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Hebrews Chapter
Two
I.
Content of the Chapter
Christ is the Son of Man, Who is More
Excellent than the Angels
A. What is spoken by the Lord is more excellent
than the word spoken through angels (v.1-4).
1. We must give the more earnest heed to the
things we have heard (v.1).
2. If we ignore such a great salvation, we will
be unable to escape (v.2
3. The divine Trinity has confirmed this
salvation by those who are of Him (v.3b-4).
B. Christ has become the Son of Man, whose
accomplishment is more excellent than the angels (v.5-18).
1. Jesus who was made a little lower than the
angels had tasted death for everyone (v.5-9).
2. In order to bring many sons to glory and
recover their relationship with God (v.10-13);
3. In order to destroy the devil and release
those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage
(v.14-15);
4. In order to give aid to the seed of Abraham,
in all things He had to be made like His brethren (v.16-18).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Heb. 2:1
“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest
we drift away.”
YLT: “Because of this it behoveth
more abundantly to take heed to the things heard, lest we may glide aside,”
Meaning of Words:
“more earnest”: more abundantly; “lest”: so as not to; “drift away”: let slip, flow by, carelessly pass;
Literal Meaning:
“therefore”, it continues from
the preceding paragraph, indicating that the following word is based from
chapter one.
The first warning and exhortation of
this book is inserted in the first four verses of this chapter.
“We
must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard”,
“give the more earnest heed
to”: shall be especially paid attention to; “the
things we have heard”, it indicates the Son of God speaks to us
directly and indirectly (see 1:2), including the words that He has spoken to us
through the Scriptures and preachers. They mainly refer to the truth of the
salvation (see v.3), including the right knowledge about the persons of the
holy Trinity and Christ’s redemption work.
“Lest
we drift away”, “lest”: if it is ignored, there will be
bad result; “drift away”, drift away from the right direction unconsciously, or
slip away without attaining the goal, or leak away what is obtained;
There are two
aspects of meaning: 1) we will suffer loss (see v.2); 2) we shall not fully
enjoy “the great salvation” (see v.3).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God reveals the truth of the salvation to us
to not only understand but also keep it within whole heart and respond to it.
2) Our heart and attitude toward the truth
affect our condition of being favored. Our spiritual condition before God is
decided by whether we have given
the more earnest heed to the truth we have
heard.
3) Various tides in the world draw and occupy
men’s hearts so that men have unconsciously clung to the tendency of the tide
and have been taken away from God and have drifted away, thus causing serious
consequences.
4) In the spiritual way, either one goes
forward or he will be left behind. If we do not press on, we must lag behind
without remaining where we are.
5) If we Christians do not protect the grace we
have obtained by heart, it may be drifted away and lost. Only those who keep
the grace with whole heart are able to receive the perfect grace of God.
Heb. 2:2 “For if the word spoken
through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience
received a just reward,”
YLT:
“for if the word being spoken through messengers did become stedfast, and every
transgression and disobedience did receive a just recompense,”
Meaning
of Words: “transgression”: violation, breaking; “disobedience”: inattention; “reward”: recompense of
reward, requital;
Literal
Meaning: “if the word spoken through the angels
proved steadfast”, “the word spoken through the angels” refers to the law
(Acts. 7:53; Deut. 33:2 “the myriads of the sanctuary”), namely, the Old
Testament; “steadfast”: undoubtedly;
“And
every transgression and disobedience received a just reward”, “transgression”: do what is not supposed to do (positive aspect),
disobey the law and surpass its bound; “disobedience”: not do what is supposed to do (passive aspect),
ignore the teaching of the law and refuse to obey the law; “reward”: be
recompensed;
In the past, if the people of
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The teaching of the truth is for the purpose
of letting those who have heard understand and keep. If believers are not
subject to the will that God has revealed, it is disobedience as well as
transgression.
2) Christians shall not keep a neutral attitude
in spiritual things. Those who look on indifferently have not been up to the
required standard.
Heb. 2:3 “how shall we escape if we
neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the
Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,”
YLT:
“how
shall we escape, having neglected so great salvation? which a beginning
receiving -- to be spoken through the Lord -- by those having heard was
confirmed to us,”
Meaning
of Words: “so great”: so vast, so mighty; “escape”: flee out; “confirm”: make sure,
establish;
Literal
Meaning: “if we neglect so great a salvation”,
“salvation” refers to the perfect salvation
that we believers shall inherit (see 1:14), including the salvation that we
have obtained and are obtaining and will obtain (see 2Cor. 1:10): 1) the
salvation that we have obtained ---- the remission of sins and the eternal
life; 2) the salvation that we are receiving ---- the enjoyment of the good and
rest of Christ’s life; 3) the salvation that we will obtain ---- the
inheritance of the kingdom and glory;
“So
great a salvation”, it describes the fullness and greatness of the
salvation ---- the greatness of not only the content and nature of the
salvation but also the origin and doer, because: 1) the salvation originates
from the will of God; 2) the salvation is fulfilled and preached by Christ; 3)
the salvation is confirmed by the Spirit (see v.3-4). The holy Trinity has part
in this salvation, so it is called “so great a salvation”.
Note that here “neglect” is opposite to “so great”. According to the
common response of men, they may neglect trivial matters, but pay attention to
great things. However, it is uncommon that such a great salvation can be
ignored.
“How
shall we escape”, “escape”: be
rewarded (see v.2), namely, pay the cost; such cost means that one may lose the
enjoyment of the good and rest of Christ’s life in this lifetime as well as the
inheritance of the kingdom and glory in the future, that is to say, one is
unable to reign with Christ.
“Which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord”, “be spoken by the Lord” are in contrast to “the word spoken through
angels”. It is sin that
one transgresses of the word spoken through angels, let alone ignore the
salvation spoken by the Lord. And the consequences will be more ghastly to
contemplate.
“And was confirmed to us by those who heard Him”, it suggests that the author and receiver of
the Epistle to the Hebrews had never personally heard the word that the Lord
preached on the earth, but had heard the report of His disciples (those who had
heard) to them (see 2Pet. 1:16; 1John 1:1).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Our danger does not lie in the denial of the
effect of salvation, but the “neglect” of it ---- walk unworthy of the calling
we have been called (see Eph. 4:1).
2) The salvation is gifted by God. He who
neglects the salvation does not honor the God who grants the gift.
3) The salvation that the Lord shall reward
those who believe Him is “such a great salvation”. We are unable to enjoy them
all with our whole lifetime.
4) The greater grace we have received, the more
duties we will have to perform. We shall not receive His grace in vain (2Cor.
6:1).
5) If man has really known of the full glory
and greatness of salvation, he will naturally be drawn near and sell all
whatever he has with joy and buy such a pearl of great value (see Matt.
13:45-46).
6) The gospel of salvation delivers the
receivers from sins. However, those who neglect the gospel of salvation can not
escape.
7) Sin is a kind of bondage, which makes men
lead an enslaved life. If one neglects the salvation, he cannot escape from
sins and will be bound by sins. On the contrary, if man gives the more earnest
heed to the truth of salvation (see v.1), he will be free and be a true man.
8) Though we that are born in the last days
have no chance to hear the Lord’s word personally in the days of His flesh, we
are still able to hear His word spoken to us in the Spirit through the
Scriptures or the saints (see 2Pet. 1:21).
9) We shall cut in a straight line (2Tim. 2:15)
the word in the Scriptures without misinterpretation. And we shall not despise
but judge the word of preachers or others (1Thess. 5:20-22; 1Cor. 14:29; Acts
17:11).
Heb. 2:4 “God also bearing witness
both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy
Spirit, according to His own will?”
YLT:
“God
also bearing joint-witness both with signs and wonders, and manifold powers,
and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to His will.”
Meaning
of Words: “signs”: token; “wonders”: wonderful and
amazing things; “various”: manifold, all; “miracles”: power, strength,
mighty work; “gifts”: distribution,
separation;
Literal
Meaning:
“God … according to His own will”, things that are mentioned as follows are
according to the will of God instead of man’s purposeful arrangement.
“With
signs and wonders, with various miracles”, the meanings of the three words are similar to
one another ---- all of them refer to the works of God with different emphases
respectively. “Sign” emphasizes that it is out of God’s “hand”; “wonder”
emphasizes that “the thing” itself is wonderful; “various miracles” emphasize the “power” is uncommon.
“Gifts
of the Holy Spirit”, it refers to the
spiritual functions manifested in someone after he has received the Spirit. The
Spirit divides the spiritual functions to each in particular as he pleases (see
1Cor. 12:4-11).
“Bearing
witness both”, it indicates that
signs and
wonders and various miracles are for the purpose of helping those who
preach the Lord’s words to bear witness and prove their preachment is out of
God.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
Signs
and wonders and various miracles
and gifts are given according to the will of God, and they cannot be done by
any spiritual man according as he pleases. Therefore, if anyone thinks he has
special spiritual gift and thus holds spiritual conference and work signs and
wonders before the public, very possibly, it is false.
2)
God is the “doer” of
signs and
wonders and various miracles and gifts. Once He
moves His fingers, it is signs and wonders. If He does not work, all that men
have done by hands are oddities with no profit.
3) The main function and purpose of signs and wonders and
various miracles and gifts are
bearing witness to God so as to make those who have seen and heard believe and
obey God rather than worship men, which are opposed to the Charismatic Movement
today. Some of them hold gain to be piety (1Tim. 6:5).
4) No matter the Lord speaks to man’s spirit
personally, or proves by those who have heard Him (see v.3), God must beat
witness by the Spirit to all the words of the Lord. That’s why we shall not
ignore them.
Heb. 2:5 “For He has not put the
world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels.”
YLT:
“For not to messengers did He subject the coming world, concerning which we
speak,”
Meaning
of Words: “the
world”:
the habitable world;
Literal
Meaning: “the world to come”: the world that will
become the
“He has not put … of which we speak, in subjection to angels”, here it
shows that the “world” mentioned here does not refer to the world before us at
present, because the present world is delivered to the archangel (see Luke
4:5-6). Satan (who was the archangel originally) has now still occupied this
world (see John 12:31; 1John 5:19).
“The world to come”, God puts the world to come in subjection to men who
are a little
lower than the angels, namely, we who
have received such a great salvation by faith and will reign with Christ (2Tim.
2:12; Rev. 22:5).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When man was created, the will of God was
making man retake the ruling power of the world from the hand of Satan (see Gen.
1:26-27). However, because of man’s being deceived and corruption, he cannot
accomplish the will of God. Therefore, it shall be fulfilled by Christ (see
v.6-10).
2) Our hope does not lie in the present world,
but the coming world. The world is passing, and its lust, but he that does the
will of God abides for eternity (1John 2:17).
3) And be not conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of mind, that you may prove what the good and
acceptable and perfect will of God (
4) We believers shall pray to hasten the
fulfillment of the coming world: “let your kingdom come, let your will be done
as in heaven as upon the earth” (Matt. 6:10).
Heb. 2:6 “But one testified in a
certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the
son of man that You take care of him?”
YLT:
“and one in a certain place did testify fully, saying, `What is man, that Thou
art mindful of him, or a son of man, that Thou dost look after him?”
Meaning
of Words: “mindful”: remember; “take care of”: observe, look out, go to see;
Literal
Meaning: “but one testified in a certain place, saying”, “in a certain place”: the three verses from verse six to eight
are quoted from the Book of Psalm (8:4-6); “testify”: the scriptures manifest
the will of God’s creation of man ---- have dominion over all the creation of
God (see Gen. 1:26, 28). However, since the first Adam has fallen and been
corrupted, we do
not yet see all things put under him
(see v.8). The will of God on man shall be accomplished by the last Adam ----
Christ Jesus. Besides, He shall make those who have believed His salvation have
dominion over all things. The following word is prophesying how the will of God
upon man is fulfilled.
“What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of
man that You take care of him?” It indicates that
man is truly unworthy of God’s special care according to the feeble nature.
However, God has actually lifted men higher than the angels
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Either man highly lifts himself or he will
underestimate himself. However, both are not proper attitudes for Christians.
2) Truly we are nothing according to our own
nature and strength. However, we own coming glory according to God’s will and
arrangement upon us. Let us turn our eyes from the present age to the future
and from ourselves to Him and from the external to the internal ---- Christ has
become the hope of glory in us (
Heb. 2:7 “You have made him a little
lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him
over the works of Your hands.”
YLT:
“Thou
didst make him some little less than messengers, with glory and honour Thou
didst crown him, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands,”
Literal
Meaning:
“You have made him a little lower than the angels”, “him” refers to man; “little”: man is indeed
little than the spiritual angels according to the physical form and infinite
power in the flesh.
“You have crowned him with glory and honor”, this verse describes
the condition that those who believe the Lord shall attain to. “Glory”: the
beauty and glory radiated from the connotation. “Honor”, it puts emphasis on
the glory the position has manifested. “Crowned”: God’s reward for man.
“And set him over the works of Your hands.” “set over… Your hands”: it is the word of
your hands, namely, all things; “set him over”: it points that we shall sit on
the throne with Christ and have dominion over all things;
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Our estimation of man’s value shall not be
according to his present condition, but his future. Therefore, for the sake of
Christ, the Scriptures teach us not to be with respect of persona (James 2:1).
2) Though man’s physical shape is inferior
to the angels, he has more glorious and honorable future than the angels, for
man was created according to man’s form and was enabled to have part in the
divine life and disposition. In the end, we shall be like Him (1John 3:2) and
sit on the throne with Him and have dominion over all things.
Heb. 2:8 “You have put all things in
subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under
him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all
things put under him.”
YLT:
“all things Thou didst put in subjection under his feet,' for in the subjecting
to him the all things, nothing did He leave to him unsubjected, and now not yet
do we see the all things subjected to him,”
Literal
Meaning: “put all things in subjection under his feet”, it continues above verse; “in subjection
under his feet”: be subject to the domination;
“For in
that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under
him”, “all”: all the creation. This verse
indicates that every created being should be subject to men in normal condition
since God has ordained that all shall be put in subjection under him.
“But now we do not yet see all things put under him”, “now”: the world manifested before us;
“we do not yet see”, it means that the above-mentioned prophecy has not been
fulfilled.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) All things shall be put in subjection under
our feet. Though we may fall into difficulty today, if we trust in God wholly,
we will surpass the environment and lead a victorious life.
2) “We do not yet see”, though we cannot see
the promise of God by our physical eyes, if we see by the eyes of faith, we
shall see from afar off and run the race that lies before us (Heb. 11:13).
Heb. 2:9 “But we see Jesus, who was
made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with
glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”
YLT:
“and
him who was made some little less than messengers we see -- Jesus -- because of
the suffering of the death, with glory and honour having been crowned, that by
the grace of God for every one he might taste of death.”
Literal
Meaning: “but we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the
angels”, “but”, it leads to the following word utterly
opposite to the former word ---- though man had failed, only the Lord Jesus on
the status of man had fulfilled the preordained will of God on man. “Jesus, who
was made a little lower than the angels”: Jesus in the flesh;
“For the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor”, “the suffering of
death”, it refers to the suffering of shedding blood on the cross, including
the suffering of being rejected by God temporarily (see Matt. 27:46). “With
honor”, it refers to his honorable position after His resurrection and
ascension; “glory”: the divine and human glory He has manifested through
resurrection; “crown”, it refers to his being accepted by God.
“That He, by the grace of God, might taste death for
everyone”, “everyone”: not
only all men in the world, but also all the creation in the original; “taste
the death for everyone”: the redemption He has accomplished has reconciled all things
to God (see
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) What man has failed to fulfill has been
accomplished in the Lord Jesus who is in the flesh. He has pointed out the only
way for we believers to glory and honor ---- empty himself and take a bondman’s
form and be humble and obedient, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:7-8).
2) What the Lord Jesus has accomplished in
humanity has made us who are little lower than the angels able to attain to it
in like manner. The divinity of the Lord Jesus has guaranteed us to be
glorified with Him. Therefore, we shall seek the growth in life more and let
Him fill us more.
3) He who humbles first shall be lifted up
afterwards. He who had dead first shall be glorified then. This is the
spiritual principle ordained by God. If we desire to be glorified with Him, we
shall firstly suffer with Him first (see
4) It is not an easy matter of “tasting the
death”. We cannot do it through our own will and strength. Therefore, we need
abundant “grace” of God to dwell upon me (see 2Cor. 12:9).
5) What you sow is not quickened unless it die
(1Cor. 15:36). We who live are always delivered unto death on account of Jesus,
that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh (2Cor. 4:11).
Heb. 2:10 “For it was fitting for
Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons
to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”
YLT:
“For it was becoming to Him, because of whom the all things, and through whom
the all things, many sons to glory bringing, the author of their salvation
through sufferings to make perfect,”
Meaning
of Words: “captain”: author, prince,
chief leader; “perfect”: complete,
consummate; “fitting”: comely;
Literal
Meaning:
“for whom are all things and by whom are all things”,
here it refers to God who created all
things; and all things are created for God (Rev. 4:11). Therefore, all things
in the universe are of Him. All things are of Him (Rom. 11:36; 2Cor. 8:6), and
He is the originator of all things.
“In bringing many sons to glory”,
“many sons”: all those who
have become the sons of God because of faith throughout the past generations (
“To make the captain of their salvation”, “the captain of their salvation” refers Jesus Christ who is the author (see
Heb. 12:2) and forerunner (see Heb. 6:20) of our salvation. He has not only
fulfilled the salvation for us but also led us to attain to the ultimate goal
of the salvation perfectly.
“For it was fitting for Him … perfect
through sufferings”, “perfect”, it does not mean that his nature and
character are imperfect and will become perfect through sufferings, but means
that suffering makes his life experience complete and perfect (see v.18). “It
was fitting”, since he had such experience, he was fitting to be our captain of
the salvation and lead us into glory.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) He is the one “for whom are all things and by whom
are all things”. We live for Him
and by Him. All that we are and we have are supposed to be for Him and by Him.
2) He is the one “for whom are all things”. The whole man of us ---- mind, thoughts,
words and actions ---- shall be for Him. All that we have ---- family, money,
talent and position ---- shall also be for Him.
3) He is also the one “by whom are all things”. We can do nothing without Him (John
15:5), so we shall rely on Him in everything.
4) Anyone shall firstly become the child of God
before entering into glory, for the glorious presence of God is prepared for
His own children.
5) In order to become the captain of the
salvation of God’s children and lead them into glory, the Lord Jesus alone has
firstly suffered and become perfect. Though many tribulations, we those who
follow Him must enter into the
6) The Lord Jesus is the captain of our
salvation. He has personally walked the way on which He shall also lead us to
walk. Therefore, He is clear about the situations on the way and has made full
preparations for us. We will surely reach the destination as long as we follow
after Him.
7) Since He is the captain, He will take our
full responsibilities and resolve all the difficulties of those who follow Him
and provide all that we need. However, we shall utterly obey the commands of
the captain in faith, and often appropriate His provision through prayers.
Heb. 2:11 “For both He who
sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason
He is not ashamed to call them brethren,”
YLT:
“for
both he who is sanctifying and those sanctified all of one, for which cause he
is not ashamed to call them brethren,”
Literal
Meaning: “for both He who sanctifies and those who are being
sanctified”, “He who sanctifies”: Jesus Christ who makes believers
sanctified by Him (see Heb. 10:10); “those who are being
sanctified”: we believers; he
delivers us for the purpose separating us from the world and unto God (see John
17:14-19).
“Are all of one”, “one” refers to God the Father; the Lord and us are
of the same God the Father in resurrection (see Heb. 1:5; 1Pet. 1:3).
“For which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren”, “He … call them brethren”, the Lord Jesus called His disciples
brothers after His resurrection (Matt. 28:10; John 20:17); “not ashamed”: it is
natural and justified;
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The salvation of the Lord Jesus will make us
“sanctified” wholly (1Thess. 5:23).
2) We believers’ sanctification does not lie in
our own strength, but in the one “who sanctifies”, namely, the Lord in whom we
trust.
3) Since the Lord and are of one, how he
sanctifies himself, we shall also be sanctified in like manner (John 17:19).
4) Though our condition is low, He is not even ashamed to call us brethren. Today, we shall
confess Him and bear witness to Him before men so that He shall also confess us
and bear witness to us before the Father in the heavens in the future (see
Matt. 10:32-33).
Heb. 2:12 “saying: "I will
declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing
praise to You."”
YLT:
“saying, `I will declare Thy name to my brethren, in the midst of an assembly I
will sing praise to Thee;' and again, `I will be trusting on Him;'”
Literal
Meaning:
“saying”, the word in this verse is quoted from the Book of Psalm
(22:22).
“"I will declare Your name to My brethren”, “Your name” refers to the name of the
Father; name represents the being of God the Father; therefore, the declaration
of the Father is the revelation of God the Father to all the brethren.
After the Lord’s resurrection, He had
especially mentioned “ascending to my Father and your Father, and my God and
your God” (John 20:17).
“In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You”. “In the midst of the assembly”: in the gathering of believers, namely, in
the church; and the assembly here especially refers to the assembly of the
firstborn registered in heaven (Heb. 12:22-23). “Praise you”: praise and
worship God;
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The works of Christ in the church not only
bring God to us to let us know more about God but also bring us to God and give
glory to God.
2) Our true worship toward God is according to
true knowledge about God. And knowledge is before worship.
Heb. 2:13 “And again: "I will
put My trust in Him." And again: "Here am I and the children whom God
has given Me."”
YLT:
“and again, `Behold I and the children that God did give to me.'”
Literal
Meaning: “and again”, the following
word is quoted from the Book of Isaiah (12:2).
“"I will put My trust in Him."” It indicates that we
shall trust in Him. This is the declaration of the risen Lord that He always
trusted in God the Father when he was incarnated and still trusts in God on the
way of leading many sons into glory.
“And again”, the following
word is quoted from the Book of Isaiah (8:18).
“"Here”, this is a victorious declaration to all in a joyful
tone.
“Am I and the children whom God has given Me."” This is the display of the victory before
all. We are the testimony of His victory.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Even the risen Lord needs to trust in God to
lead us, let alone we believers!
2) Both the initiation and fulfillment are of
God. No matter to what degree we have attained, we need always trust in Him.
Heb. 2:14 “Inasmuch then as the
children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the
same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that
is, the devil,”
YLT:
“Seeing, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself also
in like manner did take part of the same, that through death he might destroy
him having the power of death -- that is, the devil --”
Meaning
of Words: “have
partaken of”:
be partaker, distribute, communicate; “shared”:
participate, pertain, take part;
“destroy”:; annul, abolish, do away, become of no
effect, fail;
Literal
Meaning: “inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and
blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same”,
“children”, those whom God
has given to the Lord Jesus are the children of God who are preordained to be
saved by God (see v.13); “flesh and blood”: the physical body
of man; “have
partaken of flesh and blood”, it indicates that
He has put on the physical body of man.
If Christ has not shared in the same flesh and blood of himself, he will
not die nor accomplish the redemption. Therefore, it is necessary of Him to put
on the man’s physical body.
“That through death He might destroy him who had the power
of death, that is, the devil”, “had the power of death”: have the power of darkness of death,
which is also called “the power (or gates) of hell” (see Matt. 16:18); “destroy
him who had the power of death”, it indicates that he has crushed the head of
the devil (see Gen. 3:15; 1John 3:8) and take the keys of death and hades (Rev.
1:18) through the death on the cross. Finally, death and hades have no use and
are only cast into the lake of fire with the devil (Rev. 20:10, 14).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord Jesus has partaken of flesh and blood and thus becomes a living man for the
purpose of going through death and destroying the power of death. It is so
amazing that the Lord died in his physical life and yet has fulfilled the
purpose of God through death.
2) The destruction of Satan had been declared
on
Heb. 2:15 “and release those who
through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
YLT:
“and
might deliver those, whoever, with fear of death, throughout all their life,
were subjects of bondage,”
Meaning
of Words: “release”: deliver, set free;
Literal
Meaning: “fear of death”,
it refers to the fear of the power behind darkness, not the fear of death
itself (he who commits suicide fears life, not death).
The function of Christ’s cross has not only cleaned our sins but also
dealt with our sin through crucifying our old man with Christ on the cross so
that we are set free instead of being bondmen of sin (Luke 4:18; Gal. 5:1).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Fear of death” is the common difficult of
men. Even some Christians may also fear when they are faced with the threat of
“aging, disease and death”. Only those who trust in Him with whole heart will
enjoy true rest.
2) We believers’ attitude toward death is the
touchstone of whether we have value in our lifetime. He who fears death lives
for himself, so he has no value of life. He who does not fear death lives for
others, so his lifetime is valuable (see Phil. 1:21-24).
Heb. 2:16 “For indeed He does not
give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.”
YLT:
“for,
doubtless, of messengers it doth not lay hold, but of seed of Abraham it layeth
hold,”
Meaning
of Words: “give
aid to”:
hold, take, keep;
Literal
Meaning: “He does not give aid to angels”,
it indicates that the salvation of the cross
has nothing to do with the angels and the fallen angels will never be forgiven
(see 2Pet. 2:4).
“But He does give aid to the seed of Abraham”, there are two aspects of meaning of “the seed of Abraham”: 1)
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) It is the key verse of denying those who
believe “the Universal Salvation” ---- they believe that all created beings
will be saved in the coming eternity, including the fallen angels. However, if
the Lord Jesus did not give aid to the angels or men in the world, how could
they be saved?
2) The salvation of Christ only comes upon
those who are on the principle of faith ---- these are Abraham's sons (Gal.
3:7).
Heb. 2:17 “Therefore, in all things He
had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High
Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the
people.”
YLT:
“wherefore it did behove him in all things to be made like to the brethren,
that he might become a kind and stedfast chief-priest in the things with God,
to make propitiation for the sins of the people,”
Meaning
of Words: “make
propitiation”:
make expiation, make reconciliation for, make atonement for;
Literal
Meaning: “therefore, in all things He had to be made like His
brethren”, “all things”: all experiences and feelings of a man
except for sins (see Heb. 4:15);
“That He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in
things pertaining to God”, “merciful”: have sympathy for; “faithful”:
faithfulness toward God; “High Priest”: his duty is to be the mediator between
God and men (see Heb. 7:22; 8:6).
“To make propitiation for the sins of the people”, the chief work of the High Priest is
making propitiation for the sins of the people (see Heb. 7:27) and put away our
sins (Heb. 9:26) so that we shall be accepted by God (Heb. 10:21-22).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The humanity of Christ cannot be separated
from His works. If Christ has not been made like His brethren, he will be unable to stand in the position
of sinners to make atonement for men’s sins.
2) He is the merciful High Priest, for He not
only makes propitiation for our sins but also makes intercessions for us before
God (see Heb. 7:25). He is the faithful High Priest, for He is utterly in God’s
business (see Luke 2:48).
Heb. 2:18 “For in that He Himself
has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.”
YLT:
“for
in that he suffered, himself being tempted, he is able to help those who are
tempted.”
Meaning
of Words: “aid”: help, relieve;
Literal
Meaning: “for in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted”, it indicates that
the Lord had been temped by the devil in his flesh and suffered the afflictions
caused by the temptations.
“He is able to aid those who are tempted”, “aid”, it the original, it means that a
mother comes to her baby at a trot to take care of him as soon as she hears the
crying of the baby.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The Lord Jesus had been tempted and more
than conquerors (see Matt. 4:1-11). Therefore, He is able to aid those who are
tempted.
2) When we are fallen into temptations and
sufferings, we shall remember that the Lord Jesus had also been tempted.
Therefore, he is able to understand us and sympathize with us and be merciful
to us ---- he knows how to meet our need.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
So Great a Salvation
A. Those who inherit the salvation are so great
(see 1:14);
B. The Lord who preaches and fulfills the
salvation is so great (v.4);
C. The proof of the salvation is so great (v.3-4);
D. The glory that the salvation makes us
inherit is so great (v.5-10);
So Great a Salvation
A. The origin is great ---- the salvation
fulfilled by the holy Trinity (v.3-4);
B. The sacrifice is great ---- the suffering of
death (v
C. The sphere is great ---- taste death for
everyone (v.9b);
D. The effect is great ---- sanctify (v.11),
release (v.15) and aid those who are tempted (v.18);
The Eternal Counsel that God Had Preordained
Concerning Man Has Been Fulfilled on the Human Jesus
A. God’s glorious counsel concerning man:
1. God has especially chosen man to be His
vessel in all things (v.6);
2. God has chosen man to be the manifestation
of His infinite glory (v
3. God has chosen man to be His great ruler
(v.7b);
4. God has chosen man to be the heir of all
things (v.5);
5. God will raise men and put all in subjection
under him (v.8);
B. A glorious vision ---- Jesus has perfectly
fulfilled the glorious future of man (v
1. Jesus has been crowned with glory and honor.
2. Jesus comes to be man to fulfill the
glorious future of man.
3. The way of victory is to look upon Jesus who
is in glory.
C. The cross is the only way that Jesus has
fulfilled the glorious prospect of man:
1. The suffering of the cross crowned Jesus
glory and honor (v.9b).
2. The suffering of the cross is a kind of
all-inclusive death ---- the great effect of the atonement of the cross.
3. The suffering of the cross made Jesus
perfect (v.10).
What is Man that You Are Mindful of Him?
A. Man is a little lower than the angels (v.6
B. Man is subject to bondage through fear of
death (v.15);
C. Man suffers because of temptation (v.18);
D. Man has been sanctified because of the death
of the Lord Jesus (v.11);
E. Man has been released because of the death
of the Lord Jesus (v.15);
F. Man has been aided when he is tempted, for
the Lord Jesus had been tempted (v18.);
G. Man shall enter into glory under the
guidance of the Lord Jesus (v.10);
H. Man shall sing praise to God with the Lord
in the midst of the assembly (v.12);
The Redemption of Christ in the Past, at
Present and in the Future
A. In the past:
1. Humble himself ---- who was
made a little lower than the angels (v.9).
2. Be incarnated ---- He
Himself shared in the same flesh and blood (v.14).
3. In all things He had to be made like His
brethren (v.17).
4. He suffered because of temptations (v.18).
5. He was made perfect through sufferings
(v.10).
6. He suffered death and tasted
death for everyone (v.9).
7. Through
death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil (v.14).
B. At present:
1. He is now crowned
with glory and honor (v.9).
2. He sanctifies those who believe Him through
the death of the cross (v.11).
3. He brings the life relationship between the
Holy Father as well as the Holy Son and believers (v.11-13).
4. He releases
those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (v.15).
5. He is the High Priest in the heavens and
puts away the sins of believers (v.16-17).
6. He is able to aid those who are tempted
(v.18).
C. In the future:
1. The coming world is put in subjection to
Christ and believers (v.5).
2. Believers shall be crowned with glory and
honor (v
3. Christ will be over all things and all
things will be put in subjection under believers (v.7-8);
4. Christ will bring many sons to glory (v.10);
5. All believers shall sing praise to God in
the heaven forever and ever (v.11-13);
6. Christ will finally destroy the devil
(v.14);
The Relationship of the Lord Jesus with Us
A. He is for us ---- taste
death for “everyone” (v.9);
B. He saves us ---- make
the captain of “their”
salvation (v.10b);
C. He brings us ----
bringing “many sons”
to glory (v.10b);
D. He makes us… ---- He
who “sanctifies” (v
E. He calls us ----
call “them”
brethren (v.11b);
F. He releases us ---- release
“those who through fear of
death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (v.15);
G. He condescends to us
---- in all things He had to be made like “His
brethren” (v.17);
H. He aids us ---- aid
“those who are tempted” (v.18);
The Sufferings of the Lord Jesus
A. The suffering in his lifetime ---- be made
perfect through sufferings (v.10);
B. The suffering of temptation ---- He has
suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted (v.18);
C. The suffering of death ---- be crowned with
glory and honor for the sake of the suffering of death (v.9);
Jesus Becomes the Captain of the Salvation
in Order to Bring Many Sons to Glory.
A. Through the Lord’s incarnation:
1. Jesus, who was made a
little lower than the angels (v.9);
2. Be made perfect
through sufferings (v.10);
3. He Himself likewise shared
in the same flesh and blood (v.14);
4. In all
things He had to be made like His brethren (v.16).
5. He suffered because of being tempted (v.18).
B. Through the death of the Lord:
1. He tasted death for everyone (v.9).
2. He had destroyed him
who had the power of death, that is, the devil (v.14).
3. He had released
those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage (v.15).
C. Through the resurrection of the Lord:
1. He has obtained glory and honor in
resurrection (v.9).
2. He is the captain in resurrection and leads
many sons into glory (v.10).
3. The risen life shows that he and believers
are of one (v.11).
4. In the risen life, he and believers are
jointed and become the heavenly assembly (v.12-13).
5. He has become the merciful and faithful High
Priest in resurrection and is able to aid those who are tempted (v.16-18).
The Effect of the Substituted Death of the
Son of Man
A. It is fitting of the death of Christ (v.10).
B. The death of Christ sanctifies man (v
C. The death of Christ makes men become the
sons of God (v.11b-13).
D. The death of Christ destroys
him who had the power of death (v.14).
E. The death of Christ releases
those who fear death (v.15).
F. The death of Christ makes Him the merciful
and faithful High Priest (v.16-17).
G. The death of Christ enables Him to aid those
who are tempted (v.18).
The Reason Why the Lord Shared in the Same
Flesh and Blood
A. He Himself likewise shared
in the same flesh and blood
(v.14).
B. In all things He had to be made like His brethren (us) (v.17).
C. So that we shall be the same with Him in the
future ---- “He
who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one” (v.11).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou