“Hebrews 2”

Sunday, September 03, 2017

This chapter emphasizes the importance of Christ’s message, due to His superiority over the Old Testament prophets and the angels, as discussed in Chapter One.

We must pay close and careful attention to the things that Christ has taught, either personally (the red letter parts) or through His inspired apostles and prophets. Salvation is available through the gospel of Christ which was accompanied by miraculous signs and miracles as proof of its validity. Those who obey will be saved, while those who disobey will be punished.

In verse 5, the author continues to show Christ’s superiority over the angels.

Men were created lower than the angels (Psalms 8:4-6). But the inhabited world was made subject, not to angels, but to human beings. God cares for us and, though we are lower than angels in power, we have been given an important position in God’s plan, that of dominion over His earthly creation.

Then He shifts his discussion to Jesus, who was also made lower than the angels, when He became a man and then was subjected to physical death. But He too had an important position in God’s plan as the Savior of the world and therefore, is crowned with honor and glory. He became the captain of human salvation, something angels could not have accomplished.

For that reason, we are brethren (fellow members of the family of God) with Christ.

Jesus took upon Himself bodily form, humanity, in order that He might destroy (to ruin utterly) the one who had power over death (see also 1 John 3:8). Previously Satan had power over the realm of death; now Jesus does.

This is why we can have hope in Christ. He controls death and will continue to help and aid us in our feeble attempts to serve God acceptably. Do not give up.

--Roger Hillis

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