For simplicity’s sake, I will refer to the author of Hebrews as “the preacher” since we have no compelling evidence for a particular writer, and it may well have been originally delivered as a sermon or talk to a congregation.
Twenty centuries have shown us how many different ways the good news of Christ can be distorted and misunderstood. The New Testament itself and various documents from the early Church show us a variety of possibilities. Evidently, some in this particular early group of Christians were saying that Jesus was not God’s Son, not Divine, but was a messenger sent by God, an angel. We do not know how they came by this opinion. Jewish thoughts and teaching about these things were not static, however, and we do find, before Christ, teachers noting that Exodus 3:2 shows Moses first encountering the Lord through an angel that appeared to him in the burning bush. Perhaps this gradually influenced understanding of all later encounters between Moses and the Lord, including the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai. Perhaps considering Jesus as an angel (a messenger from God, spiritual and not subject to death) appealed to some Jews and gentile “God-fearers” as a middle way between traditional Judaism and this new Way? But that is only speculation.
In Hebrews 1 we saw how the preacher marshalled Scriptures to show how much greater than the angels Jesus was—statements were made by God about his Son that He never made about angels. Now, in Chapter 2, our preacher turns to defending the Christian idea of Jesus’ humanity—that Jesus was made “for a little while lower than the angels.” If Jesus was higher than the angels, why would God do that?
Chapter 2
1 Therefore, we must attend all the more to what we have heard, so that we may not be carried away. 2 For if the word announced through angels proved firm, and every transgression and disobedience received its just recompense, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? Announced originally through the Lord, it was confirmed for us by those who had heard. 4 God added his testimony by signs, wonders, various acts of power, and distribution of the gifts of the holy Spirit according to his will.
5 For it was not to angels that he subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 Instead, someone has 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 crowned him with glory and honor,
8 subjecting all things under his feet.” (Psalm 8:5-7)
In “subjecting” all things [to him], he left nothing not “subject to him.” Yet at present we do not see “all things subject to him,” 9 but we do see Jesus “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death, he who “for a little while” was made “lower than the angels,” that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin. Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them “brothers,” 12 saying:
“I will proclaim your name to my brothers,
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you”; (Psalm 22:23 or v. 22 depending on version)
13 and again:
“I will put my trust in him”; (2 Samuel 22:3 LXX exactly; similar to Isaiah 8:17)
and again:
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.” (Isaiah 8:18)
14 Now since the children share in blood and flesh, he likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. 16 Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; 17 therefore, he had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
- What are three steps that led to current belief in Jesus as Savior by the preacher and this gathering of Christians? Are the steps different today? Effective today?
- What kind of expression would you suppose is on the face of the preacher as he begins to say what we label as verse 6? Why?
- It is obvious that at present we do NOT see all things subject to Christ, so how can we understand Jesus as fulfilling the prophecy quoted from the psalm?
- In verse 9, the preacher says that “by the grace of God, [Jesus] might taste death for everyone.” Why did he use the phrase “taste death”?
- For personal reflection: how might suffering help make me a better Christian?
On question one,
“They say the age of miracles is past” or so people have long ascribed to the times after the earthly life of Jesus the Christ, whose miracles first began in Galilee. Pressed with the cares and concerns of the times we live in; we often feel that “God is always on the side of the strong battalions.” Indeed, if one were betting in the NCAA national basketball tournament (or in many battles), the best course might usually be to pick the strongest teams. Yet, the probability of attaining a “perfect bracket” even with this course of action is so low as to be, for all practical purposes, indiscernible. Every year, Goliaths fall to Davids, and the unexpected becomes reality.
Yet, it is not just the unexpected that is astonishing and amazing. Every day, the sun comes up, and each evening the tides roll in, actions that are “miraculous” to those open to such miracles. Therefore, we should never despair, especially those of us who are confident that good things indeed do come out of Nazareth. I have personally been knocked to the mat and counted out many times, even from a very early age. When I was 15 and hospitalized at Emory University Hospital, I overheard two nurses talking about me one evening when they thought I was asleep. “How can a person this young and this sick survive?” they mused. I have now seen 15 come and go many times and have gotten up from knockouts so many times that it almost seems Shakespeare was thinking of me when he wrote the following lines, surely some of the greatest in English literature:
“Of expectation fails, and most often there
Where most it promises.
And oft it hits the mark, where
Hope is coldest and despair most fits.”
Question 2 :
Maybe a combination of disgust and sadness ? Our insignificance in comparison to God’s greatness.
Afterthought, from Anonymous, Add despair to the facial expression.
Question 4:
God ,being Holy, Incarnate, [ Jesus ] ,experiences the same challenges as man ?
Question 5:
When we suffer, we experience what others do, making us more compassionate, thus a better Christian .
Question #1
Realization of our need for a savior/ when we hit rock bottom ,has been my experience.
Signs and wonders, miracles do still happen. Personally, in really unexpected ways, when I least expected it, and thru major revelations ,and actually heard an audible voice give me guidance when I needed it the most. AND NO I am not crazy! We do have Guardian Angels!!
Gifts of the Holy Spirit , seems to me we receive thru the sacraments ,as we are ready for them,
This one I’m still waiting on!