V. 1. Therefore-- For this reason, because of this. Because of what? Because Christ is so much better than the angels (1:4), as well as so much better than the prophets we should listen to him when he speaks.
Remember the issue now. It is not that Christ replaced the OT but that Christ replaced the sacrifices and offerings.
Paul here is not saying that the words of Christ replaced the OT doctrines and message. What he is saying though is the work of Christ replaces the work of the blood of bulls and goats. His words confirmed the OT message and doctrine. His work as the sacrifice replaces the OT sacrifices and offering, rites and rituals.
Things which we have heard. Paul spent three-years in Arabia learning the same message which the eleven learned in their three-years with him. Again the message they heard:
1. Matt 5:17, think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill.
In saying this he left the law, commandments, in full force and gives us the needed grace to fulfill.
2. Jn. 4:21, Jesus saith unto her, woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father-- v. 23, But the hour cometh, and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Notice, seeketh, the Father does the seeking not the sinner.
Here we see these are the words which he spoke contrary to the OT. The OT which demanded worship of the Father at Jerusalem was done away with.
This is the message of Hebrews as well as the whole NT.
These words from our Lord, were to be held in higher regard than the words of angels or of the prophets because he is so much better, he, being the sacrifice. (Keep in mind who this book is written to and the purpose of it.)
more ernest heed-- You regard the OT laws so highly that you obey them, this man Christ the Son of God, deserves more diligence in obedience than the OT words of the prophets.
--lest at any time we should let them slip. There is a tremendous message here in this little statement. Note the margin reading, run out as leaking vessels--.
Thayers (pg. 485 #3901), gives a good definition here; "To flow past, to glide by." He gives this reading, which I think is excellent." Lest the salvation (or the benefits of), which the things heard show us how to obtain slip away from us." --This would make this passage read, "Because Christ is so much better we should pay more diligence to his words to do them, because if we don't, the promised benefits of obedience will slip or flow past us.
The word 'slip' is only used here in the NT. It is used in the OT in prov. 3:21, "Son. do not pass by, but keep my counsel." This usage fits in with what we are saying here.
Now what?
We should be very cautious that the truths spoken by the Redeemer and his apostles (again only confirming the OT), should not be permitted to flow past us without our attention and application. The picture would be like standing beside a river as it flows past.
The OT picture here would be Naaman, the leper, II Ki. 5. He heard of a mighty man of God who could heal of leprosy in Israel. He went to the king of Israel to ask for healing. The king, of course, threw up his hands in helplessness and sent him home.
Elisha heard of this and sent to the king and had Naaman come to him. Naaman came to Elisha and Elisha wouldn't even come out to see him, but sent a messenger out to tell him to go wash in the river seven times.
Now, this seemed as foolish as foolish could be, to wash seven times in a old muddy stream so Naaman started to leave in total disgust. He thought Elisha would surely come out, wave his hand over him, say some beautiful words to God and heal him. Instead, all he did is sent a messenger to him, telling him to go jump in the river and that not just one time but seven.
Naaman turned in anger and started home, saying, "My rivers at home are cleaner than this river. It makes more since to wash in them."
One of his servants approached him and said, "My Father (words of respect), if the prophet had told you to do something difficult or something requiring great strength or wisdom, wouldn't you do it? Then why don't you try something this easy?"
So Naaman tried it and was made clean.
There Naaman was, he has leprosy. He heard of a man of God in Israel who could help him so he went for help. He was told by the man of God to go dip in the river seven times and this just did not correspond to what he thought it should be, so he refused to do it.
Here was Naaman. He has been told the answer, yet it didn't line up with his wisdom so he refused. It seemed dumb and useless. Here he is standing by the river where this benefit of healing is promised and because it didn't line up with human wisdom he is going to let that promised benefit (salvation if you please), flow right past him. He wants to exchange the promised benefit of faith here for the worldly wisdom of going back to Assyria for his healing.
Here is the message of Heb. 2:1. We have hard from the Lord himself of the benefit of, "Bathing in him." Obeying his every word, pleasing him in everything we do.
This doesn't line up with human reasoning so we would rather let that river flow right past us and exchange that for the better looking and sounding rivers which are back in the world.
Rather than humbling ourselves in complete, consistent obedience to the words and laws of Christ we would rather let that flow right past us. Rather than obey the clammer of the pleasures of this world.
(Of course, the context is, "Hebrews, you want to exchange the benefit of the sacrifice of Christ for the blood of bulls and goats. You are going to stand there and miss all the benefit which is for you through his blood atonement, sacrifice. Approach to the heavenly Father through his blood.)
We should not let the words of Christ flow past us as a stream would without our plunging in obedience to the word of the Lord. (Ja. 1:22, But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
God has revealed the benefits to us, let us not allow them to pass by us and get out of our grasp. There are several things which will cause us to allow them to slip by us.
1. We have no real understanding of the importance of His truths as revealed at the time they are within our reach. Many times by the time we realize their importance they are out of reach. They have flowed past us.
Examples:
a.) Parents are bad about this. I had a lady call me when we still had the school open. Her teenage boy (about 14 or so), was going and had gone to the devil. He was completely controlled by rock music, immoral behavior, he was on drugs and as rebellious as the devil himself, and his friends were worse than him and she knew he was headed for big trouble.
She called wanting to put him in a Christian school hoping we could straighten him out and salvage him.
No, I'm afraid the opportunity had flowed past them and was now out of reach, unless, God did a marvelous work of grace in the boy and the parents. If the parents would have agreed to serve God I believe the boy could be helped. This was not what she wanted to hear. She wanted someone with an answer so her and her husband wouldn't have to do right.
Those of us parents, we had better take the opportunity now to "wash our children in obedience to God's word," before that opportunity flows past. The problem is that most of the time we don't realize it has flowed passed us until it is to late and it is out of reach as it was for this lady. We don't take our stand for godliness in our children until we see the ungodliness coming out. Then it is to late.
b.) Young people also allow the most important period of their life flow past them without developing proper habits.
They do not realize the value now of serving God with their life. Like that boy, they would rather serve the world, flesh, devil in their rock music and sensual dress and immoral behavior, as well as their rebellion against authority and their parents allow it. Now, my daughters may dress ungodly and listen to ungodly music when they get our on their own, but I will do my best to see that they don't at home.
God gave parents to kids to help them serve God in these areas.
Ecc. 12:1, Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years dry nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.
Here the richest person ever to live who had it all said that when you are young is the time to serve God. Notice he says here don't wait until you have no more pleasure in the foolish worldly things of youth to decide to serve God. Do it now.
Really, we as parents catch our kids in this trap. We tell of what a good time we had serving the pleasures of this world before we got right with God.
We go even further. We bring in "youth speakers" who tell how wicked they were as a young person before God spoke to them and now they are serving Christ.
What does this do to our kids? This makes them think it is okay to serve the pleasures of the flesh, then when they "out grow" those things, then you settle down and serve God.
The thing is, we fail to realize that those who are reached by God out of those sinful pleasures are the minority. When we went to our class reunion, I was the only one out of our graduating class who was in "full time service."
Now is the time to glorify God because this chance to do so is swiftly flowing past. John Bieler at the age of fifteen, decided to serve God, a millionaire by the age of thirty, with only a sixth grade education. (Minninite as a young person.)
Young people misuse and abuse their talents by their foolishness. I know of a young person who had a good voice. They tried to sing rock music at the top of their voice and ruined it. Now I'm sure they would like to serve God with their voice, but it has already been sacrificed to the devil of rock music.
Pay attention to what our Lord has commanded or the promised blessings will flow past you as a river.
Young people believe the devils lie, "You only live once so do it with Gusto. Go ahead, you have your life ahead of you when you can serve God. Go ahead enjoy yourself, serve God later." The problem is they become a SLAVE to those pleasures and end up serving them the rest of their life.
My cousin, Marylan Matkins was fifteen. She was a very beautiful young lady. She was very active in her church and was a exceptionally popular girl in school down in Spencer. Her mother had been deserted by her husband and her mom wrapped her life up in Marglin. Really, Marylan had the world of Spencer at her feet. (She was about one and a half years older than me.)
One evening after school she was with some kids taking them all home. I believe there was seven in the car and they had dropped off the first one east of Spencer. On their way back to town, (about seven miles East of Spencer) evidently they were clowning around, and they lost control of the car. It hit a large tree on the opposite side of the road and killed everyone except the driver, (they took vengeance on the tree, and cut it down).
The school was closed down for a week because these were the five most popular kids in the school.
Young people, its a lie of the devil that says, "You have your life ahead of you so go ahead and enjoy yourself."
Don't let your youth slip past you as a river, then one day you will look back and say, "Why didn't I serve God? Why didn't I listen to my parents? Why did I allow these bad habits to be established which are now fighting to control me?"
Another reason we let the things we have learned slip by and therefore miss the blessings is: 2. We get so engrossed in our business that we let the things of God slip by.
We get so caught up in the cars of this world that we are unable to find time to spend in God's word and prayer.
It ends up we are so strung out after we spend a day or week in the rat race that we don't have time for church.
There are so many worldly things to buy we don't have any money left to tithe.
The things of this world get us so involved that we allow the opportunity of salvation slip by, then it is out of reach. It is to late. We allow the opportunity to serve God and please Him with our life to slip, then it is to late.
3. Another reason: goes right along with the above.
We get caught up in the pleasures of this life. We don't want to lay them aside for the dull life of following Christ. These pleasures lure young people from either accepting Christ or from serving him and the opportunity floats right past them, never to be recovered.
a. Youth is by far the best time to serve Christ. Commit our all to him.
But the devil says, "tomorrow" and tomorrow turns into next week into next month into next year. The opportunity to serve Christ has floated out of reach.
The Lord knows man and through his servant Paul here he warns us do now what you have heard the word of God speak to you or they will glide right by you never to return.
Older people, take advantage of every opportunity the Lord gives or they will get away from us, never to return.
In conclusion. Here we see:
1.) The truths of God's word will do us no good unless we "give earnest heed to the things which we have heard."
Like Naaman, the river next to him was useless until he plunged in. The leprosy would have killed him if he had not given earnest heed to the instructions of God's man.
Medicine will do us no good unless we take it. The fruit of the earth will do us no good unless we eat of them. All of the fresh water in the world will do no good unless you drink of it.
This book has enough truth to save the world but it is useless because the world is letting it slip by. Are you?
2.) Notice here it does not take a great sin to destroy the soul. Here it is just simple neglect of the truths of God's word.
Every person has a sinful nature which will destroy them unless they make a conscious effort, fight, to hang on to that which we know to do.
It is the person who neglects his relationship with God who is headed for destruction. The person who is unwilling to listen to the still small voice of the conscience and the voice of God is what it says here in Heb. 2:1.
Murder, theft, adultery, drunkenness, all of these things. These don't destroy, it is neglect. It is failing to five earnest heed to the things which we have heard. In that failure we allow them to slip. We allow God's promises flow past us just like a river.
V. 2. Writing to the Hebrew Christians who held the angels in such high regard. They looked on the messages which were delivered from God by angels to be very important and worthy of obedience. We have already seen a little in chp. 1, of how they regarded angels.
They felt that a violation of an angels message would have a sure reward. This was not disputed and Paul goes from this on which they agreed to.
V. 3. How can we expect to escape if we neglect the message of the one so much better than the angels. Of course, referring to Christ (1:4).
He was the first one to preach salvation through himself. He died and rose from the dead, yet those who heard him confirm what he preached to the present generation.
How shall we escape-- I believe there are two ways this can go and the context leans more to one than the other.
Notice Paul says, WE. He puts himself in this number so to me he seems to be making a reference to saved people. We have been set free from sin and to neglect that salvation from the power of sin over us will bring a just reward. This is what Paul expands on in chp. 10:26-31.
Remember, he is talking to people here who were being tempted to go back into Judaism and ignore the salvation, the victory over sin which was provided by the sacrifice of the Son of God.
To ignore the laws of Moses written in the stone received a just and sure reward. How much more sure of a reward to ignore the words of Christ who is so much better than Moses and which are written upon our heart.
Notice here the word, neglect. This does not speak of action one way or the other, rather it speaks of inaction. Neglect of the things we ought to do.
This would be like Dav. S., neglecting his business, not doing anything against it or for it, just neglect. If we neglect what has been provided for us, victory over sin, we will not escape.
If we neglect what we should do as a Christian according to His word, how will we escape the results? We won't, of course.
Now, the other side of this, neglect. Neglect to be saved. Neglect the so great salvation which is through Christ our Lord. This horrible sins of violation of the ten commandments won't send a person to hell. It is neglect of what has been done by Christ for them.
Really, the most devastating sin of all. For a Christian, neglect of what God would have him to do. For a non-Christian, neglect of what has been done for him by Christ?
V. 4. Paul points out here that there are still witnesses around who hear Christ preach and his message. Not only to these witnesses confirm the message which Paul is presenting is the same one Christ presented but also God bore witness to the message. 1. With signs. 2. With miracles. 3. With gifts which are given of his good pleasure, I Cor. 12:4- Rom. 12:6. Acts give a record of these miraculous gifts of healings and tongues which confirmed the message which was so new.
V. 4, ends with a question. The question is how can we expect to escape the just reward if we ignore the message which Christ preached?
"The gospel has been given to man in a solemn manner. I was first published by the Lord of glory himself. It was confirmed by the most impressive and solemn miracles. It is undoubtedly a revelation from heaven, and was given in more solemn circumstances than the law of Moses, and its threatenings are more to be dreaded than those of the law. Beware, therefore, how you trifle with it, or disregard it. It cannot be neglected with safety: its neglect or rejection must be attended with condemnation."
V. 5. Again, Paul is comparing Christ to the angels. The angels do not have the world to come under their subjection. This is an honour reserved strictly for the Messiah.
The Jews regarded the angels highly. Christ came as a poor humble man without even the honour and respect which was given to Moses. In fact, Christ was despised and rejected (as prophesied in Isa. 53). This was hard for them to accept, because of his condition and circumstances they refused to accept him or his message.
Paul points out that it was both proper and necessary that Christ be such a man, subject to suffering, sorrow and pain in order to redeem man. He goes on to point out that God has never put all things under an angel's subject as he has to Christ, Heb. 2:7-11.
They have no jurisdiction only ministering, but the world is under Christ.
"World to come." Let me give yo what I think he means here. This fits best for me, "The age to come after the Jewish age." After God took the kingdom from the Jewish nation and gave it to the church.
This new world or age was to be placed under the Messiah's feet and not under the feet (authority) of the angels. This age was placed under Christ's jurisdiction and not the angels. We will follow this through. The next phrase indicates this is the correct view.
Whereof we speak-- or, "of which I am writing." Paul here is writing about the church age or the age of the Christian religion. His main theme of this book isn't the final judgment, second coming, (which is the other way to look at v. 5), but how much better the church is than the old Hebrew religion.
He is speaking the of the one which is better. The prophecies reign of the Messiah had been viewed as a temporal king, Christ did not fulfill that expectation (Isa. 2:2 was one of the passages used to support this Jewish expectation).
The world to come here (again speaking to the Jewish, Hebrew mind, not the Gentiles), was the world of the reign of the Messiah over his church.
So this verse viewed from, 1.) the Tradition which Paul was dealing with. 2.) The influence which he is attempting to overcome, 3.) and, what was expected would seem to be saying;
'the world to come' would be the expectant reign which was and is fulfilled in the reign of Christ over his church.
Whereof we speak--. This is exactly what Paul is speaking about, showing that the redemptive work of Christ and his reign over the church (God's people), is this fulfillment. He is speaking of the church as this world to come. We have been placed under Christ's subjection not under the angels subjection.
V. 6. Again, he is writing to those who know Scriptures. Because he is, all he has to do is make a general reference and they can identify it. This is Ps. 8:4-6, Paul is speaking of Ps. 8:4-6 being this 'world to come.'
This is a reference to Christ the Messiah which Paul is quoting to prove that Christ had to be come the son of man in order to fulfill his office. He had to take on this humiliation form as God. Verses 7 and 8 cannot be said of any human.
Christ himself applied this Psalm to himself, Matt. 21:15, 16.
Paul also applied this to Christ, I Cor. 15:27 and Eph. 1:22.
There is only one man this can speak of and that is the MAN, Christ Jesus, I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 8:6, etc.
Now, I believe dominion was originally given to Adam, yet he lost it, 'all things' (v. 6) can only be said of Christ and any dominion over the creation of God will have to be done through Christ who is the head of all things to the church, Eph. 1:22; 2:6; Col. 2:10; Eph. 2:6, in Christ name. Only as we reckon ourselves dead and our life hid with Christ in God can this dominion be claimed, Col. 3:3. When we got saved our life was placed in God, in Christ.
I Tim. 1:17, we see here the king of our kingdom is invisible until he chooses to reveal himself as in I Cor. 15:24. Therefore, if the king is invisible, so his dominion. Paul says we don't see it now. Not that it isn't in place yet.
Now, this is the best application of this Ps. 8, which Paul quotes for me. I believe Scripture (even our Lord in Matt. 21:16), points to the primary application being the Messiah. Although there is the application of man which will fit a large part, especially, v. 6 of Ps. 8 and v. 6 of Heb. 2. I think this can be applied to man with no harm at all to the Scripture.
V. 9. Paul very clearly points out that Christ is the fulfillment of Ps. 8. Ps. 8 can apply to man (parts of it), but the fulfillment is only in Christ. (But we see Jesus-- not someone else in fulfillment, but Jesus.
Again, Paul dealing with the Hebrew mind which had a problem with the humility of Christ. Paul points out that even though Christ took the form a little lower than the angels. This was necessary so he could taste death for every man.
Only by this means could he purchase salvation.
Paul is striking at this point over and over. This really is his whole argument as he preaches/teaches against the Hebrew sacrificial system still taking place in the temple, Heb. 10:5, 10.
Note v. 9 by the grace of God. Christ didn't do it in his own will and determination but in the grace of God. God placed the desire within his human nature to obey even to the death.
God then gave him the power to obey. Also, it was the grace of God, or God's favor toward man which caused him to do this.
This same grace of God is ours today.
Jesus took on the nature a little lower than the angels, he became a man not an angel (v. 16). He took on the form of a man so he could taste death for every man.
Ph. 2:8-9, we see that as a reward for having suffered death Christ was raised up to the right hand of God.
Here is the way this fits best for me. Christ tasted breath for every man but only by faith can man enter into the death of Christ. Another way of saying this would be that even though Christ tasted death for every man, every man is not in that death with Christ.
Christ paid the price for every man but only those who have come to him by faith are covered by that payment.
V. 10. Keep in mind here the argument which Paul is facing. Jesus was a man of sorrows. He led a life of affliction. How could a man like this be the promised Messiah, fulfilling all of the OT expectations? Surely God would have sent someone like Solomon.
Paul points out here that Christ becoming this kind of a man fits in with the plan and character of God. It was fit that Jesus would take on this form of a man. Through suffering he became the perfect Saviour. Paul does not give us the reason, only that it was God's plan. This is what was required to make the plan of salvation and the captain of salvation perfect. This would quality him to be a Saviour for all of mankind.
Through this suffering he can identify completely with the redeemed.
Notice the theme which Paul refers to once again. This one who seemed so unqualified in man's eyes is actually who all things were made for and who made all things. (1:2, 3 10--) This fits in perfect with God's revealed plan, I Cor. 1:27. Do you seem unqualified according to the worlds standards? Then you are qualified by God's standards.
Here is another glimpse of the infinite wisdom of our God. The all powerful creator took on the infirmities of the creature so he could be a faithful high priest, able to identify with his people.
In bringing many---, Heb. 2:10. Here we do not see a defeatist gospel but a gospel of victory where many are brought into Christ. (See sp. CHS Ps. 86:9.)
Here as in many places especially in the OT, the gospel is represented as being prevalent. Not the minority. I believe this shows a time coming when the grace of God through the gospel will prevail world-wide. When and how? Only God himself knows. This is Dan. 2:31-44, 45.
Perfect through suffering-- This does not even empty that Christ was at any time less than perfect as we are. Suffering in our lives is used to perfect us, make us more perfect. But this is not what is meant here with Christ.
His suffering completed his qualifications as the Saviour of the world. This suffering wholly fitted him to be the needed Saviour of the world. It filled up, rounded out, completed his character which he needed to be the perfect sacrifice.
We are made morally better through suffering. He did not need this, II Cor. 4:11-18. Tribulation worketh patience, Rom. 5:3. Let patience have her perfect work, Ja. 1:3-4.
1.) Because of his suffering he became the perfect example. Is this not what Peter said (I Pet. 2:19- ). His suffering gives us a perfect example to follow. We would not have had this without his suffering.
He suffered as a human. We cannot say that God doesn't understand, because he went through it even to the death. We have a perfect example to follow which all before Christ did not have.
2.) Heb. 2:18; 4:15, He is able to sympathize with everything we go through.
3.) By his suffering, atonement was made for our sins. He suffered in our place. The eternal God endured an enteral suffering for sin. If he had not suffered and died, He would not be the Saviour.
Paul here answers the argument or objection of Christ's humility and suffering with the necessity of the suffering Saviour. Once again, comparing Christ with the on going sacrifice at Jerusalem.
Jn. 17:21, seems to fit here. Paul is showing the connection of our Lord with us. He is pointing out the reason for Christ taking upon himself the nature of man rather than the nature of angels.
There was such a strong (love) connection between the Lord and those he died for that it was necessary that he become one of them. He had to be identified with them.
of one, of one Father.
Sanctifiedth, chosen out or dedicated to be holy. Christ was totally dedicated to the Father's will and we also are to have this dedication. Jn. 4:34; 5:30; 6:38, 39. We are on this earth for one purpose, to do God's will. of one, of one Father.
not ashamed, because we are partakers of the same divine nature he is not ashamed to be counted among us. He is not ashamed to be known as one of us.
Paul here then is identifying Christ the Messiah as a fulfillment of the prophecies which identified him as a brother. In fact, showing the necessity of him being "one of us" in order to fulfill prophecy.
It was not degrading for God to become man and even be identified as a brother. Again, this is not what the Jews wanted. They wanted a god to ride in and lead them to victory over their enemies.
Christ took on a nature that allowed him to be identified as a brother and he was/is not ashamed of it. The Creator of the universe not ashamed to be identified as a brother to his creation. Again, another one of the attributes of God which we will never understand until we see him.
V. 12. He points out to this who have been Jews (Jewish religion), that it is not at all contrary to the OT that the Messiah should be identified with men as a brother. In fact, it was a requirement of the OT that he be thus identified.
He quotes Ps. 22. This is commonly accepted as a Messianic Psalm. We have hard it preached many times. This is the Messiah speaking from the cross down to v. 21.
Let's look at Ps. 22:22. Notice how Paul quotes v. 22 in Heb. 2:12. He quotes it verbatim except for one word. He changes the word congregation from v. 22, to church. Therefore this is a reference to our Lord revealing God the Father to his brethren, those of us who have been chosen by God, Jn. 15:15; 17:6; 20:17, the church.
This also makes v. 23, "Jacob-Israel", a reference to the church.
Here is what we have in Ps. 22, I believe.
Verse 1-21, the work of the Redeemer, Messiah upon the cross. The ridicule, the suffering.
Ps. 22:22-31, the result of that work upon the cross.
Ps. 22:22. 1.) Revealing the Father to his brethren, Jn. 14 (9), is an example of this revealing work of Christ. The book of John makes this work clear. Christ revealing the name of God to us. The word of God reveals the character of God to His people.
It only reveals enough so we can know how to please Him. It is not to satisfy curiosity.
Ps. 22:23. 2.) As the Father is revealed to the brethren they will fear, praise and glory him. Here the Saviour is exhorting the saints to fear, praise and glorify God the Father. The more the Father is revealed to us the more work, worship, and praise we will do.
Ps. 22:24-31. It isn't difficult at all to place this with the church. V. 25 paying vows--, sometimes we will make vows in the "good times," then God will allow hard times to see if we will follow through.
Ps. 22:24. 3.) Again the Messiah speaking. Here is the comfort our Saviour found in his suffering. He reminds his saints that we to can find the same. The hiding of the fathers face was only temporary. It soon returned, as it will for us. He might hide as it were his face from us to see if we will still continue on by faith in what we said we would do.
Heb. 2:12, midst of the church-- Paul here tells us that passage in Psalms was literally fulfilled in the church. Paul here identifies the Messiah's uniting as brethren with the church rather than with the old Jewish nation. He is the head of the new nation, the church, (I Pet. 2:9).
I will sing praises-- The Messiah with and among his brethren singing praises to the Father. A fulfillment of this would be Matt. 26:30.
I also believe this could be Christ in us filling the hearts of the saints with praises to the Father. A person who has no song of praise to the Father is in trouble with is salvation. Salvation brings with it praise, joy and gladness.
Here Paul does it again. He sticks a couple of words between two OT quotes and quotes Isa. 8:17; Heb. 2:13--I will put my trust in him, is a direct quote word for word for the septuagint. Isa. 8:17, I will wait upon the Lord.
Isaiah had delivered his warning to Israel encouraging them to repent. They ignored it and he is told to bind up the testimony. He now has nothing he can do except wait upon the Lord. Trust in the Lord and commit the whole cause to Him. His whole hope is in the Lord because the people rejected his warning, message. (Hab. 1:2, good example.)
The Messiah faced the same circumstances. He brought his message to Israel, turn or burn, repent or perish. They rejected the message and killed the messenger.
Paul here is arguing that the Messiah had to be identified with men. He experienced every condition which men go through. He was tempted in all points like as we are. Yet without sin. I believe that this was also a temptation. He delivered God's message. The ones he delivered it to wanted nothing to do with it. I think the human side of him was tempted to give up. Just as Isaiah was tempted when this same nation refused to hear him.
Of course, the Messiah's divine side knew he would be rejected, yet he had to be a man so he could experience even this emotion of "what's the use." It reared its ugly head and what did our Saviour do? "I will put my trust in him."-- I will wait upon the Lord, Isa. 8:17; Heb. 2:13, THE MESSIAH SPEAKING HERE.
He delivered the message as he was commanded to do. To the human mind it all seemed hopeless as even the ones who he chose fled. But what did he do? I Pet. 2:23, committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.
He can identify with us when we say, "what is the use?" He was tempted just as we are after we do our best and see no results. He also was tempted to give up but he committed it to the Father and went on.
We also must do our best at what God has given us to do. Then even if we see no results commit it to God and wait on him, trust him to take care of it.
Something that catches my attention here. And I wait upon the Lord who hideth his face from the house of Jacob--, Isa. 8:17.
I was talking to a pastor the other day and he told me that
to try to tach the Scriptures in any depth to his church was like
spitting in the wind. I will have to agree. Very few want an in
depth study. They want something to make them feel good about
themselves, and if we don't give it to them they will go elsewhere.
It seems as though God has hid his face from his people. Their
hearts are cold and indifferent to God and his word. They find
much more enjoyment in a TV program than they do in God's word.
(Same pastor told me he didn't know what Rev. 3:20 meant. He hadn't
studied it out but because John R. Rice used it as a salvation
verse, then it was okay.)
What do we do? 1.) Degrade the word of God to the level which Christianity has sunk to? 2.) Teach the word of God and wait on the Lord to open eyes and hearts and create a hunger?
that-- He came to destroy him that had the power of death. 1.) In order to do this he had to die. This destruction took place through his death. 2.) In order to die he had to take on the nature of man. Angels do not die.
Destroy-- The idea here is not killing but it is subduing or overcoming or crushing the power or bringing into subjection. He came to subdue the kingdom, destroy, the kingdom of satan and establish HIS kingdom in its place. Matt. 12:29, Mk. 3:27 (Mark. 1:27), satan knew why he came.
I believe Rom. 6 fits well in here. Christ had to assume the flesh and blood nature of man so he could die and raise from the dead in victory.
We who are saved are entered into this victory over death. There is no reason why we should be controlled by the things of death (Rom. 6:16). Their power over us has been destroyed. Of course, I Pet. 1:18-19 gives us the same message. This victory was won by Christ in his death, burial and resurrection. Victory over death.
This victory is claimed by his saints through faith. We have the power to advance the kingdom of God over the kingdom of satan. I Jn. 3:8, (prevail=Mat. 16:18.)
Also included here would be eternal life. The power of hell, eternal death over mankind was destroyed by Christ.
v. 15. We are also delivered from the fear of death. Ph. 1:20-21; Lk. 1:24. I Cor. 15:20-21, because Christ rose we know we will. His flesh and blood died, his physical body rose from that death. He has gone before us, prepared the way.
Men have a natural fear of death. This fear easily brings with it bondage. Men who fear death may try everything under the sun to avoid even thinking about it, or trying to avoid death. I guess the best example would be Howard Huge, locked in a hotel room with a diaper on, afraid he might catch a disease from his clothing.
Fear has torments. The fear of death has torments. No peace for those outside of Christ. Christ frees from those torments. We need to be telling others of this freedom in Christ.
Fear of death will also cause men to compromise their stand. As a Christian, Christ took the sting out of death and we can face it with joyful expectation. Even in the face of death for our stand, we can rejoice. Stephen, Acts 7:51-- when the day comes to compromise or die-- there is no reason to compromise.
v. 16. Note the marg.
Here "to take hold of" means to come to the aid of.
He did not take hold of angels to help or aid them, but he took on the nature of man that he might aid them. To redeem man it was necessary to take on man's nature.
--seed of Abraham-- writing to Jews, reminding them that Christ was one of them. Also her this fits best for me. By faith we are the seed of Abraham, Gal. 3:29. Christ took on the nature of his people because he came to their aid. V. 17 seems to confirm this.
We can be assured of his faithfulness to perform what we put our trust in him to do.
2:17, high priest, this would mean what to those he is writing to? Writing to the Jews while the high priest was still doing his thing next door. Because he was writing to Jews they knew the function of this high priest.
1.) He was by his office the general judge of all that pertained to religion as well as to the judicial affairs of the nation.
a.) Every area of life is religious, even fruit trees. Lev. 19:23--and hair cuts. Therefore Christ as the great high priest has authority over everything.
2.) The high priest could only enter into the holy place once a year, and he alone could enter and man will enter only by him.
3.) The HP also had charge of the oracles of truth. When he had his proper garments on he spoke to man for God. He revealed the will of God to man.
things pertaining to God-- who would like to guess what things pertain to God?
To make--- of course here is the main reason for Christ. To make reconciliation-- this is the same word as used in Lk. 18:13, God be merciful, be reconciled to me.
Christ became a man so that he might fully enter into the feelings of the people as a faithful high priest to perform the tremendous job of bringing men back into proper relationship with God in regards to sin.
Christ was subject to both. More severe than any man ever endured. His suffering was more, his temptation was more, (Matt. 4). No one else has had all of the world and its glory offered to him.
All that he faced could not determine his desire to please God and do God's will. Making him the perfect example.
He is able-- He could have given the power to his people to stand but he could not be able to sympathize. Only by taking on the nature of man (not the sin nature), can he sympathize. An angel cannot.