Coachlight Bible
Study – Hebrews Chapter 2
Christ Is
In the last chapter we were taught that God spoke to people through the
prophets at various times and through various methods; but now God speaks to us
through His Son, Christ. We also saw the argument that Christ was better than
the angels, that some were worshiping, because He had a better name, He was the
Creator, the angels worship Him, He has an eternal Righteous Kingdom, and now
sits at the right hand of the Father until: “I make Thine enemies Thy
footstool.” These arguments all pointed
to Christ’s deity.
Here in chapter two, we will see another argument demonstrating that
Christ is better than the angels, because of His humanity, and how it all fits into God’s plan.
The exhortation is to instruct us not to let ourselves slip away from
the God’s Word, like a ship can drift away from its slip.
I. The First Exhortation
Or Warning In Hebrews
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore
we ought to give the more earnest heed<4337> to the things which we have
heard, lest at any time we should let them slip<3901>. {run out as
leaking ships}
Hebrews 2:2 For if
the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and
disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
Hebrews 2:3 How shall
we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be
spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Hebrews 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? {gifts: or,
distributions}
A. Don’t let Great
Salvation “slip”
1. The meaning of: “slip”
3901 pararruew pararrhueo par-ar-hroo-eh’-o AV-let slip 1; 1
2. The meaning of “Give the more earnest heed”
4337 prosecw prosecho pros-ekh’-o; v
beware 7, give heed to 5, take heed to 3, give or take heed
unto (to) (whereunto) 3
1) to bring
to, bring near
1a) to bring a ship
to land, and simply to touch at, put in
2) to turn the mind
to, attend to be attentive
3. Meaning-“Take heed so that our salvation doesn’t slip like a ship drift out to sea”
B. There is no escape if we “neglect”
1. Meaning of Neglect – “To recognize but ignore” – “To know but fail to do”
2. The Great salvation:
a. The steadfast message was delivered by the angels
(Galatians 3:19; Acts 7:53)
b. Every transgression and disobedience had its reward
C. The Great salvation was
1. First spoken of by the Lord
2. Confirmed by the Apostles
D. God gave witness
1. With signs and wonders
2. With many kinds of miracles
3. With gifts of the Holy Ghost
E. “Neglect so
great salvation” does not mean “grab hold more earnestly”
F. It does mean don’t
let ourselves drift beyond God’s Word
1. Don’t compromise
with “traditions of men” – Colossians 2:8
2. Don’t go back to
legalism – Colossians 2:11-17; 20-23; Hebrews 10:26
II. The 2nd Argument Concerning
Christ
Hebrews 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not
put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
Hebrews 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?
Hebrews 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: {lower…: or, while inferior to}
A. The angels will
not reign in His Kingdom – Christ and the redeemed will
1. A man was created lower than angels
Psalm 8:4 What is man, that thou art
mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
2. The Son of Man was made (Incarnated) lower than the
angels for a while
Psalm 8:4 What is man, that thou art
mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Psalm 8:5 For thou hast made him a little<04592>
lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
3. The Son of Man has creation dominion – Messianic &
synonymous parallelism
Psalm 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion
over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
Psalm 8:7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the
beasts of the field; {All…: Heb. Flocks and oxen all of them}
Psalm 8:8 The fowl of the air, and the fish
of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
Psalm 8:9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is
thy name in all the earth!
B. God sees things
differently than we do – We, now, do not see the whole picture
Hebrews 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.
1. Because of God’s foreknowledge, Christ has already been crowned
a. God looks through and sees the beginning through to the end
b. There is nothing that is not under His subjection
2. Right now we do not see this – unless we put on the mind of Christ
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made
a little<1024> 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. {for the: or, by the}
C. “A Little” The
Greek & the Hebrew can have 2 meanings – Time or Degree
1. Both meanings fit the context
2. The Greek word for “A Little” from Hebrews
1024 bracuv brachus brakh-ooce’ of
uncertain affinity; ; adj
AV-a little 4, a
little space 1, a little while 1, few words 1; 7
1) short, small, little
1a) of place, a short distance, a little
1b) of time, a short time, for a little while
3. The Hebrew word for “A Little” from the Book of Psalms
04592 jem m@‘at meh-at’ or jem m@‘at meh-awt’ from 04591;
TWOT-1228a; AV-little 49, few 23, while 6, almost 5, small thing 4, small 3,
some 2, matter 2, soon 2, fewer 1, fewest 1, lightly 1, very 1, little way 1,
worth 1; 102
1) littleness, few, a little, fewness
1a) little, small, littleness, fewness, too little, yet a
little
1b) like a little, within a little, almost, just, hardly,
shortly, little worth
D. It is all
in God’s purpose or plan from the foundation of the earth –
Notice the Psalm’s context is about
Creation
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made
a little<1024> 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. {for the: or, by the}
1. Christ was the Creator
2. Christ was Incarnated a little less in degree than the angels - BUT
3. Christ was made lower than the angels for a short period of time
Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom
are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory,
to make the captain<747> of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
4. It was all in His plan
a. All things are for Him
b. All things are by Him
5. It has always been His Predestined Plan
a. To bring in many sons to glory
b. He is the only righteous man – He died & resurrected to make others holy
6. Christ is the captain of our salvation
747 archgov archegos ar-khay-gos’ from 746 and 71; TDNT-1:487,81; adj
AV-prince 2,
captain 1, author 1; 4
1) the chief leader, prince
1a) of Christ
2) one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an
example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer
3) the author
This word is also used in
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author<747>
and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God. {author: or, beginner}
Hebrews 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,
Hebrews 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy
name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Psalm
7. The Old Testament in Psalms prophesied that man would
be Christ’s brother
Hebrews 2:13 And again, I will put my trust
in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
Isaiah 8:17 And I will wait upon the LORD,
that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
Isaiah 8:18 Behold, I and the children whom
the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of
hosts, which dwelleth in
8. The Old Testament in Isaiah prophesied man would be Christ’s brother
Hebrews 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<2673> him that had the power of
death, that is, the devil;
Hebrews
2673
katargew katargeo kat-arg-eh’-o from 2596 and 691;
TDNT-1:452,76; v
AV-destroy 5, do away 3, abolish 3, cumber 1, loose 1,
cease 1, fall 1, deliver 1, misc 11; 27
1) to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative
1a) to cause a person or thing to have no further
efficiency
1b) to deprive of force, influence, power
2) to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul,
abolish
2a) to cease, to pass away, be done away
2b) to be severed from, separated from, discharged from,
loosed from any one
2c) to terminate all intercourse with one
9. Christ became a man to make useless Satan who now has the power of death
10. Christ became a man to deliver those in bondage to
death
Hebrews
11. Christ took on the form of a man – Not an angel
a. Christ did not take on the form of an angel
b. Christ took on the form of the Seed of Abraham
Hebrews 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.
Hebrews
12. This was necessary and part of God’s plan
a. That Christ might be our High Priest
b. That because Christ was tempted as a man – He can deliver
mankind.
III. Other Important Scriptures
Demonstrating Christ Is The Foundation
A. Christ Is
Eternal – From The Foundation Of The Earth
Matthew 13:35 That it might be fulfilled
which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I
will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto
them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Luke 11:50
That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation
of the world, may be required of this generation;
Hebrews 4:3
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have
sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were
finished from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the
earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the
Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not;
and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they
that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book
of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was,
and is not, and yet is.
B. And Again About
Christ:
1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation
gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen
us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love:
Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
corner stone;
1 Timothy 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good
foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
II Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation
of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.
And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. {sure:
or, steady}
Hebrews 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the
beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works
of thine hands:
Hebrews 4:3
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have
sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were
finished from the foundation of the world.
Hebrews
1 Peter
Hebrews Chapter One – Christ Is
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Hebrews 1:1-3 |
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Before God spoke through prophets in
various ways and times |
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Now, The Son Hath Spoken In These Last
Days |
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1. Christ has been
appointed Heir of all things |
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2. By Christ, the
worlds were created |
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3. Christ is the
brightness of God’s Glory |
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4. Christ is the
express Image of God’s person |
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5. Christ upholds
all things by the Word of His Power |
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6. Christ has
purged our sins |
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7. Christ has sat
down at the right Hand of the Father |
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The First Argument Demonstrating Christ
Is |
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1. Christ has
obtained a better name than they – Hebrews 1:4 |
Psalm 2:7-9 |
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2. God never told
an angel that he would be His only begotten Son – Hebrews 1:5 |
Psalm 2:7 |
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3. When God’s Son
was born, He told the angels of God to worship Christ– Hebrews 1:6 |
Psalm 97:1-9 |
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4. God created the
angels to serve the Creator– Hebrews 1:7 |
Psalm 104:4 |
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5. Christ’s eternal
Kingdom would be known by righteousness– Hebrews 1:8-9 |
Psalm 45:6-7 |
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6. Christ is the
Creator– Hebrews 1:10-12 |
Psalm 102:25-28 |
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7. No angel has
Christ’s position – At the right hand of the Father– Hebrews 1:13-14 |
Psalm 110 |
Hebrews Chapter Two – Christ Is
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Hebrews 2:1-4 – Don’t Drift From God’s
Word |
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Hebrews 1:1
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. {let…: Gr. run out as
leaking vessels} Hebrews 1:2 For if the word spoken by angels was
stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence
of reward; Hebrews 1:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great
salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was
confirmed unto us by them that heard him; Hebrews 1:4 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? {gifts: or, distributions} |
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The 2nd Argument Demonstrating
Christ Is |
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1. The angels won’t
reign in Christ’s Kingdom |
Hebrews 2:5 |
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2. Christ was
incarnated a little lower than the angels |
Hebrews 2:5-7;
Psalm 8:4-9- |
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3. God sees the
whole picture – We do not at this time |
Hebrews 2:8 |
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4. Christ becoming
a Man was in God’s plan from the foundation of the earth |
Hebrews 1:10; 4:3; |
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5. Psalms &
Isaiah prophesied that man would be Christ’s brother |
Psalm 22:22; Isaiah
8:17-18 |
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6. Christ became a
Man to make of no affect Satan’s plan |
Hebrews 2:14 |
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7. Christ became a
Man to deliver men from death |
Hebrews 2:15 |
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8. Christ did not
take on the form of an angel – He is the Seed of Abraham |
Hebrews 2:16 |
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9. Christ became a
Man so that He is our High Priest |
Hebrews 2:17 |
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10. Christ became a
Man and was tempted as a man, so He can deliver those in bondage to sin |
Hebrews 2:18 |