks.

In Hebrews chapter 1 we first looked at the amazing fact that God spoke, in the same way, God did not have to save anyone, by His grace He has revealed himself by the prophets and then by His Son, Jesus Christ. Then we studied the seven descriptions of the deity of Christ in v 2-3, 1-Jesus is God’s Son; 2-He was appointed by God the Father as the heir of all things; 3. The world was created through Him; 4. He is the radiance of the glory of the Father; 5. He is the exact imprint of God the Father; 6. He upholds the universe and 7. He is sitting at the right hand of God the Father.

All these amazing truths we studied just from v 1-3. Then we studied the next section v 4-14, where Jesus is compared to angels. We took a step back and we studied demons and angels, then we looked at the comparison in Heb 1 between Jesus and angels.

We also spend time looking at the description of the rule of Christ, His throne, scepter, and righteousness. Then we finish studying chapter 1 by focusing on the description of the eternality of Christ.

Next in we studied Hebrews 2:1-4, where we dived into this very strong warning which reminds us to pay very close attention to the message of salvation, or better to God’s Word because there are eternal consequences for not listening to God.

Now the author transitions from talking about the authority of the message to the authority of Christ as the one to whom everything is subjected. First, the author points out that the world that is to come is going to be subjected to Christ.

Heb 2:5 “5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking.”

There is an interesting side note from v 5 about angels. We did take some time before to study the topic of angels because there are so many references to angels in the book of Hebrews, in our previous study we summarized the main activity of angels as worship, watching, and serving. It doesn’t mean that angels are restricted to these activities, here in v 5 it seems to imply that angels are in temporary control of the world.

I’ll confess when I first read this verse I didn’t see it, but the more I read the clearer it seemed. Bible commentators also point to the same conclusion and point this is not the only time Scripture makes this assertion.

Turn in your bibles to Deut 32:8, remembering that the reference to sons of God often is a reference to angels.

Deut 32:8 “8 When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.”

Bruce a commentator said the following:

“This reading implies that the administration of the various nations has been parceled out among a corresponding number of angelic powers. At a later time this implication becomes explicit: in Daniel, for example, we meet the angelic “prince of Persia” and “prince of Greece” (Dan. 10:20), while Michael is “the great prince” who champions the people of Israel (Dan. 10:21; 12:1). In a number of places some at least of these angelic governors are portrayed as hostile principalities and powers—the “world-rulers of this darkness” of Eph. 6:12. In Hebrews nothing is said about their possible hostility; all that matters in the argument of this epistle is that they are angels.”

Therefore, Dan 10, Deut 32, and Heb 2:5 seem to indicate the nations are currently subject to angels. It seems like the topic of angels was highly important to the first readers of this letter, to the point where they were in danger of being led by false doctrines Heb 13:9 “9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings” Maybe these believers were facing a similar situation as the believers in Colossae, the worship of angels Col 2:18 says “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels"

While the topic of angels might not be as important to us today we cannot overlook it. However, the main point of v 5 is that Jesus is far greater than angels so we should pay attention to Him and be concerned about Jesus because the world that is to come is going to be subjected to Jesus. This whole idea that the world is going to be in subjection to Jesus is further developed in v 6-8 which is Psalm 8:4-6

Heb 2:6-8 “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.”

First, it is interesting how the New Testament authors quote the Old Testament. When we quote Scripture we give the book, chapter, and verse. Interestingly, chapter divisions started as early as the 4th century, but the chapter divisions that we use today go back to the 13th century. It was only in 1551 that the divisions of verses came into existence. But here the author just says “It has been testified somewhere” The way the writer quotes is implying that all of the Old Testament is God’s word, so even a vague reference is sufficient to point out that this is what God says.

The other implication of the way the author quotes is implying that the audience will know their Bibles so well that he doesn’t need to give a specific address, they will know right away. Here is a short but important application for all of us, we need to know our Bibles so well, that when someone makes a reference we not only know that it is from Scripture but we will also know the context of the quote. Here is my challenge to you. As important as it is to read Scripture listening to it is also of great benefit. There are so many ways to listen to the audio Bible, there are free apps like Bible.is and there are bibles available on CDs or to download the audio files for free, which there is a link on our church website.

Here is an interesting fact, to listen to the entire Bible takes only 40 hours. If we would listen for 1 hour a day we could read the Bible 9 times a year, or if we listen for 30 min every day we could listen to the entire Bible 4.5 times in one year. I’m not telling you to listen to the Bible for 1h a day, if you want to do it that will be great, what I’m pointing out is that listening to Bible can help us to keep our minds on things above and it will help us increase greatly our knowledge and understanding of God’s word.

But going back to the quotation. In Psalm 8 the psalmist is overcome with wonder as he thinks of the glory and honor that God has given human beings. It is thought that he is probably reflecting on Gen 1:26 “26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

However, the author of Hebrews does not apply these words to the first Adam, but to Christ the last Adam, who is the head and ruler of the new creation. The phrase son of man often refers to a human being, however, the prophet Daniel was the first to make the phrase one like the son of man to be a reference to the Messiah, Dan 7:13 “13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.”

The title that Jesus more often used for himself was the Son of Man, likely identifying himself with the prophecy of Daniel. We see this in the context of the times when Jesus refers to himself as the son of man. Here are some examples, as I read pay attention to the context where Jesus is using the title.

Matt 9:6 “6 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” then in Matt 13:41 “41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers,” When Jesus was confronted by the high priest and the council, they ask him to tell them plainly if he was the Christ, this is what Jesus responded in Matt 26:64 “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” To which the high priest and the others that heard knew exactly that Jesus just told them plainly that He was the Messiah. The leaders didn’t just sit down and ponder what Jesus was saying, they were so outraged they tore their robes and condemn Jesus to death because He had uttered blasphemy. The blasphemy was Jesus told them plainly He was the Messiah, He was God.

So the Son of Man, who was highly exalted humbled himself to be a man for a little while, take the great penalty for our sins, to redeem creation and everything is put in subjection to Him, as the head and ruler of creation.

Then the author of Hebrews makes a comment after the quote in v 8: “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. But we see him”

When we read this passage there are only two possible logical understandings of what this verse is saying. The first possibility is that it means for the time we are living everything is not in subjection to Him, but it will be when He returns.

The thought that things are NOT under His reign now might seem at first an easy answer when we look at our world. However, Scripture does not give us this possibility, many places in Scripture refer to the sovereignty of God, that now all things are in subjection to him 1 Cor 15:27 “27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.”

Jeremiah 32:17 “17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.”

Matt 10:29-30 “29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.”

Isaiah 45:7-8 “7 I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity; I am the Lord, who does all these things. 8 “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the Lord have created it.”

Proverbs 16:33 “33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.”

Considering these passages and others the first possibility is not an option. The only other possible logical understanding of Heb 2:8 then is that it means for the current time everything is in subjection to Him, however, we are not able to see His control, when He returns, we will be able to see His rule and control. Everything is under his reign, while we don’t see it now, we will see it later.

Right now when we look at life around us and experience life in this world we see the evil, the wars, the injustice, and the chaos. It seems to our eyes that God is not in control. We know in our heads that God is in control because He said so, but with our eyes, at present, we do not see, we just see a world not the way it should be, we see a world stained by sin and in rebellion against God.

We are not the only ones who see that the world is not the way it should be. Unbelievers, everyone sees the same thing. This is a great way to talk about God to the one specific friend that I ask for all of us to have, one person that we are praying to and being intentional to share God’s love.

With the intention to reach unbelievers we will start to have a short announcement on popular secular radio, mix 106.1, starting in Aug. I can tell you exactly what the message is going to be:

“We live in a world with many different people and different perspectives on almost everything. However, there is one thing that everyone agrees on ... this world is not the way it should be...

Here at Galion Alliance, we believe the key to understanding the reality of this world is that there is a creator and all of us will have to give Him an account. If you want to know more check our website at galionalliance.org”

That’s it, it is short and on our church website right on the main page it says “This world is not the way it should be” then a link says “is there any hope?” the link goes to another page in our website where the gospel is presented very clearly through a video and in the written form.

Seeing this world affected by the fall makes all of us long for something better. That’s a great opportunity that we all have to talk with our friends and family about God’s solution and plan for creation and for mankind.

Back to verse 8 of Hebrews. This verse also gives us the hope that one day we will see His reign supreme on earth. After all, it says yet we do not see, indicating that when Christ returns we will indeed see with our eyes the perfect reign of Jesus, where creation will be restored to its original intent, like in the beginning in the Garden of Eden, but even better because we will not be able to sin.

This is amazing, but what does this mean for us? We know that He reigns, but we don’t see it. Rather we see this fallen world. What do we need to know? What do we need to see? God’s answer is v 9

Heb 2:9 “9 But we see him”

What God is telling us here is that we don’t need to know the details of His reigning right now, what matters the most is that we can see Him, Jesus. It is more important for us now to know Jesus than to understand God’s reign in this fallen world. Because all mankind will eventually see Christ’s reign physically with our eyes, knowing and loving Jesus now means we will have immeasurable delight in heaven when we see Him reigning for eternity. For those that don’t repent and trust in Jesus, they will see Him reigning with immeasurable pain and suffering in hell.

If we truly believe this to be true, the only thing we can do is to care for those that don’t know Jesus and share with them, love them, listen, ask them questions, build a relationship, and share the only hope while there is still time.

Seeing Jesus now is the most important thing for everyone today. Because Jesus, who is God, humble himself to become a man, born under the law, then took the penalty for sins that we deserve. He tasted death, Christ died in our place and then was raised from the dead and is sitting at the right hand of God, crowned with glory and honor.

Now God is setting everything in place in every nation and tongue so that it will be ready for Christ to return on the clouds with his angels with great power and glory. He is going to bring righteous judgment, then we will see with our eyes everything in subjection to Him and we will rejoice and shout for our King is here and He is going to reign forever.

So, who is your president? We don’t need to be so concerned about politics and ruling authorities or the direction our country is going; we don’t need to be afraid if America falls apart. Christ is reigning, He is in control, He is coming. He is your King and you belong to His kingdom, which is going to last forever and ever.