Chapter 2

This Chapter Answers Two Great Questions:

What is the greatest neglect? Heb. 2:3

Why does Jesus care about humanity? 2:6

Two Things a Great Savior Two Things a Great Savior Requires 2:1-4Requires 2:1-4

First - A Greater Savior requiresFirst - A Greater Savior requires a greater Covenanta greater Covenant

• Greater revelation and blessing, (Lk. 12:47, 48; Mt. 11:20-24).

• V. 1 - If God is a God of details (Heb. 8:5), we ought to pay “much closer” attention.

The Greater Covenant provides:1) Facts to believe - Deity of Christ; Resurrection 2) Commands to follow Matt. 5-7; love; baptism 3) Promises to trust (Sonship; forgiveness... etc) 4) Warning to heed (2 Thess. 1:7-9; Mt. 25:31ff;

Heb. 12:28, 29).

Two Things a Great Savior Two Things a Great Savior Requires 2:1-4Requires 2:1-4

• [prosechein] ("to give heed") and [pararrein] ("to slip, to drift") .... Both terms are used in a nautical sense .... It is the picture of a ship "slipping" past its haven because the pilot has not paid "attention" to the course.

• Guizk: The ancient Greek phrase for drift away comes

from the idea "to slip" (Dodds). It was used for an arrow slipping from the quiver, for snow slipping off a landscape, or of food slipping down the windpipe to cause choking.

• It happens easily. One doesn't have to do anything to drift away.

Two Things a Great Savior Two Things a Great Savior Requires 2:1-4Requires 2:1-4Secondly, A greater covenant requiresSecondly, A greater covenant requires

greater steadfastness “don’t drift.”greater steadfastness “don’t drift.”

We are either trees planted by the rivers of water or we are driftwood (Psa. 1). We are either trees planted by the rivers of water or we are driftwood (Psa. 1). It is possible to drift away from the teachings of Christ because: It is possible to drift away from the teachings of Christ because:

((1) some, being in him, are still not anchored in him; 1) some, being in him, are still not anchored in him; (2) subtle and powerful tides and currents surge and tug against (2) subtle and powerful tides and currents surge and tug against

the soul's safety; the soul's safety; (3) the believer fails to exercise due care and diligence in the (3) the believer fails to exercise due care and diligence in the

defense and development of his faith; and defense and development of his faith; and (4) some allow preoccupation with unimportant and secondary (4) some allow preoccupation with unimportant and secondary

things to preempt too much of their time and attention.things to preempt too much of their time and attention.

• The river of life can be calm or raging. IN either event, if one is not The river of life can be calm or raging. IN either event, if one is not moored, he will drift to destruction. (Psalm 95: 1-7).moored, he will drift to destruction. (Psalm 95: 1-7).

V. 2 – Illustration of steadfastness - the word!Hebrew teachers believed it was delivered by angels (Deut. 33:2; Act Hebrew teachers believed it was delivered by angels (Deut. 33:2; Act

7:38). What then must be understood about the word is:7:38). What then must be understood about the word is:1) It is unalterableIt is unalterable – text – add/subtract (Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:6; Rev. – text – add/subtract (Deut. 4:2; Prov. 30:6; Rev.

22 warning in front, mid, end).22 warning in front, mid, end).2) 2) Condemns the negligentCondemns the negligent or disobedient or disobedient (not hearing) and (not hearing) and

penalizes the rebellious (Achin, Saul, Ananias/Sapphirah, Rom. penalizes the rebellious (Achin, Saul, Ananias/Sapphirah, Rom. 1:18ff; Rev. 20:8) – these truisms also are steadfast. 1:18ff; Rev. 20:8) – these truisms also are steadfast.

3) 3) V. 3 V. 3 Offers salvationOffers salvation – Wrath of God is reserved for two classes – Wrath of God is reserved for two classes of people (2 Thess. 1:8-10). If judgment begins at God’s house (1 of people (2 Thess. 1:8-10). If judgment begins at God’s house (1 Pet. 4:17) the world needs to know there is no way to escape.Pet. 4:17) the world needs to know there is no way to escape.

““It is not necessary to take up arms against the word to be lost’” it It is not necessary to take up arms against the word to be lost’” it merely means to be careless with it. merely means to be careless with it.

If they thought angels’ words were important, what about the one If they thought angels’ words were important, what about the one who spoke who is greater than the angels?who spoke who is greater than the angels?

There is no need to redo salvation (Heb. 10:1-18). It too is steadfast.

“So Great A Salvation”(1) the greatness of the Savior who

achieved it; (2) the greatness of the disaster

from which it rescues the sinner; (3) the greatness of the eternal

reward in heaven provided by it; (4) the greatness of the Savior's

love that underlies it;(5) greatness of the adversary who

opposes it; (6) the greatness of that multitude

who shall receive it; (7) the greatness of those

certainties upon which it is grounded.

A reason many neglect their salvation is because they never see it as salvation. They see it merely as receiving something, not as being rescued from something.

Word was ConfirmedWord was Confirmed• Not only is the word unalterable; condemns,

or offer salvation………• 4) V. 4 Was confirmed Confirmation came

by works of miracles (Moses) Truth telling prophets (Captivity & deliverance); apostles worked miracles (Mk. 16:20). Therefore there is a great need to pass along what is heard not imagined. If the word was confirmed, there is no need for a reaffirming – it is steadfast.

• Example: A civil law that is passed needs not to be resubmitted and voted on again to show a violator that it is in force.

Seven things the Great Savior Did 2:5-18Quoting Pslam 8:4-6 he will make a point from from

the unattained dream to the realized vision.the unattained dream to the realized vision.The dream is that man The dream is that man would live forever. It was would live forever. It was probable provided he probable provided he never sinned.never sinned.In the fallen state of In the fallen state of man, humanity can man, humanity can feel forgotten. In the feel forgotten. In the scope of the universe scope of the universe man may deem man may deem himself insignificant.himself insignificant.

Without Christ, all things are not subject Without Christ, all things are not subject unto him, but in Christ, even death unto him, but in Christ, even death cowers at his feet.cowers at his feet.

Seven things the Great Savior Did 2:5-18

The point the Hebrew author is leading his audience to relate to is the humanity of Jesus. In chapter one, the writer to the Hebrews brilliantly demonstrated from the Scriptures the deity of Jesus and His superiority over all angels. Now he demonstrates the humanity of Jesus from the Scriptures and applies the implications of Jesus' humanity.

It is Biblically wrong to think of Him as "man on the outside" and "God on the inside." The Bible teaches Jesus is fully God and fully man, that a human nature was added to His divine nature, and both natures existed in one Person, Jesus Christ.

1 - He remembered humanity Vs. 5-8

A god was not crucified “a body you have prepared” A god was not crucified “a body you have prepared” (Heb. 10:5). (Heb. 10:5).

This person who was nailed to a cross felt human pain, This person who was nailed to a cross felt human pain, thirsted for human water, sweated like a human, and thirsted for human water, sweated like a human, and bled human blood when lacerated. bled human blood when lacerated.

It is only in the humanity of Jesus that salvation is It is only in the humanity of Jesus that salvation is procured. procured.

““Why was this method chosen over another? Why was this method chosen over another? How then would anyone call what God did a sacrifice? How then would anyone call what God did a sacrifice? God remembered man and visited him and by the cross God remembered man and visited him and by the cross

the dream of living forever is revitalized. the dream of living forever is revitalized.

God is telling man – you have not been forgotten. You God is telling man – you have not been forgotten. You are not insignificant!are not insignificant!

He remembered humanity Vs. 5-8

Seven things the Great Savior Did 2:5-18

• All that was in death was concentrated in the cup which the Lord Jesus Christ emptied on the cross. He was made a curse for us; He was left alone with the power of darkness. In the Cross there is not merely the forgiveness of sins, but there is the actual putting away of all our sins.

V. 9 – He tasted death

for every man.

V. 10 He brought many sons unto glory

• the glory that really made him shine was that of the cross (1 Cor. 11:22ff; Gal. 6:14). So it was fitting for him to die in order to work out our salvation. And by working out our salvation he became our “captain.” The word here denotes the idea of a ‘pathfinder’ or ‘pioneer.’

• Through much suffering.• The point is that it was fitting for the Father to

do this, in the sense that it pleased the LORD to bruise Him (Isaiah 53:10), to do it for the sake of bringing many sons to glory

Seven things the Great Savior Did 2:5-18

v. 11 Sanctify the believer.

• The word does not merely signify one who sanctifies or makes holy, but one who makes atonement or reconciliation to God.

Seven things the Great Savior Did 2:5-18

•This is what distinguishes the “works of man” with the “Work of Christ.” Great is the mystery, “Christ in you” (Col. 1:27).

Vs. 12-16 Calls us brethren Seven things the Great Savior Did 2:5-

18

V. 15 thus delivering all his brethren from the fear and bondage of death. This brother doesn’t just make one live, he makes one alive!

V. 12 He is not afraid to sing praises to the Father with us, to trust the Father as we do, and V. 13, 18 succor us as big brother would for his little siblings.

Brotherliness carries in it not only a sense of kinship but likewise a disposition to render help.

V. 14, 16 He is fully flesh. He could get angry enough to turn over tables and whip men but merciful enough not to force men to worship him.

V. 17 Ministers to us.

• The High Priest was therefore in constant sympathy with the people of God, carrying them on his heart and on his shoulders.

Seven things the Great Savior Did 2:5-2:5-1818

He is faithful in bringing down to us all the gifts of God; all the counsel, will, and blessings of the Most High; faithful in taking up to God all our need and trial; all our petitions, fears, and tears; all our sufferings, and all our works.

Reconciles us • As human, he fully understood our anguish of living in the

flesh. V. 18 He Himself has suffered, being tempted: • We can even say that Jesus' temptation was We can even say that Jesus' temptation was moremore

real and difficult than any we could face. When the real and difficult than any we could face. When the pressure of temptation builds, some only find relief pressure of temptation builds, some only find relief by giving into the temptation - by giving into the temptation - but Jesus never did but Jesus never did thisthis. The pressure of temptation only built and built . The pressure of temptation only built and built upon Him.upon Him.

• "Many persons are tempted, but do not suffer in being tempted. When ungodly men are tempted, the bait is to their taste, and they swallow it greedily. Temptation is a pleasure to them; indeed, they sometimes tempt the devil to tempt them . . . But good men suffer when they are tempted, and the better they are the more they suffer." (Spurgeon)

Seven things the Great Savior Did 2:5-2:5-1818

Remember, this chapter answers two great

questions…….• What is the greatest

neglect? Heb. 2:3

• Why does Jesus care about humanity? 2:6

But what did we learn about Jesus?