To Be One in Christ: We Have Treasure in the Jars of Clay -- the Series of Explanation and Analysis of Scripture (15) - 2
The Explanation and Analysis of the Verses in Chapter 2 of HEBREWS
It is edited and compiled under the guidance of Holy Spirit. All thanks, praises and glories be to God!
The WARNINGS on the Salvation: (I) We must not ignore such a great salvation.
“We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” (HEBREWS 2:1-4)
The first warning on the salvation: Those who ignore the salvation can not escape (Heb 2:1-4).
Since the Son of God -- Jesus Christ is much more honorable and superior to the angels (Heb 1), we ought to pay much closer attention to and take hold of the salvation and teachings of LORD that we have heard; and we must not lose the piety and godliness, the truth of God and the salvation of Christ, and drift away with the sinful current. It is because the Old Testament and laws that were given through the angels were binding; should what were proclaimed by the Son of God be more important? Furthermore, what He proclaimed are not only important, but also open a new way and give the new life to those who have faith in Him. For if the message given through angels was authentic and proved sure, and every violation and disobedience received an appropriate penalty, how shall we escape if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to such a great salvation? This is a very serious warning: those ignore the salvation could not escape.
HEBREWS 2:1 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.
(NOTES)
This verse admonishes us to pay much closer attention and take hold of the salvation and teachings of LORD that we have heard; and we must not lose the piety and godliness, the truth of God and the salvation of Christ, and drift away with the sinful current.
“therefore”:
is connected to the preceding text. It shows that the reason to pay more attention to what we have heard, is because of the preceding text. In chapter 1, since it has talked about that Christ is much superior to the prophets and angels, and His name, status, position, royal power, eternal power, years, and glory are much superior to the angels, “therefore”, we ought to pay much closer attention to what we have heard, that is, the truths He spoke to us.
“pay more careful attention”:
That is, we should not only pay attention, but also should not treat it as the averagely important event, and we should especially pay much closer attention to it. Since the laws in the Old Testament given though the angels were taken earnestly, the redemption that had accomplished by Christ in the New Testament should be given “more” earnest heed.
“what we have heard”:
See also (Heb 1:2), that is, what the Son of God has spoken. Although the word that we heard today, is not what the Son of God speaks to us by Him very self, it is also spoken by the Son of God and given to us through the servants of God.
“so that we do not drift away”:
There are two kinds of translations: one is “lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away. ” (A.M.P.); it indicates that if we do not pay attention to the truth, we will drift away to destruction. The other is “lest at any time we should let them slip. ” (K. J. V.); it indicates to let what we heard drift away. Whoever does not pay attention to the truth that he heard, what he heard will drift away. Just as the parable of the sower given by LORD, for the seed was sown along the path(Mat 13:19), the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. The generation in which we live is like a evil current, flushes us continuously, makes us lose the piety and godliness, and buries us in the sins and evils. If we do not pay attention to the truth that we heard, we will go to destruction. Compared with the verse of “how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?”, “pay more attention to ” is opposite to “ignore”; that is, can not be ignored and should accept and rely on it. If one does not accept it and rely on it, that is, ignores it and does not pay attention to it, the result will be destruction and can not escape.
HEBREWS 2:2 For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,
(NOTES)
“the message spoken by angels ”:
In this book of Hebrews, it refers to the laws of the Old Testament. The laws that Moses received were through angels from God.
“binding”:
authentic and sure; which is proved by the Old Testament.
“every violation and disobedience ”:
indicates to violate and disobey the regulations in the Old Testament, and disobey the instructions of God and be against God.
“its just punishment”:
refers to the curse and righteous punishment brought by the laws.
The message spoken by angels was the laws in the Old Testament. According to the Old Testament, many people who violated the laws received their just punishment. For examples:
There was one who blasphemes the name of the LORD and was put to death (Lev 4:10-16); Nadab and Abihu who offered unauthorized fire were consumed by fire and died before the LORD (Lev 10:1-2); Dathan and Abiram and their people who were against Moses were swallowed by the earth and went down alive into the grave (Num 16:25-35); the greedy prophet Balaam was killed by the sword (Num 31:8, 16-17); the Israelites who did not believe fell in the desert (Num 14:32,35) and so on.
Thus, if those who violated the laws given through angels, received their just punishment, what punishment shall we receive if we ignore the salvation of Christ? Therefore, the sin of looking down on the Son of God is more severe than the sin of looking down on the servants of God; the sin of ignoring the salvation is worse than the sin of violating the laws.
HEBREWS 2:3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
(NOTES)
This verse is a warning: if we ignore such a great salvation, how shall we escape?
“ignore”:
look down on, neglect, and let slip.
“such a great salvation”:
(1) The LORD who spoke and accomplished the salvation is so great (Heb 2:4); (2) The evidence of the salvation is so great (Heb 2:3-4); (3) Those who inherit the salvation is so great (Heb 1:14); (4) The glory that the salvation makes people receive is so great (Heb 2:5-10).
“such a great salvation”, the book of Hebrew let us see that the salvation that LORD gave us is a complete salvation. This salvation is enormously great to such an extent beyond one can describe it. Therefore, can only say “such a great ” salvation!
“how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? ” -- this rhetorical question warns us in three things:
1. The salvation that Christ accomplished for us is great:
A. He paid an extremely great price to accomplish this salvation.
The Son of God humbly took a man’s likeness and was crucified on the cross. This is a great sacrifice beyond description. Such a sacrifice proves that His love for us is great.
B. The achievements of this salvation are great.
It can make any worst criminal to be saved completely, and to be saved to become the children of God, the children of light, and share in His eternal kingdom and glories (Heb 7:25; Joh 1:12; 1Th 5:5-8; Col 1:12-14).
C. Regarding the salvation that has been accomplished by Him, the range in which it is put into effect is great.
He once said that “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened ” (Mat 11:28). And also, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Joh 3:16). He wants to save all the sinners in the world, no matter poor or rich, noble or ignoble (1Ti 2:4).
2. The sin of ignoring this salvation is great:
Since it seems that no proper word could be found to describe how great this salvation is, therefore, it said “such a great salvation” . If the greatness of this salvation is beyond description, the sin of ignoring this salvation is great beyond imagination. Therefore, the greatest sin of the sinners is to ignore the salvation that LORD accomplished for the sinners and refuse to accept it. To refuse the salvation and look down on the great love of God and the merits of the death of LORD, from the viewpoint of God, such a sin is greater than summing up all the sins we committed in our entire life. Therefore, now the sinners go to destruction; it is not only because of their sins, but also more because they do not believe in the Gospel.
Note that “ignore ” is not to object, persecute or act rudely; it is only to ignore and be careless. However, if we merely ignore the salvation of LORD, we can not escape.
3. Those who ignore the salvation, their pains are great.
“how shall we escape ”, those who ignore the salvation, must be chased by their sins. They must take all the just punishments by themselves and can not escape the judgment of God; God's wrath remains on them (Joh 3:36); they wait for the death (Eph 2:1-12); and there is no peace for them (Isa 57:21).
There are three testimonies for this great salvation (Heb 2:3-4).
Here, there are testimonies from three aspects to prove that the salvation is authentic, sure, important and great:
A. “which was first announced by the Lord”
“by the Lord”, that is, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”. There are many disciples who were taught by LORD Jesus Christ Himself, who are the testimonies about His glories. His firsthand witnesses who heard the teachings of LORD, gave testimonies to those who received the faith. All the teachings that LORD spoke on the earth, prove that He Himself is the Messiah sent by God to accomplish the salvation according to the will of God and to give his life as a ransom for man. For examples:
LORD told the people for many times that whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (Joh 3:36; 5:24; 6:47). And also, He is the Son of God, from heaven (Joh 3:13;5:17-18, 32), the bread of life (Joh 6:48), and the light of the world (Joh 8:12); he must suffer, be killed, and after three days rise again (Mar 8;31;9:31;10:33-34); his blood was poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (Mat 26:28) and so on.
These messages of gospel were spoken and also were accomplished by LORD Himself. It is obvious how God pay attention to this enormously great salvation; just as the president comes into the folks to proclaim his command; thus, how can people ignore it, disobey it, refuse it, or doubt it?
B. “was confirmed to us by those who heard him. ”
“Those who heard Him” refer to those who used to hear the teachings of LORD by themselves, especially the 12 disciples and those after the resurrection of Lord saw His appearing. “was confirmed ” not only indicates that it was confirmed through words and talks, but also includes the proof of the experiences. According to the accounts in the Acts, the disciples were “confirmed ” on the resurrection of Lord for many times and gave testimonies that Lord is Christ sent by God( Act 2:22,36; 3:11-16; 4:10,12,13; Act 5:29-32; 7:52; 8:34-37; 9:20-22; 10:38, 42; 13:26-41;17:2-3,18 and Act 22:3-21). It is because they already confirmed on their own experiences that LORD is their Savior, and Christ of resurrection. How they were uprooted from the sins and evils to become the holy instruments of God, and the courageous and unyielding servants of God, are the solid facts to confirm the marvelous achievements of this salvation.
C. HEBREWS 2:4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
(NOTES)
“signs”, “wonders”, and “various miracles”, these are all refer to things being done by supernatural power, and are from God. No matter they are shown through the men or not, they are carried out by the power of God.
They are the work of the Holy Spirit of LORD to confirm the words of Gospel by signs, wonders and various miracles:
“Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. ” (Mar 16:20)
What the believers should know and have complete confidence about is that: the guidance of Holy Spirit on the work of spreading Gospel is the same as the times of the apostles, including the signs, wonders, and various miracles and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
“gifts of the Holy Spirit ”:
That is, the gifts that Holy Spirit gives to each one, such as all kinds of gifts mentioned in (1Co 12:28-31). The Holy Spirit distributes the spiritual gifts to each one, just as he determines (1Co 12:11), so that they can give testimonies to the Gospel. These gifts are not the capabilities that one already has; though one can offer his capabilities to be used by LORD on the work, and it is also one kind of the gifts. However, the gifts of Holy Spirit, are what are given to the people by Holy Spirit for the sake of testimony of the Gospel; and are added to people besides their original capabilities.
The Supremacy of Christ: (II) Christ is the Son of Man, and is much superior to the angels (2: 5-18)
1. It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come (2:5-8upper).
2. Christ became the Son of Man, who was made a little lower than the angels for a little while, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (2:8latter-9upper)
3. Christ became the Son of Man, to make the author of the salvation perfect through suffering. (2:10)
4. Christ became the Son of Man, so that he is not ashamed to call them brothers. (2:11-13)
5. Christ became the Son of Man, so that by his death he might destroy the one who holds the power of death--that is, the devil. (2:14-15)
6. Christ became the Son of Man, to save Abraham's descendants. (2:16)
7. Christ became the Son of Man, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. (2:17-18)
“It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.? In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises." And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers 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. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. ” (HEBREWS 2:5-18)
1. It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come (2:5-8upper).
HEBREWS 2:5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.
(NOTES)
“the world to come”
Here, “the world to come” refers to the world that kingdom of heaven comes and Christ is as the king. The world created by God was originally given to men to rule over it (Gen 1:26-28). However, only because men listened to the devil and lost this authority, such that the devil (evil angel) is the prince of the world (Joh 12:31;14:30; Eph2:2). However, the world to come will be given to Jesus Christ who used to be the Son of man (Rev 11:15; Eph 2:9-11). Those who are in Him, are going to be in charge of the “the world to come” together with Him (Eph 1:11-14; 3:6; Rev 5:9-10; 22:5).
HEBREWS 2:6-8 But there is a place where someone has testified: "What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet? In putting everything under him, God left nothing that is not subject to him. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him.
(NOTES)
The verses of (Heb 2:6-8) are cited from (Psa 8:4-6) to continue the preceding text. The poet was amazed at the great love of God that He care for the lowly men. Although the capability of men are created to be lower than angels temporarily, God crowned man with glory and honor and put everything under his feet. Here, the son of man mentioned by the poet, although can be interpreted as the first man of mankind -- Adam, and his descendents, but it more refers to Adam -- the typology of Christ who came to this world to be a man. How the first man receive the authority to rule over all things, and lost it into the hand of the devil; so the first man is the typology of Christ who will take back the authority of this world from the hand of the devil, and will reign the world to come.
“Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. ”:
It is not saying that Christ at present can not make everything subject to Him, or does not have the power to make everything be obedient to Him; it is saying that at present, everything has not yet willingly been obedient without resistance. For examples: at present, there are many people are against God. It is very easy for God to restrict them and make them be obedient with power and authority. However, this submission is not voluntary and the submission without resistance. This situation is “at present” and temporary, just as Christ became temporarily lower than the angels.
2. Christ became the Son of Man, who was made a little lower than the angels for a little while, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (2:8latter-9upper)
HEBREWS 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
(NOTES)
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels”:
It is also translated as “Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while,”. “was made” is the past tense; that is, Christ used to be a little lower than the angels for a little while. But it is not saying that He is still lower than the angels now. Why it is said that Christ in the body of flesh was made lower than angels? Didn’t he still show his divine power, practice many miracles and declare clearly that he and the Father are One(Joh 10:30)? However, this indicates that he was in the body of flesh; although he has the divine nature, from the aspect of the body of flesh, he was exactly the same as a man and can feel tired and hungry. Therefore, it is said that he is a little lower than the angels for a while.
Although these two verses show that although Christ used to once become a man who is a little lower than the angels, however, this experience does not reduce any of His glory and honor as the Son of God at all. On the contrary, it shows that His work is far above and much honorable than what the angels do.
“now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death”:
It gives the reason that he is crowned with glory and honor is because he “suffered death”. Therefore, here, the glory and honor refer to the glory and honor after his resurrection. Although before his death, Christ showed the glory of God for many times; however, after he suffered death, it shows more of His glory and proves that He is the Christ who overcomes, and is worthy of being called Christ -- King of the kings, Lord of the lords (Rev 17:14; 19:16).
“so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. ”:
This verse continues the previous verse to give the reason why Christ was made a little lower than the angels; it is for the purpose that “ by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. ” In this whole verse, it emphasizes first that Christ became the son of man and suffered the death and gained the glory, then gives the reason why he became the son of man--to die for the sins of men.
3. Christ became the Son of Man, to make the author of the salvation perfect through suffering. (2:10)
HEBREWS 2:10 In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.
(NOTES)
“for whom and through whom everything exists”:
In this verse, before it talks about the achievements that Christ tasted the death for everyone, it especially claims that regarding Christ, “for whom and through whom everything exists”. It is obvious that the Bible here reminds us that we should not forget that all things are from Christ, created by Him, and sustained by Him (Act 17:26; Rom 11:36). However, He gave up all the heavenly glory and authority to become the son of men, refused all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor (Mat 4:8-10), and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross. Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest so that he has the experience of being the son of men; also was anointed by God to inherit all things (Heb 1:2; Joh 3:35; 13:3). Regarding Christ, “for whom and through whom everything exists”; it implies that everything belongs to Him and exists by relying on Him.
“In bringing many sons to glory”:
“many sons ” refer to those believers who become the sons of God because He became the son of men and tasted the death for everyone. This verse tells the result that Christ tasted the death for everyone, which is that it makes many slaves of sins and evils become the children in the household of God and be brought into the glory (1Pe 2:9).
“ the author of their salvation ”:
It is also translated as “the captain of their salvation ” (K.J.V.); and “the Pioneer of their salvation”(A.M.P.). Christ is the captain and Pioneer of the salvation; we who receive the salvation are His good soldiers and followers. Christ is the author of the salvation; who wrote it and accomplished it with his own blood, and who also wrote the salvation of those who are saved by Him through the work of Holy Spirit.
“it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering”:
It does not mean that before the suffering, he is not complete. It is saying that although He is perfect already before the sufferings, after He became the son of man and had been through the sufferings, it shows that He is our perfect captain. Since he has experienced all the fights that we must go through, walked the way that we will walk on, He certainly more understand our infirmities and know more how to guide us to follow Him.
4. Christ became the Son of Man, so that he is not ashamed to call them brothers. (2:11-13)
HEBREWS 2:11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.
(NOTES)
Here, “the one who makes men holy ” refers to Jesus Christ; “those who are made holy” refer to the believers; and “are of the same family”, refers to the family of God; that is, those people have the life of God. It is because Christ who made men holy, became the son of men and tasted the death for everyone; the result of this is that those who are made holy receive His life -- the life of God. “So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. ” It is because He not only humbled himself and took a man’s likeness, but also exalted us to become the children of God.
HEBREWS 2:12 He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises."
(NOTES)
This verse is cited from (Psa 22:22) of the Old Testament.
The words in (Psa 22:22) were to predict that Christ would declare the Father’s name to his brothers.
HEBREWS 2:13 And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."
(NOTES)
These words are from (Isa 12:2; 8:17-18). They were to predict that Christ would be the same as the children of God, and live a life by putting trust in God. The purpose to cite these verses from the Old Testament is to prove that what mentioned above that how Christ became the son of men, lived among the people, and made us receive the life of God to become the children of God, are all in accordance with the predictions in the Old Testament.
5. Christ became the Son of Man, so that by his death he might destroy the one who holds the power of death--that is, the devil. (2:14-15)
HEBREWS 2:14-15 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
(NOTES)
These two verses illuminate the reasons why Christ became the son of man:
A. He must become the son of man to have flesh and blood and share in the humanity.
He must take the likeness of us to make us understand the love of God to us. Since He Himself became the flesh and blood, and bore our sins by Himself, He shows the love of God completely.
B. He must have the body of flesh and blood to suffer the death for men.
Without the body of the flesh and blood, He can not die for us. And if without experiencing the infirmities of the body of the flesh and blood, the people might doubt that His sympathy is not complete.
C. He must have the body of flesh and blood so that by his death he might destroy the devil who holds the power of death.
The death is a power and comes from sins (Rom 5:12). Once a man sins, he is sentenced to death by God (Rom 1:32; 6:23). Whoever is under the power of sin, he is under the power of death (1Co 15:55-56). The power of death is based on the power of sin; and the conviction of sin is based on the laws of God (Rom 7:11). The devil is called the one who holds the power of death. Therefore, all who sinned are under the power of the devil; they betray God and become the salves of sin and death (1Jo 3:8;5:19; Rom 6:20; Heb 2:15). Therefore, all the sinners are under the power of the devil. Jesus Christ by his death had destroyed the devil who holds the power of death. Since Christ died for our sins, took our punishment, satisfied the requirements of the laws of God, rose from the dead, and overcame the death so that in Christ all will be made alive (1Co 15:22), thus, sin and death do not rule over us any more.
D. “he might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. ”:
Since Christ by his death satisfied the requirement of the laws of God so that sins do not reign through the laws, He also give new life to people to make the power of death of the devil invalid and destroy the power of sin and death. Thus, those who in all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death are set free by believing in Christ and are not the salves of “death” any more.
Many agonies in the life of men are because of the work of the power of death, such as diseases, poverties, hungers, and injures are all pressing people toward the way of death. The people make a living for their fear of death, thus increase their pains more and become the slaves of death. However, the result that Christ overcame the death, is that we have no fear of death any more, for the eternal death can not touch us; and the death of the body of the flesh, is only to rest from the labor of this life and enter the eternal rest.
6. Christ became the Son of Man, to save Abraham's descendants. (2:16)
HEBREWSREWS 2:16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.
(NOTES)
This verse gives us another reason why Christ became the son of man.
It is because He is not to save the angels in the spiritual world, but to save the men of flesh and blood. Although men are lower than the angels for a while, God did not prepare the salvations to the angels, but only for men. Here, “Abraham's descendants” refer to those who through faith become the spiritual descendants of Abraham (Rom 4:2,11,12,16; 2:28-29).
Why God did not prepare the salvation for the angels?
It is because the good angels did not sin and of course, they do not need the salvation. The evil angel (the devil) and its followers sinned all because they deliberately betrayed God, refused the grace of God and sinned, became those who can’t repent, and who were sentenced by God already and wait for the punishment (Joh 8:44; 1Jo 3:8; Jam 2:19; Mat 25:41; Jud 6; Rev 12:12; 20:7-10). Therefore, there is no need to prepare salvation for them.
7. Christ became the Son of Man, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. (2:17-18)
HEBREWSREWS 2:17-18 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers 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. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
(NOTES)
Christ became the Son of Man, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. (2:17-18)
These two verses illustrate the reason why Christ became the Son of Man. It is because He will be our merciful and faithful high priest. Being merciful refers to His love to people; being faithful emphasizes His loyalty to God. In short, no matter to God, or to man, He can be completely qualified. Here, there are five facts to prove that He is our merciful and faithful high priest .
A. He humbled Himself and gave up Himself (2:17)
“For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way”. Note that the word of “had to” seems to say that He by all means should be the same as his brothers. Actually, He has no reason to be the same as his brothers, for He is the Son of God and absolutely is above the men. However, in order to accomplish the salvation of God, and become our merciful and faithful priest, He gave up His original glory and position, humbled Himself to be the son of man, made Himself the same as a man in everything, and also regarded this humbleness as what He should do. Whoever is willing to give up oneself and humble oneself , will regard their humbleness and giving up as what one should do. On the contrary, if we bear in mind constantly our former glory and position, regard our encounters at present as what we should not have, and it is all because of our willingness to sacrifice that makes us suffer so much, then we have not get to the point of true humbleness and giving up yet. Christ became the merciful and faithful high priest , for He used to completely humble Himself and give up Himself. If we want to be the useful servants of God, we are no exception to this.
B. He is wholeheartedly occupied by the business of God (2:17)
“in order that … in service to God”, the reason that he is willing to be so humble and to give up himself, is “in order ” to make an achievement on the business of God and to accomplish the mission that God want Him to fulfill. He once said that “Did you not see and know that it is necessary for Me to be in My Father's house and [occupied] about My Father's business? ” Therefore, He lived a life and did everything for the glory of the Father wholeheartedly. Not only He offered an extreme sacrifice, but also He sacrificed completely and wholeheartedly for the sake of God.
C. He used to make atonement for the sins of the people. (2:17)
“he might make atonement for the sins of the people”. The most important work of the priest is to offer the sacrifice for the people. The priests of the Old Testament sacrificed the cattle and sheep as sin offerings. The blood of the cattle and sheep, can not truly get rid of the sins; it is just the “shadow of the good things that are coming” (Heb 10:1-4). Christ once offered His holy body as a sacrifice of atonement for us which is always effective (Rom 3:24-25), so that to stop the anger of God because of the sins of men, and destroy the barriers between God and men and reconcile men to God (Rom 5:1; Eph 2:14-17). Therefore, only He is worthy to be our merciful and faithful high priest, stands before God and speaks on the behalf of us, so that God will forgive our sins because of the merits of his death and accept our prayers.
D. He himself suffered when he was tempted. (2:18upper)
“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted”. The forth fact proves that Christ is the merciful and faithful high priest is, not only he has the same body of flesh and blood, but also he was tempted the same in every way. However, he never sinned. Since he had been through the temptations as us, he must be very clear the helps that we need during the tests, understand our infirmities, and have complete insight of all the cunning schemes and crafty plots of the devil to tempt men.
Here, “suffered when he was tempted” , it is obvious that the temptations refer to the attacks of the devil, or all kinds of persecutions and insults that the devil did through men. Since Lord never sinned when he was tempted, therefore, the suffering that He had was not the suffering of sins, but the suffering directly from the temptations. Sometimes, the believers suffer because of the failure in the temptation; sometimes they suffer because of overcoming the temptations, that is, the devil tempted us directly with sufferings. However, no matter what kind of the suffering, he understands deeply our encounters; when we suffer in the temptation, he is with us (2Ti 4:17), provides a way out for us (1Co 10:13), and rescues us at any time (2Pe 2:7).
E. He is able to help those who are being tempted. (2:18latter)
He not only was tempted the same as us, and overcame all the temptation, also he is able to help those who are being tempted. “is able to help ”, not only indicates that His capability is enough to overcome the enemies, but also he has wisdom and all other conditions to overcome. No matter what kind of plot the devil uses to trap the children of God, he can rescue them under any circumstance.
Reference:
1. Zhongdao Chen: “The Lectures on the Bible Studying of the Letters in New Testament”.
