Introduction: Hebrews 2 is a reminder for people to heed the powerful message of salvation brought forth by Jesus Christ. It points out the urgency to pay close attention to the truth we have heard, lest we drift away from it. This chapter speaks of Jesus’ humanity and His role as our merciful and faithful High Priest, who has shared in our sufferings to redeem us. It highlights the like mindedness of Christ with humanity, His victory over death, and the freeing of those who were held in bondage by fear. In reading this chapter and receiving the messages from God, we should allow it to strengthen our faith and understanding about the love of God for humanity.
I. The Importance of Heeding Revelation (Hebrews 2:1-4)
In the first verses, the writer of Hebrews cautions us not to neglect the great salvation spoken by the Lord, and confirmed by many eyewitnesses, and further attested by signs, wonders, and various miracles by God. If a person doesn’t heed (pay close attention to) to the Word of God, it may slip out of their mind entirely as we read in the parable of the sower in Luke 8:5-15. We read in Mark 16:20, the apostles (eyewitnesses) went forth, preaching and confirming the word with signs following, showing us the importance of paying close attention to the message of salvation. In Acts 2:22, Peter speaks of Jesus’ miracles, wonders, and signs that God did through Him, confirming His divine mission, which Hebrews points out very clearly. Galatians 1:8 is where we read Paul warning against deviating from the gospel preached, somewhat like the warning in Hebrews not to drift away from the truth.
II. Jesus, Lower than Angels, Crowned with Glory (Hebrews 2:5-9)
The next verses teaches that the world to come (heavenly realm) is not subject to angels, but to Jesus, who was briefly made lower than the angels for a short time, to suffer death on the cross for the salvation of the world, and be crowned with glory and honor. Psalm 8:4-6 reveals to us about the position of man and Jesus, made a little lower than the angels for a time, but with a glorious destiny. In Philippians 2:8-9, we see the passion of Jesus as He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death, and therefore God exalted Him, pointing to His temporary lower status mentioned in Hebrews. We read in 1 Corinthians 15:27, that everything is under Christ’s feet, which is in harmony with the idea of Jesus’ ultimate authority as written in Hebrews.
III. Jesus, Our Brother and Redeemer (Hebrews 2:10-13)
These verses present Jesus as the one who, through suffering, made the path to salvation perfect, and as the one who is not ashamed to call the believers of the brethren, considering these verses, we certainly should not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:29 speaks of Jesus as the firstborn among many brethren, which reinforces His willingness to call believers His siblings as Hebrews teaches in these verses. In Isaiah 8:17-18, these verses, quoted in Hebrews, show the prophet speaking of his children and himself as signs from God, foreshadowing Jesus’ relationship with His people. Also in Philippians 2:10, we see that every knee shall bow to Jesus, pointing to the perfected Savior who calls us brethren.
IV. Jesus, Conqueror of Death and Liberator (Hebrews 2:14-16)
Here in these verses, the Bible says Jesus partook of flesh and blood (the human form) to destroy the devil, who had the power of death, and deliver those who were subject to the fear of death, which could be compared to “a slave to fear”. The Bible tells us in 1 John 3:8, Jesus appeared to destroy the works of the devil, which agrees with His victory over death as stated in Hebrews. In Romans 6:9, we read about Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more; death has no dominion over Him, showing His triumph over death, and if we are in Him and He in us, we also are victorious over the sting of death. And in Luke 1:74-75, Jesus’ victory allows us to serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness, freeing us from the pitfalls of this world as Hebrews tells us here .
V. Jesus, Merciful and Faithful High Priest (Hebrews 2:17-18)
Finally in the last verses, Jesus had to be made like His brethren in all things to become a merciful, compassionate and faithful High Priest, offering a propitiation for the sins of those who believe, and helping those who are tempted. We read about Jesus in the high priest’s role in 1 John 2:2, the Bible says Jesus is the propitiation for our sins, which is His role as High Priest in Hebrews. In Hebrews 4:15, we read that Jesus is a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses, having been tempted in all points as we are, he has experienced what we have in this mortal body, and in Psalm 103:13, we read as a father has compassion on his children, God is merciful to those who fear Him, also a reference to the mercy of Jesus depicted in Hebrews.
Conclusion: Hebrews 2 cautions people worldwide to heed to the truth of the gospel, and points out Jesus’ incarnation, His short term inferiority to angels, and His exaltation. This chapter displays the intimate relationship Jesus chose with humanity, becoming our brother and redeemer, and defeating the power of death to free us from the fear of death. Moreover, it shows Jesus as the embodiment of mercy and faithfulness, serving as our High Priest and intercessor. This chapter calls us to a deeper recognition of Jesus’ sacrificial love and to hold firmly to the faith we profess, inspired by the One who has gone before us, conquering sin and death so that we may live in the fullness of His grace and truth, and without fear.
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