Analysis Of The Chapter The main object of Hebrews 2 is, to show that we should attend diligently to the things which were spoken by the Lord Jesus, and not suffer them to glide away from us. The apostle seems to have supposed that some might be inclined to disregard what was spoken by one of so hu... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE - Greek “On account of this” - Δια τοῦτο Dia touto - that is, on account of the exalted dignity and rank of the Messiah as stated in the previous chapter. The sense is: “Since Christ, the author of the new dispensation, is so far exalted above the prophets, and even the angels, we ought t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF THE WORD SPOKEN BY ANGELS - The revelation in the Old Testament. It was indeed given by Yahweh, but it was the common opinion of the Hebrews that it was by the ministry of angels; see Acts 7:38, Acts 7:53 notes, and Galatians 3:19 note, where this point is fully considered. As Paul was discou... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE - How shall we escape the just recompense due to transgressors? What way is there of being saved from punishment, if we suffer the great salvation to be neglected, and do not embrace its offers? The sense is, that there is no other way of salvation, and the neglect of this will b... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD ALSO BEARING THEM WITNESS - By miracles. Giving them the sanction of his authority, or showing that they were sent by him. No man can work a miracle by his own power. When the dead are raised, the deaf made to hear and the blind to see by a word, it is the power of God alone that does it. He thu... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR UNTO THE ANGELS HATH HE NOT PUT IN SUBJECTION - In this verse the apostle returns to the subject which he had been discussing in Hebrews 1:1 - the superiority of the Messiah to the angels. From that subject he had been diverted Hebrews 2:1, by showing them what must be the consequences of defect... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT ONE IN A CERTAIN PLACE TESTIFIED - The apostle was writing to those who were supposed to be familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures, and where it would be necessary only to make a reference in general without mentioning the name. The place which is quoted here is Psalms 8:4. The “argument” of the ap... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU MADEST HIM A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS - Margin, “A little while inferior to.” The Greek may here mean a little inferior in rank, or inferior for a little time. But the probable meaning is, that it refers to inferiority of rank. Such is its obvious sense in Psalms 8:1, from which this is quo... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION ... - Psalms 8:6. That is, all things are put under the control of man, or thou hast given him dominion over all things. FOR IN THAT HE PUT ALL IN SUBJECTION - The meaning of this is, that the “fair interpretation” of the passage in the Psalm is, that the domin... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE SEE JESUS - We do not see that mankind has the extended dominion of which the Psalmist speaks elsewhere. But we see the fulfillment of it in Jesus, who was crowned with glory and honor, and who has received a dominion that is superior to that of the angels. The point of this is, not that he s... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT BECAME HIM - There was a fitness or propriety in it; it was such an arrangement as became God to make, in redeeming many, that the great agent by whom it was accomplished, should be made complete in all respects by sufferings. The apostle evidently means by this to meet an objection that migh... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BOTH HE THAT SANCTIFIETH - This refers, evidently, to the Lord Jesus. The object is to show that there was such a union between him and those for whom he died, as to make it necessary that he should partake of the same nature, or that he should be a suffering man; Hebrews 2:14. He undertook to r... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING - This passage is found in Psalms 22:22. The whole of that Psalm has been commonly referred to the Messiah; and in regard to such a reference there is less difficulty than attends most of the other portions of the Old Testament that are usually supposed to relate to him. The following verses... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AGAIN - That is, it is said in another place, or language is used of the Messiah in another place, indicating the confidence which he put in God, and showing that he partook of the feelings of the children of God, and regarded himself as one of them. I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM - I will confide... [ Continue Reading ]
FORASMUCH THEN - Since; or because. AS THE CHILDREN - Those who were to become the adopted children of God; or who were to sustain that relation to him. ARE PARTAKERS OF FLESH AND BLOOD - Have a human and not an angelic nature. Since they are men, he became a man. There was a fitness or propriety... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DELIVER THEM - Not all of them “in fact,” though the way is open for all. This deliverance relates: (1) To the dread of death. He came to free them from that. (2) From death itself - that is, ultimately to bring them to a world where death shall be unknown. The dread of death may be removed by... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR VERILY - Truly. HE TOOK NOT ON HIM THE NATURE OF ANGELS - Margin, “He taketh not hold of angels, but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold.” The word used here - ἐπιλαμβάνεται epilambanetai - means, to take hold upon; to seize; to surprise; to take hold with a view to detain for oneself. Robin... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE IN ALL THINGS - In respect to his body; his soul; his rank and character. There was a propriety that he should be like them, and should partake of their nature. The meaning is, that there was a fitness that nothing should be wanting in him in reference to the innocent propensities and symp... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IN THAT HE HIMSELF ... - “Because” he has suffered, he is able to sympathize with sufferers. BEING TEMPTED - Or, being “tried.” The Greek word used here is more general in its meaning than the English word “tempted.” It means to “put to the proof;” to try the nature or character of; and this ma... [ Continue Reading ]