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Pondering Hebrews 2:1-4
This letter was written to second-generation Messianic Jews who had not personally met or heard the LORD Yeshua (Hebrews 2:3). It was written because some had started to drift from the faith (Hebrews 2:1-4) back to 2nd Temple Judaism. Because of this danger, the author demonstrates that Yeshua and His ministry are better than….
The author in these verses employs a rabbinic method of teaching called קל וחומר “kal v’chomer,” meaning from “light to heavy.” This is Hillel’s first rule of interpretation. The purpose of this method was to show that if that was true, how much more is this true. If the revelation by angels was true, how much more the revelation of Yeshua, the Son of God. Both are true, but the former was light in comparison to this. By using this method the author brings us to the inescapable conclusion that Yeshua is better and brings a superior covenant. He does this by showing that Yeshua is:
- Better than the previous revelation (Hebrews 1:1-3)
- Better than the Angels (Hebrews 1:4-2:18)
- Yeshua is superior to Moses (Hebrews 3:1-4:13)
- Yeshua is superior to Aaron & the Levitical Priesthood (Hebrews 4:14-5:10; 7:11-28; 9:1-10)
- The Torah was but a shadow (Hebrews 7:12, 19, 28; 10:1)
- The New Covenant is better than the Mosaic Covenant (Hebrews 8:1-13)
- The blood of Messiah is better than the blood of goats and bulls (Hebrews 9:11-10:18).
In light of the fact that Yeshua is better than…, the author then urges them not to drift away from the Messiah. While all of the previous revelations, covenants and prophets were true, Messiah the Son of God brings in a superior Covenant. As such the author warns them of five dangers:
- The Danger of Drifting (Hebrews 2:1-4)
- The Danger of Disbelief (Hebrews 3:7-4:13)
- The Danger of Remaining Immature (Hebrews 5:11-6:20)
- The Danger of Willful Sin (Despising) (Hebrews 10:26-31)
- The Danger of Denying the better than… (Hebrews 12:15-29)
As you read Hebrews in a study bible you will note the frequency of the quotations, and without a firm understanding of the Tanach (Older Testament), you might feel a little lost. In Hebrews 2:5-9 the author, for example, quotes Psalm 8:4-6. Sometimes the quotation is verbatim; sometimes it looks like the quote comes from the Greek translation (Septuagint) and at other times he leans on the Aramaic translation (Targum). The author of Hebrews quotes scripture in a variety of ways. He frequently uses the phrase “God says” (twenty-three times), “the Holy Spirit says” (3:7; 10:15, 17; see also 9:8) and “Messiah says” (10:5). The author just assumes that we know where he quotes from. Hebrews 2:6: “Someone somewhere has testified. . . .” I do not believe that the author had forgotten where he was quoting from but that he wants us to search the scriptures and make ourselves familiar with the Tanach (Older Testament).
Speaking about Yeshua, the author of Hebrews says (Hebrews 2:5-9):
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 honour, 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. 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Yeshua, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”
Yeshua, who was identified as the Son, heir and creator (Hebrews 1:1-2) is contrasted to the holy angels, who are ministering spirits. In His humanity, He was lower than angels, but they will submit to the Son in the age to come (Revelation 19:11-16).
“Yeshua, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” Yeshua was not just lower than the angels; He also suffered and experienced death. Yeshua enabled the redemption of the world through His suffering and death.
It is at this point that the author makes a startling statement in Hebrews 2:10
“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.”
How was it fitting for God to allow His Son to suffer? God had asked Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son Isaac (Genesis 22), and the words of David speak to us in 2 Samuel 24:24 “for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God which cost me nothing.” In that light, it was fitting for God to offer His One and Only Son, Yeshua (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53). He came into the world to save it, John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
The last phrase in Hebrews 2:10 is translated variously
- (NASB) to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.
- (ESV) should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
- (KJV) to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
The Greek word archēgos (ar-khe-os) means chief leader. Messiah is described as “the author of our salvation,” in that with His blood He wrote the contract, the New Covenant; and He is the captain (prince), for we His sons and daughters are under His direction, and He is the founder/originator of our salvation as we did not earn it but He paid the price.
He was made “perfect through sufferings”; He suffered all of the consequences of the legal requirements that are in the Torah, the Law which I (we) have broken. To satisfy the justice of God He became perfectly acquainted with suffering. It was even pleasing to the LORD to bruise Him (Isaiah 53:10) for the purpose of bringing you and me into His glory.
Hope this illuminated your understanding
Blessings in Messiah Yeshua
Paul
Previous Sermons
Please listen and enjoy the Friday night recordings, the link is below as well as the accompanying PowerPoint.
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Next Meeting:
It is our Purin Celebration, Messianic Rabbi and head of Celebrate Messiah Lawrence Hirsch will be teaching on Friday the 13th of March. Don't forget to dress-up!
We will be meeting at our venue at 32 Horace Street St Ives at 7:30 pm.
Please don't forget, if possible to bring something salty and or sweet, to share after the meeting!
Purim
| Book of Esther | Guest Speaker:
Messianic Rabbi
Lawrence Hirsch | 13 March 2020 |
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