Hebrews
Chapter 2
Overview
The writer urges his audience not to drift away from the message they have heard. He contrasts angels with Jesus and reflects on humanity’s place in God’s purposes: people were meant to rule, yet the world is clearly not under human control. Jesus enters that broken condition, suffers, and dies, but is then crowned with honor. The chapter moves from warning to wonder, explaining why Jesus fully shared human life. By becoming like those he came to help, he could break the power of death and serve as their merciful representative before God.
1For this reason, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.
2The message delivered through angels proved to be binding, and every violation and act of disobedience received the punishment it deserved.
3So how will we escape if we neglect such a great rescue? The Lord first announced it, and those who heard him confirmed it for us.
4God also confirmed their message through signs, wonders, many kinds of powerful acts, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
5God did not place the coming world we are discussing under the authority of angels.
6Instead, someone has declared in Scripture: “What are human beings, that you remember them? What is a human being, that you care for him?
7You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor.
8You placed everything under his feet.” By placing everything under him, God left nothing outside his authority. Yet at present, we do not see everything under his authority.
9But we do see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels. Because he suffered death, he is now crowned with glory and honor, so that, apart from God, he might experience death on behalf of everyone.
10Everything exists because of God and through God. As he brought many children into glory, it was fitting for him to make the leader who brings about their rescue fully qualified through suffering.
11Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are being made holy all come from one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.
12He says to God, “I will tell my brothers and sisters about you. In the middle of the gathered community, I will sing your praise.”
13He also says, “I will put my trust in God.” And again, “Here I am, together with the children God has given me.”
14Since these children share human blood and physical life, Jesus shared the same human condition. He did this so that through his death he could destroy the power of the one who held the power of death—that is, the devil—
15and set free all those who had been held in slavery throughout their lives by their fear of death.
16Clearly, it is not angels whom he takes hold of to help, but Abraham’s descendants.
17Therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way. Then he could become a merciful and faithful high priest, representing them before God, and could deal with the people’s sins so that they might be forgiven.
18Because Jesus himself suffered when he was tested, he is able to help those who are being tested.