Hebrews 2 - Introduction

IN this second chapter the apostle declares his design, and what his especial aim was with respect unto them to whom he wrote. It was not merely their instruction, or the information of their minds and judgments that he intended; though that also was in his eye, and necessary unto his principal purpose. They had, by their instability and fainting in trials, administered occasion unto him of other discourse. Besides, he foresaw that they had great difficulties and temptations to contend withal, and was jealous lest they should miscarry under them, as he also was over other professors, 2 Corinthians 11:2-3. His principal end, therefore, in this whole epistle, (as hath been declared,) was to prevail with the Hebrews unto steadfastness in the faith of the gospel, and diligence in attendance unto all those ways and means whereby they might be established. The foundation of his exhortations unto this purpose he lays in the incomparable excellency of the Author of the gospel. Hence just and cogent inferences unto constancy in the profession of his doctrine and obedience unto him, both absolutely and in respect of the competition set up against it by Mosaical institutions, do naturally flow.

And these considerations doth the apostle divide into several parts, interposing, in great wisdom, between the handling of them, those exhortations which pressed towards his especial end, before mentioned. And this course he proceeds in for several reasons; for,-

First, He minds them and us in general, that in handling of the doctrines of the gospel concerning the person and offices of Jesus Christ, we should not satisfy ourselves in a bare notional speculation of them, but endeavor to get our hearts excited by them unto faith, love, obedience, and steadfastness in our profession. This doth he immediately apply them unto. Instances unto this purpose doth he give us in this chapter, upon his foregoing declaration of the excellencies of Christ and the glory of his kingdom, that so his hearers might not be barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of him.

Secondly, As to the Hebrews in particular, he had, as it were, so overwhelmed them with that flood of divine testimonies which he had poured out in the beginning of his epistle, and that heavenly, glorious declaration which he had made of the person of the Messiah, that he thought it needful to give them time to consider what was the tendency of that sublime discourse, and what was their especial concernment therein.

Thirdly, The apostle interposeth his exhortation in this place, as to be an application of what was before delivered, so to lead them on thereby unto the consideration of arguments of another nature (though of the same use and tendency), taken from the sacerdotal or priestly office of Christ, and the works or effects thereof. And herein doth a great part of the apostolical wisdom, in the various intertexture of doctrines and exhortations, in this epistle consist, that as every exhortation flows naturally from the doctrine that doth precede it, so always the principal matter of it leads directly unto some other doctrinal argument, which he intends nextly to insist upon. And this we shall see evidenced in the transition that he makes from the exhortation laid down in the beginning of this chapter, unto the sacerdotal office of Christ, Hebrews 2:6-9.

The first verses, then, of this chapter are purely parenetical or hortatory, with a mixture of some considerations serving to make the exhortation weighty and cogent.