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2:1
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.
2:2 For if the word spoken by
angels was stedfast, and every
transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
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; 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? 2:5 For unto the angels hath he not
put in subjection the world to come,
whereof we speak.
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?
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:
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.
2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little 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.
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 of their
salvation perfect through sufferings.
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, 2:12
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the
church will I
sing praise unto thee.
2:13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and
the children which God hath
given me.
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 him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
2:15 And deliver them who through fear of
death were all their
lifetime subject to bondage.
2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took
on him the seed of
Abraham.
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.
2:18 For in that he himself hath
suffered being
tempted, he is able to
succour them that are tempted.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
Hebrews
Book: Hebrews
Chapter: 2
Overview:
The duty of stedfastly adhering to
Christ and his
Gospel.
(1-4) His sufferings are
No objection against his pre-eminence.
(5-9) The reason of his sufferings, and the fitness of them.
(10-13) Christ's taking the nature of
Man, and not his taking
the nature of angels, was necessary to his priestly office.
(14-18)
1-4 Christ being proved to be superior to the angels, this
doctrine is applied. Our minds and memories are like a leaky
vessel, they do not, without much care, retain what is poured
into them. This proceeds from the corruption of our nature,
temptations, worldly cares, and pleasures. Sinning against the
Gospel is neglect of this great
Salvation; it is a contempt of
the saving
Grace of
God in
Christ, making
Light of it, not
caring for it, not regarding either the worth of
Gospel Grace,
or the want of it, and our undone state without it. The
Lord's
judgments under the
Gospel Dispensation are chiefly spiritual,
but are
On that account the more to be dreaded. Here is an
Appeal to the consciences of sinners. Even partial neglects will
not escape rebukes; they often bring
Darkness On the souls they
do not finally ruin. The setting forth the
Gospel was continued
and confirmed
By those who heard
Christ,
By the evangelists and
apostles, who were witnesses of what
Jesus Christ began both to
do and to teach; and
By the
Gifts of the
Holy Ghost, qualified
for the work to which they were called. And all this according
to
God's own will. It was the will of
God that we should have
sure ground for our
Faith, and a strong foundation for our
Hope
in receiving the
Gospel. Let us mind this one thing needful, and
attend to the Holy Scriptures, written
By those who heard the
words of our gracious
Lord, and were inspired
By his
Spirit;
then we shall be blessed with the good part that cannot be taken
away.
5-9 Neither the state in which the
Church is at present, nor
its more completely restored state, when the
Prince of this
world shall be cast out, and the kingdoms of the
Earth become
the kingdom of
Christ, is left to the government of the angels:
Christ will take to him his great power, and will reign. And
what is the moving cause of all the kindness
God shows to men in
giving
Christ for them and to them? it is the
Grace of
God. As a
reward of
Christ's humiliation in suffering
Death, he has
unlimited dominion over all things; thus this ancient
Scripture
was fulfilled in him. Thus
God has done wonderful things for us
in
Creation and
Providence, but for these we have made the
basest returns.
10-13 Whatever the proud,
Carnal, and unbelieving may imagine
or object, the spiritual mind will see
Peculiar Glory in the
Cross of
Christ, and be satisfied that it became Him, who in all
things displays his own perfections in bringing many sons to
Glory, to make the Author of their
Salvation perfect through
sufferings. His way to the
Crown was
By the
Cross, and
So must
that of his people be.
Christ sanctifies; he has purchased and
sent the sanctifying
Spirit: the
Spirit sanctifies as the
Spirit
of
Christ. True believers are sanctified, endowed with holy
principles and powers, set apart to high and holy uses and
purposes.
Christ and believers are all of one heavenly
Father,
who is
God. They are brought into relation with
Christ. But the
words, his not being ashamed to
Call them brethren, express the
high superiority of
Christ to the human nature. This is shown
from three texts of
Scripture. See Ps 22:22; 18:2; Isa 8:18.
14-18 The angels fell, and remained without
Hope or help.
Christ never designed to be the
Saviour of the fallen angels,
therefore he did not take their nature; and the nature of angels
could not be an atoning
Sacrifice for the
Sin of
Man. Here is a
price paid, enough for all, and suitable to all, for it was in
our nature. Here the wonderful
Love of
God appeared, that, when
Christ knew what he must suffer in our nature, and how he must
die in it, yet he readily took it upon him. And this
Atonement
made way for his people's deliverance from
Satan's
Bondage, and
for the
Pardon of their sins through
Faith. Let those who dread
Death, and strive to get the better of their terrors,
No longer
attempt to outbrave or to stifle them,
No longer grow careless
or wicked through despair. Let them not expect help from the
world, or human devices; but let them seek
Pardon, peace,
Grace,
and a lively
Hope of
Heaven,
By Faith in Him who died and
Rose
again, that thus they may rise above the fear of
Death. The
remembrance of his own sorrows and temptations, makes
Christ
mindful of the trials of his people, and ready to help them. He
is ready and willing to succour those who are tempted, and seek
him. He became
Man, and was tempted, that he might be every way
qualified to succour his people, seeing that he had passed
through the same temptations himself, but continued perfectly
free from
Sin. Then let not the afflicted and tempted despond,
or give place to
Satan, as if temptations made it wrong for them
to come to the
Lord in
Prayer. Not soul ever perished under
Temptation, that cried unto the
Lord from real
Alarm at its
danger, with
Faith and expectation of relief. This is our duty
upon our first being surprised
By temptations, and would stop
their progress, which is our
Wisdom.