Post by foxjj on Mar 18, 2024 15:29:07 GMT
Hebrews Chapter 2 (NIV)
The author of Hebrews is writing to Jewish believers who had lived under the Law until accepting Jesus as their Messiah. In chapter one he emphasizes the superiority of Jesus over the angels who are Gods messengers, finishing with these two verses:
“13 To which of the angels did God ever say,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
Chapter two begins with a warning concerning the message which they had heard, and most importantly, had responded too. It is a warning which is also relevant to you and me:
“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,”
Acts 7:53 is another passage referring to the message of the Law been given by angels: “you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” Disobedience to the Law carried severe consequences, on the other hand, the Gospel is the message of God’s Grace exemplified by God’s Son: “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” - Hebrews 1:2
This message offers forgiveness and the promise of eternal life because of Jesus’ sacrifice. Without accepting the offer of God’s grace through Jesus, there is no Salvation - no forgiveness:
“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.”
In Acts 10:42-43 Peter said: “He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The ministry of Jesus displayed the power of God:
“4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”
The author of Hebrews now directs our attention to the fact that the world to come will be subjected to Jesus:
“5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.”
After its creation, the world was put into the care of humanity: “Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” - Genesis 1:29.
The letter continues:
“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 honor
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.”
The above quotation’s are from Psalm 8. Next we are reminded that Jesus, although God’s Son, became a man in order to bring us to Salvation:
“9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
After accepting the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus as our atonement, we become children of God:
“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.”
Paul declares in Philippians 2:9-10: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”
As born again believers we now relate to God as our loving Father because, we have been Sanctified:
“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.”
The quotes are from Psalm 22 and Isaiah 8. On the night before He died Jesus prayed for the Disciple’s, and all who would believe the Gospel message:
“8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.”- John 17:8-9.
The uniqueness of the Gospel message carries the Good News that The Son of God came among us:
“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.”
Philippians 2: 6-8 also emphasizes the amazing love of Jesus:
“6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death —
even death on a cross!”
Because He shared in our humanity, our Savior understands the trials we all face on a daily basis, therefore we can call upon Him in our need with confidence:
“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.”
Today, let us give thanks and praise for our loving and merciful Savior.
John Joseph Fox.
The author of Hebrews is writing to Jewish believers who had lived under the Law until accepting Jesus as their Messiah. In chapter one he emphasizes the superiority of Jesus over the angels who are Gods messengers, finishing with these two verses:
“13 To which of the angels did God ever say,
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet”?
14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
Chapter two begins with a warning concerning the message which they had heard, and most importantly, had responded too. It is a warning which is also relevant to you and me:
“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,”
Acts 7:53 is another passage referring to the message of the Law been given by angels: “you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.” Disobedience to the Law carried severe consequences, on the other hand, the Gospel is the message of God’s Grace exemplified by God’s Son: “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” - Hebrews 1:2
This message offers forgiveness and the promise of eternal life because of Jesus’ sacrifice. Without accepting the offer of God’s grace through Jesus, there is no Salvation - no forgiveness:
“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.”
In Acts 10:42-43 Peter said: “He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The ministry of Jesus displayed the power of God:
“4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”
The author of Hebrews now directs our attention to the fact that the world to come will be subjected to Jesus:
“5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.”
After its creation, the world was put into the care of humanity: “Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” - Genesis 1:29.
The letter continues:
“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 honor
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.”
The above quotation’s are from Psalm 8. Next we are reminded that Jesus, although God’s Son, became a man in order to bring us to Salvation:
“9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
After accepting the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus as our atonement, we become children of God:
“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.”
Paul declares in Philippians 2:9-10: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”
As born again believers we now relate to God as our loving Father because, we have been Sanctified:
“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.”
The quotes are from Psalm 22 and Isaiah 8. On the night before He died Jesus prayed for the Disciple’s, and all who would believe the Gospel message:
“8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.”- John 17:8-9.
The uniqueness of the Gospel message carries the Good News that The Son of God came among us:
“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.”
Philippians 2: 6-8 also emphasizes the amazing love of Jesus:
“6 Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death —
even death on a cross!”
Because He shared in our humanity, our Savior understands the trials we all face on a daily basis, therefore we can call upon Him in our need with confidence:
“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.”
Today, let us give thanks and praise for our loving and merciful Savior.
John Joseph Fox.
