Hebrews 2:5 - 2:18

intro: something witty

outline review
1-4 christ is the ultimate revelation of god
5-10 christ is the ultimate high priest
11-13 response to jesus: examples and specifics
 
we're currently in 1-4. we're gonna talk about jesus as better than angels and as better than moses.
why? why are we talking about angels?
angels are a means of divine revelation.
hebrews wants to make sure that we think of christ as the ultimate revelation, not second to anything.

mankind; the jv squad for now, but heisman material later.
5. For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.
6. But one has testified somewhere, saying, "WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM ? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM ?
7. "YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;
8. YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET." For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.
basic understanding:
psalm 8 quote
psalm 8 magnifies god and thanks him for his favor to mankind.
the author of hebrews uses it to continue his argument from chapter 1 about the glory of god in the incarnation.
 

 
who is the 'he' who we are talking about?
possibly mankind, possibly humanity (or a subset)
- i'm hugely for humanity, specifically those within god's family.
the psalm quote makes more sense this way, as does the broader topic of the role of the descendents of abraham (and the children whom god has given me).
also, there doesn't seem to be any link to christ in this section.
 
those that interpret this (v6-8) as referring to christ (less common but still existing) argue that the section is about christ generally and that the section in 9 discussing christ indicates that christ is the topic here.
the ultimate point (to my reading) is about the role of subjection being different now and then - that christ is part of the ultimate changing of the order between humanity and angels.

the point: on this earth, we are lower than angels. it will not always be this way.
see v 5... complex note on deut 32:8 and the song of moses...but not here.
the author of hebrews makes this point especially from psalm 22:6's use of the word 'all'.
 
the author reminds the audience of psalm 22, a davidic psalm...and the context of the special role given to mankind. it seems significant that the broader context of the psalm includes the davidic promises (he shall be a son to me, etc) - people often comment on hebrews use of the broader context of a reference.
 

synthesis: why are we talking about this?
the author is saying that, " possibly mankind, possibly humanity (or a subset) point, in context...
heb 1: christ is greater revelation than the angels.
heb 2, so far - humans may be under the angels now, but god's plans is for their glorification.
why we are talking about this becomes a bit more clear - christ is not demeaned below angels by the incarnation.
it is part of god's plan for glorification.
 
also...significantly...the revelation of christ has been planned (from the start, since it was prophecied)
he's going to spend more time on this plan and the effect in the next section.

 
jesus' incarnation
9. But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
10. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
11. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12. saying, "I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE."
13. And again, "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again, "BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME."
14. Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15. and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
16. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
17. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
basic understanding
in this section, the author wants to tell us why christ became man.
 
v9-11
christ joined mankind in our humble state, suffered death, and was crowned with glory and honor.
less comment on why, more just what christ did in incarnation.
9. But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
10. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
11. For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

v12, ot quote : psalm 22:22 (psalms 22:1 quoted by christ)
12. saying, "I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME TO MY BRETHREN, IN THE MIDST OF THE CONGREGATION I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE."
psalm 22 opens with, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" (jesus quotes this on the cross, matt 27:46)
it also includes, " They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots."
part of the broader context being quoted again...

v13, ot quote: isaiah 8:17,18
13. And again, "I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM." And again, "BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME."
this is a difficult quotation.
the first part, "i will put my trust in him" seems to be a quotation of isaiah 8:17. it might also be isa 8:12 or 2 sam 22:3
 
frankly, i'm not sure i follow why the author quotes this in this way. it's an odd quote in isaiah, check it out:
13. "It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy.
And He shall be your fear,
And He shall be your dread.
14. "Then He shall become a sanctuary;
But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over,
And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15. "Many will stumble over them,
Then they will fall and be broken;
They will even be snared and caught."
16. Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17. And I will wait for the LORD who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him.
18. Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.
this gets more complicated - this is a chapter after the section in which isaiah's wife bears children that are signs...including the well known 'immanuel' passage (isaiah 7).
it's also right before the section about the messiah in chapter 9
more study is needed.

v14-16: idea summary
14. Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
15. and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
16. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
returning to the idea of 'why' for the incarnation...here we get:
- to defeat death and to free his people.

v16: close bracket
16. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
you can't see it in the english very well, but this is parallel to v5.
it closes the thought - he has finished his point that the incarnation:
- has a purpose in the glory of god (v9, "because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor"
- has a purpose in the redemption of mankind
- slight hints at what he's about to say in 17,18

v17,18: the point.
17. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
18. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
purpose for the incarnation...god's mercy
 
"to be made like his brethren" (high priest idea started...)
- remember, the high priest was one of israel; the interceder worked on behalf of his brothers/sisters.

one final note...when you think of the incarnation - the incarnation is fundamentally suffering for christ.
you'll see this again and again.


synthesis / application: god's mercy
vs judgement
last week talked about the incarnation's impact on judgement.
we should be filled with fear, to not 'drift away' from what we have heard.

the 'and'
this week we see the incarantion as the the selfless mercy of god to us.
god is one who will judge our failures - and who also understands our weaknesses.
god is the creater of the universe, the one who "didst lay the foundation of the earth" - and one who partook of our flesh and blood.
god is not merely one who knows our failures and is ready to punish.
god is definitely not one who doesn't care about humanity.