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Bible Study/Commentary
Hebrews 2: How Shall We Escape If We Neglect So Great A Salvation?
Hebrews Chapter 2 continues the discourse that began in Chapter 1, focusing on the superiority of Jesus Christ.
The author starts by warning the believer about the danger of drifting away from the message of salvation.
The chapter presents Jesus as a man, and highlights His coming in the flesh, suffering, death, and His glorification.
Bible Study/Commentary
Verses 1-4: Warning Against Neglecting Salvation
This is a call to pay closer attention to the message that was declared by the Lord and attested to, by those who heard Him.
He says, that "if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received His justice, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?"
The author stresses the importance of the gospel message and God’s validation of it through signs, wonders, and miracles.
Verses 5-9: Jesus Is The Perfect Man
In these verses, the author speaks about the world to come, and clarifies that it is subjected, not to angels, but to "the Son of Man," which is a title for Jesus.
The author quotes Psalm 8, explaining that while man was created a little lower than angels, they are destined to rule, over the works of God's hands.
In Jesus, this destiny is perfectly fulfilled, as He was made a little lower than the angels for a while, yet now crowned with glory and honor, because of His suffering and death.
Verses 10-18: Jesus, The Pioneer Of Salvation
These verses highlight Jesus as the "author of our salvation," who was made perfect through suffering.
The author explains that Jesus shared by putting on flesh, just like man, and this makes Him a fitting, and merciful high priest.
In his human life and death, Jesus experienced suffering and temptation, and thus He is able to help those who are being tempted.
Overall Summary
Hebrews Chapter 2 underscores the importance of the gospel message of salvation, in Jesus Christ, and warns against neglecting it.
The chapter portrays Jesus as the perfect man who fulfills mans' destiny to rule over God's creation.
He says that Jesus was the pioneer of salvation, who through His suffering, death, and resurrection, opens the way for man's redemption.
As such, Jesus is not only superior to angels but also sympathetically connected to people.
He is able to help those who are tempted because He Himself has experienced suffering and temptation, yet He never sinned.
Hebrews 2: How Shall We Escape If We Neglect So Great A Salvation?
Warning Against Neglecting Salvation
2 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
The Founder of Salvation
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.
Q & A
Hebrews 2:1-2
Q1: What caution does the author give regarding what they have heard, and what reason is given for this caution?
A1: Therefore, the author warns that they must pay much closer attention to what they have heard, lest they drift away from it. The reason is that the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution.
Hebrews 2:3-4
Q2: What is the consequence of neglecting such a great salvation, and how was this salvation declared and attested?
A2: The consequence of neglecting such a great salvation is that there will be no escape. This salvation was declared at first by the Lord and attested to the believers by those who heard. God also bore witness through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
Hebrews 2:5-8
Q3: To whom did God subject the world to come, and what is said about the position of man?
A3: God did not subject the world to come to angels but to man. Man, for a little while lower than the angels, was crowned with glory and honor, with everything in subjection under his feet. Though not yet seen, everything is in subjection to him.
Hebrews 2:9-10
Q4: How is Jesus described in relation to angels, and why was it fitting for him to suffer?
A4: Jesus, for a little while, was made lower than the angels and crowned with glory and honor through suffering death. It was fitting for Him, for whom and by whom all things exist, to make the founder of salvation perfect through suffering in bringing many sons to glory.
Hebrews 2:11-13
Q5: What is the shared source between the one who sanctifies and the sanctified, and how is Jesus not ashamed to call believers?
A5: The one who sanctifies and the sanctified all have one source. Jesus is not ashamed to call believers brothers and sings praise to God in the midst of the congregation, putting His trust in Him.
Hebrews 2:14-15
Q6: What did Jesus partake in to destroy the one with the power of death, and whom did He help?
A6: Jesus shared in flesh and blood to destroy the one with the power of death, the devil, and deliver those who, through fear of death, were subject to lifelong slavery. He helps the offspring of Abraham, not angels.
Hebrews 2:17-18
Q7: Why did Jesus have to be made like his brothers, and what role does He fulfill as a result?
A7: Jesus had to be made like his brothers in every respect to become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, making propitiation for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.