Hebrews 2 – Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Hebrews 2:1-4

1 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

A. Find Out:

1. To what must we pay attention? v.1a
2. Why? v.1b
3. How had God’s message come & with what consequence? v.2
4. What is his warning? v.3a
5. How had the message come? v.3b
6. How had God confirmed it? v.4

B. Think:

1. What is the heart of the writer’s argument here?
2. What danger was he addressing?
3. Why do you think we may fall prey to that danger?

C. Comment:

     In chapter 1 the writer has been showing how Jesus is so much greater than any angelic being.  Now he applies that and gives us a reason why it is so important.  Look, he says, in Old Testament times God’s word often used to come via angelic messengers and God required obedience in response to that word.  How much more then, says the writer, should we pay attention to the Gospel delivered to us by the Son himself.

     Again the writer displays a pastoral concern for these Christians scattered around the world, for he knows how easy it is to drift away and forget the wonder of the Gospel we have received. Paul had chided the Galatians for the way they had drifted from it and the writer brings us this warning, to overcome the tendency that is so easily there.

     Look, he says, this Gospel came first through Jesus and was then passed on by his close followers, and if you had any doubt about the Gospel may I remind you that God Himself confirmed it with many signs, wonders and miracles and gifts of His Spirit, both through Jesus and his followers. This message is not to be taken lightly!

D. Application:

1. In the midst of modern life we must hold tightly to the precious and most wonderful message that has been conveyed to us.
2. This message is completely trustworthy. Look at its background!

Passage: Hebrews 2:5-9

5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:

‘What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    a son of man that you care for him?
7 You made them a little lower than the angels;
    you crowned them with glory and honour
8     and put everything under their feet.’

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

A. Find Out:

1. What hasn’t God done for angels? v.5
2. How did God make man? v.7a
3. Yet what position did he give man? v.7b,8a
4. Yet what hasn’t happened yet? v.8b
5. But how was Jesus made and where is he now? v.9a
6. How has he achieved that? v.9b

B. Think:

1. How does man’s present state differ from his destiny?
2. How was Jesus first of all similar to man?
3. Yet how is he now different and why?

C. Comment:

     This passage appears to have a sense of ambiguity within it. First of all the writer seems to be writing about mankind but then moves to a position where he is referring to Jesus and it is difficult to see which is which.

     He starts by a startling inference.  Whereas he was previously comparing the Son to angels, he now infers that the world yet to come is to be under the complete rule of the Son (and not angels). He then picks up the thought of rule and dominion. Scripture speaks (in Psalm 8) of man as having been created as beings lessor in glory than angels yet greater in that they have been created to rule over the world (see Genesis 1:28). However, because of sin, man is not holding that position of rulership at the present, but that IS his destiny!

     Then we come to the ambiguity in verse 8. Does this apply to Jesus? There is a sense yes, for at the present not every knee bows before him (see Philippians 2:10,11 for what will be), but in a sense no, for he is ruling at His Father’s right hand in heaven. He was made into human form, a little lower in the scale than angels, but has acquired by his obedience to the divine plan a much higher place than any angel.  He now reigns in glory in heaven and is worthy of all praise.

D. Application:

1. Jesus took on human form and humility, becoming like us.
2. Jesus passed through death and now reigns in glory. Worship Him.

Passage: Hebrews 2:10-13

10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. 12 He says,

‘I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the assembly I will sing your praises.’

13 And again,

‘I will put my trust in him.’

And again he says,

‘Here am I, and the children God has given me.’

A. Find Out:

1. What has God done? v.10a
2. How is God described? v.10b
3. What has He done in respect of Jesus? v.10c
4. Who are of the same family? v.11
5. What does Jesus call us? v.11c,12
6. How are we described? v.13

B. Think:

1. What point was the writer making previously? (v.9)
2. So what point does he continue to make here?
3. What was the result of his activity?

C. Comment:

     Jesus is crowned with glory and honour because he died for us. That was what the writer had been saying. He now extends the thought: not only did Jesus go to glory, he has made it possible for us to also go to glory, and he did that through his suffering on the Cross.

     Jesus is called the “author of our salvation” because he made it possible, he brought it into being. But in doing that he himself was made perfect. He already was perfect when he left heaven to come to earth (as God’s only Son), but in human form he perfectly obeyed His Father, passing through death, carrying our sins, yet without sinning himself.

    The result of all this? He has made us adopted children of God, and therefore his brothers. Because he has taken our sins on the Cross and we are now part of his family, we too are holy, separated to God distinct and different from all else. That is what HE has done!

     Why was the writer saying all this, and quoting from the Old Testament to confirm it? (See Psalm 22:22, Isaiah 8:17 & 8:18) Because he is wanting to show the greatness of Jesus and of what he has done. The person and work of Jesus are unique in all of Creation.

D. Application:

1. Jesus died to make us holy by taking our sins and by making us children of God.
2. No other being in history can claim to have done this! Worship Him!

Chapter: Hebrews 2

Passage: Hebrews 2:14-18

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

A. Find Out:

1. What did Jesus first do? v.14a
2. What did he achieve? v.14b
3. Who did he free? v.15
4. Who does he help? v.16
5. How was he made? v.17a
6. For what reason? v.17b
7. How is he able to help us? v.18

B. Think:

1. What reasons are given for Jesus becoming human?
2. How is Jesus similar to, yet different from us?

C. Comment:

     The writer now expands on why Jesus came in human flesh.

    First, he did it so that he could die and as the Son of God take all our sin and punishment, to atone for us.  In doing this he has destroyed Satan’s power over us, for no longer can he accuse and condemn us, for our guilt has been taken by Jesus.

     Second, because he passed through death and came back, he has destroyed the fear of death for us. We have been reassured that he is who he said he was, because he came back, and we also know now that death is not the end.

     Third, because he experienced in the flesh all the things we experience, he can faithfully mediate in heaven on our behalf. He knows what it is to be tempted and therefore he can help us more fully when he sees we are being tempted.

     Remember, the whole point that the writer is making is the wonder of who Jesus is and what he has done. There is none to compare with him in all Creation. He is not only the One who was involved with his Father in Creation, not only the One who keeps the world going, but he is also One who understands and shares in our humanity at the closest level.   

D. Application:

1. God did not stand afar of but came and lived in our shoes.
2. We can rest assured of His understanding love.