Verse 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.
Remember that chapters and verses were added to Scripture long after it was written by men under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, so this epistle or letter to the Hebrew Christians was one large letter and not divided up as it is now. So based on what the Apostle Paul said in chapter one of this epistle, he is now saying that because of all those things written about so far believers should be careful to remain faithful to the Gospel and not get complacent and lazy about their Faith.
Application: The old saying, “Seven days without reading the Bible makes one weak” is quite true. Neglecting to spend time with the LORD in prayer and Bible study will create a spiritual environment that devils will use to draw believers away from their Faith and into the things of this world. Getting saved is not enough. One has to grow in knowledge and faith and work to please the LORD and not others or self. It takes time, commitment, and effort to work out one’s salvation with, as the Bible states, fear and trembling.
Verses 2-4 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 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; 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?
The Greek word translated as “word” is “logos” and it means speech, a word uttered by a living voice, the sayings of God, a decree, a mandate or an order. The Greek word translated as “spoken” is “laleo” and it means to utter a voice or emit a sound, to speak, or to tell. The Greek word translated as “stedfast” is “bebaios” and it means stable, fast, firm, sure, or trusty. Angels as messengers appeared to many Old Testament and New Testament people and gave them instructions or information about things to come. They opened prison doors and removed chains from servants of Jesus Christ. And they received a negative reward for disobedience and rebellion against God. They had to speak the words of the LORD. Therefore, Christian believers must speak His Word to others as well. Having received the gift of salvation, it is the duty and responsibility of all Christians to share God’s Word with others and testify of their salvation from sin, death, and Hell. So the Apostle Paul is telling the Hebrew Christians that they cannot neglect the gift of salvation given to them by the LORD. Jesus Christ confirmed His Word with signs, wonders and miracles, and He sent His Holy Ghost/Spirit to assist the Church to do likewise.
Application: Unfortunately, today most organized evangelical establishment churches ignore and/or fail to operate in the Spirit and exercise the gifts of the Spirit that are available for the purpose of showing signs, wonders and miracles to those who are unbelievers. People are more willing to listen to the Gospel message if their pain is alleviated or their cancer is cured through the laying on of hands and the prayers of Christian believers. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 So there are nine gifts of the Spirit and all of them are available to the converted, Christian believer to utilize for the purpose of sharing the Gospel message to an unbelieving world.
Verses 5-8 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 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? 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: 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.
See Psalm 8 in this study as the Apostle Paul is quoting this Psalm written by King David. Paul is expressing the amazing fact that God gave mankind authority over everything He created and that the angels were not given this authority. Furthermore, in the world to come (the new Heavens and the new Earth) in the spiritual Kingdom of God it is still those of mankind who gave their hearts to the LORD and followed Him who will be ruling and reigning with Christ Jesus. However, because of Satan and sin, not everything is subject to mankind so not everything is yet put under subjection of man.
Application: When God created, He gave mankind dominion or authority over His creation. But because of Adam and Eve’s sin, that dominion or authority was abdicated to the Devil. When Jesus Christ came and established the Church, He gave His servants power and authority over the works of Satan, and so to some degree that authority was/is restored. But since so few Christians exercise their authority, for the time being not all things are under mankind’s subjection and will not be until time is no more.
Verses 9-10 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. 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.
Jesus Christ is God and man at the same time, and as God He is not lower than the angels, but in taking on flesh and willingly living in the bounds of that flesh while on Earth, for a short period of time He was a little lower than the angel who are spirits and who therefore cannot die for the sins of mankind. Only God, who created the Law, could fulfill the Law and make a blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of man. And through His sacrifice, many people have received salvation and the promise of eternal life in Heaven.
Verses 11-13 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, 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
To be sanctified means to be set apart. All truly converted Christians are sanctified through Jesus Christ and are therefore holy and called sons of God. In that position, all Christians are brothers of Jesus and part of His spiritual family as they are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Since the Bible is written in the masculine tense, this includes women as well. All believers are brethren of each other and of Jesus Christ.
Verses 14-15 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; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
God became for a short time flesh and blood just like mankind but without sin. Therefore He lived and felt all the trials and tribulations of life on this Earth. Through a sinless life, thereby fulfilling the Law, He destroyed the power of Satan and the curse of physical and spiritual death which had/has mankind in the bondage of fear. Satan can no longer have Christians in that bondage and therefore his power over mankind has been broken and he only has power if people give it to him.
Application: How do people give Satan power? By worshiping him as in the occult or by ascribing to him power that he does not have. “The Devil made me do it” is thinking that gives Satan power. By fearing Satan and the evil he can inflict, people are worshiping him. Satan cannot hurt Christians unless they allow it by fearing that he will attack and harm them.
Verses 16-18 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 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. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2)
In the Old Testament religious system, the high priest would first offer a blood animal sacrifice for his own sins, and then offer a blood animal sacrifice for the sins of the Hebrew people. This was done once a year, every year. The high priest would enter the Tabernacle (dwelling place of God) and go though the vale into the Holy of Holies with the blood sacrifice. A rope would be tied to his ankle because if he did this ritual incorrectly, he would be struck dead and the rope could be used to pull his body out of the Holy of Holies. Jesus Christ, as God and as the son of man, having experienced the trials and temptations of living on this Earth and yet being without sin, gave His own body as the last blood sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, past, present and future, so that the debt was paid, and then He ascended into Heaven where He is the High Priest of mankind, ending the religious ritual done under the Law. Now believers live under grace and can access the throne of God through Jesus Christ, who is Prophet, High Priest, and King.