Lessons From Hebrews – Lesson 2
Last week we looked at chapter one and saw the theme was Jesus is above all.
Jesus is above all prophets. Jesus is above all, for He owns all, He created all, He upholds all things by the word of his power.
Only Jesus could purge our sins. Only Jesus saves.
Only Jesus is sitting on the right hand of God the Father.
Only Jesus has been highly exalted above all others.
Jesus is above all because Jesus is God.
Jesus is above all because He is perfect and does not change.
What a great opening to the book of Hebrews.
Chapter two starts out with the word therefore. In other words what I am about to write is based upon chapter one. You need to do what I am about to say, because of who Jesus is and what He has done. Who Jesus is, is supposed to affect you. What Jesus has done is supposed to change your life. There should be some therefore(s) in your life.
Heb 2:1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let [them] slip.
You let things slip by neglect. A little here and a little there. It often does not happen all at once. You don’t go from being on fire for God and serving Him on Monday to being cold as ice and living in disobedience on Tuesday.
Because of who Jesus is, we are not to let things slip. Give the more earnest heed it says. So pay attention and put some effort into not letting the truth slip. Jesus is worthy. He is worth all your devotion today and He is still worth all your devotion tomorrow. Following Jesus is what is best for you today, and following Jesus is what is best for your tomorrow.
Heb 2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
The word angels in the Bible can be used for God’s created angels or it can be used for messengers of God’s word. And sometimes God’s word was delivered by angels. Gabriel came and talked to Mary for example.
How many times in the Bible did God give us His word on a matter and said don’t do this or else. Man does it and what happens? Exactly what God said.
Remember Uzza. God said don’t touch the Ark. He held out his hand to steady the Ark and what happened? He received a just recompense of reward. Did it matter if he was disobeying for what he thought was a good reason? No. The word was steadfast and you broke it and chastisement came.
Verse 2 says every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense.
Does everyone see that the context here in verse 2 is talking about the chastening of God?
Keep that in mind for a moment. Before we read verse three we need to ask ourselves who is Paul writing to here. Look at Hebrews 3:1
Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Would you say that Paul is writing to lost people or saved people?
He calls them holy brethren. Paul would never call lost people that. He calls them partakers of the heavenly calling. To be a partaker means that you partook.
He says High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. Our profession. Paul is including himself in this with them. It is not my profession or your profession, but our profession. Go back to Chapter 2 verse 3.
So Paul is writing to saved Hebrews here. The context in verse 2 is the chastening of God. Then comes verse 3. Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;
I have heard this verse used to preach you need to get saved. That is not what this verse is talking about.
Was Paul saved? I don’t go up to someone and say we need to get saved. I am already saved. Paul was already saved. And notice Paul again used the word we. He is including himself in this.
It was Paul who wrote.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Phi 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:
Paul was saved, so verse 3 is not talking about getting saved. Paul knew that you cannot lose your salvation so it is not talking about keeping your salvation.
This is talking about escaping the chastening hand of God. Remember the context. 1st who Jesus is and what He has done, then a statement about God’s chastening and then,
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?
It does not say reject. It says neglect. Once you’re saved, you have it. So don’t neglect it. We are all famililar with Eph 2:8-9.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
But we need to not stop with verse 9.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Created in Christ Jesus unto good works. And God has ordained that we should walk in them. You were saved for a reason. God gave you a great salvation. And He expects you to do something with it. Living for Him is our reasonable service. Love and gratitude is a much better motivator than law.
We have been given a great salvation. Why is it great?
It is great because it saves from great sins? All sins. No matter how bad or how many.
It is great because it saves you from an eternal hell.
It is great because it assures you heaven – the greatest place there is.
It is great because of who died to give it to you.
You have been given a great salvation – so do something with it – or expect the chastening of God. That is the idea here.
No one that is saved will escape the chastening of God.
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Heb 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
If you are saved being chastened is a given. The only question is how much are you going to get. Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;
It is talking about judgment as in Chastisement and not judgment as in condemnation.
Heb 2:4 God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
We did a class a while back about spiritual gifts and how this teaching that you should seek certain gifts that you want is NOT biblical. And here it is again. Talking about the gifts, according to whose will were they given out? God’s will.
God in His sovereignty decides what gifts to give and to who.
As the Apostles went out preaching, God was there and He bore witness to what they were saying. God was declaring to the people. These men are my men. They are telling you what I want them to. What they are saying is the truth. Listen to them.
God was bearing witness to what they were saying. How?
Thru signs and wonders, and divers miracles.
Go to Mark Chapter 16 verse 20. This verse tells us what the purpose of signs was.
Mar 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with [them], and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
They preached. The Lord worked with them. He confirmed the word with signs.
The sign gifts purpose was to confirm the word that was being preached. It was so the people would know that their message was true.
This is not needed today. If you want to know whether what I say is the truth or not, then compare what I say to the word of God. You have a copy in your hand.
You don’t need a sign to confirm a man’s message today, you only need a Bible.
Heb 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
Heb 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Verse 6 is a reference to Psalm 8
Psa 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
Psa 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
David looked at creation. He considered the heavens and the great works of God, and was awed by it all. Then he considered man and says what is man, that thou art mindful of him? Man is flawed. Man is sinful. Man is but a speck. And yet God is mindful of man. Why? Love.
Psa 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Psa 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all [things] under his feet:
Go back to Hebrews Chapter 2.
Heb 2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
Heb 2:8 Thou hast 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 see not yet all things put under him.
When God created the earth he gave it to Adam. But Adam messed up and fell into sin. So today we don’t see all things under the subjection of man. Notice it says not yet. So it will happen, but in the future. And how will it see fulfillment? Thru Jesus Christ. The first Adam messed up but the 2nd Adam will restore it.
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 honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
His hands were fashioned for Roman spikes. His feet were made to climb up Calvary. His head was formed for spittle, buffeting, and a crown of thorns. His body was built to be pierced by a spear, beaten to a pulp, and wrapped in grave clothes. His death was no accident. His horror was no tragedy. His humiliation was part of a perfect plan.
There was a purpose. It was needful. And notice in verse 9 it was by the grace of God.
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,
It was out of grace. Unmerited favor. Not by our works. By His grace. We in no way deserved it. And notice who this grace was for.
Verse 9 by the grace of God should taste death for every man. Not only for certain men. Every man.
1Jo 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
Jesus went to the cross for everyone. So why isn’t everyone saved. God paid the penalty for all, and His grace, the free gift of salvation is offered to all. It is a great salvation.
But man has to accept it. He has to believe the truth and turn to God and call upon Him for salvation. Many will not accept salvation because of their sin. They love the works of darkness.
Many will not accept Jesus as Saviour because of pride. They will not humble themselves before God. Still others refuse to see how their sin is an affront to a Holy God.
People have many excuses for not getting saved, but NOT one of them is any good.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory,
A multitude will reject Christ, but make no mistake many will accept Him. It says bringing many sons unto glory. Over the centuries a huge number of souls have been saved. Heaven will not be sparsely populated.
And notice it says many sons. When you get saved you are His child.
Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:
You get saved and at that moment you change families. A child of the Devil to a child of the most High. I for one am glad that I changed families.
Verse 10 last part.
…to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Who is the captain of our salvation? Jesus.
The last part of verse 10 causes some people to get confused.
Is not Jesus the same yesterday, today, and forever?
Was not Jesus already perfect? Yes.
Then what is it talking about perfect through sufferings?
It is the difference between knowledge and experience. It is the difference between having a perfect plan and executing it.
Let’s say that Steve cannot make his rent this month. He is a dollar short. And I have an extra dollar. I love Steve and want to help him, so I come up with a plan. It is a good plan. I will give this dollar to Steve. Just give it to him. Out of love. Steve has done nothing to earn it. And I will give this dollar to Steve before his rent is due.
Sounds like a perfect plan. But until I actually perform the act of giving the dollar to Steve. My plan is not perfect because it is not completed. It is a perfect plan, but for practical purposes it is not perfect until my plan is completed.
For it to be really perfect, I not only have to think of it, plan it, and have the means to do it, but I must actually do it.
Jesus loved us and wanted to redeem us. He had a perfect plan to pay for our sins. He would die in our place. Are you not glad this morning that He not only thought of it and planed it. He not only foretold that He would do it, but He followed thru and went to the cross.
Heb 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified [are] all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
Jesus was fully God and fully man at the same time. As the Son of God we are his children. As the Son of Man we are his brethren. If you are saved, you are both His child and His brethren.
Mat 28:10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
This is a staggering thought. The perfect sinless Holy, Almighty God is not ashamed to call you brethren. Weak little sinful us. With all our failures, flaws, and mistakes. He is not ashamed to call us brethren.
Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Knowing who Jesus is. Knowing His great love for us. Knowing that He is not ashamed to call us breathren. Should we ever be ashamed of Him?
Heb 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
This is a reference to Psalm 22:22
Many of you know that Psalm 22 is one of the Shepherds Psalms. It clearly is a Psalm that was pointing to the coming Saviour
It starts out My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? The words of Jesus on the cross.
Psa 22:7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying],
Psa 22:8 He trusted on the LORD [that] he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
A prophecy of what would be said about Jesus when He was on the cross.
Psa 22:18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
That of course happened while Jesus was on the cross. And verse 22 is referenced in Hebrews.
Psa 22:22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
Some of these Hebrews might have wondered why Jesus would be made a man. Paul is showing that the scriptures foretold it. It was foretold that Jesus would call us brethren.
Heb 2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
In these last 4 verses the subject is still Christ’s superiority over the angels.
Some might question if Christ was superior then why was He made lower than the angels.
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
The lost man is in bondage to a great many things. He is in bondage to sin. But here the point is made that the lost man is in bondage to the fear of death. They fear it. The uncertainty. The thought of judgment and of hell. It can drive men to despair.
Jesus came to deliver men from that fear. That bondage. The Christian has no uncertainity, no fear of death.
1Jo 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?
1Co 15:56 The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on [him the nature of] angels; but he took on [him] the seed of Abraham.
Jesus did not come to save angels. Angels are not save able. The fallen angels are reserved for the lake of fire. Jesus came to save man and so He took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto [his] brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Jesus became a man. He suffered hunger, He suffered thirst, He suffered great pain. He got weary and slept. He knows what it is like to be slandered. To be mocked.
He knows what it is like for friends to forsake you.
And He was tempted. The Devil tempted Him with the lust of the eyes (He was shown and offered the kingdoms of the world), the lust of the flesh (He was tempted to make bread) and the pride of life (He was tempted to call angels to let Him down)
Eve was tempted in those same three points. She saw that the food looked good. The lust of the eyes. She was tempted with the lust of the flesh (It was good to eat) and the pride of life. It would give her knowledge of good and evil.
Jesus was tempted in all three points as we are. And because He lived as a man, we know that He understands.
I don’t care what hurt you ever have. Jesus understands. He is a merciful and faithful high priest.
You hurt. Take it to Jesus. You have need. Take it to Jesus.
He loves you. He cares. He is merciful.
What a great God we serve.