Hebrews 2:5-18 Lesson 416

Hebrews 2:5-18
Lesson 416

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Lesson 415 showed Jesus as the Son of God.
Now we see Him made of flesh and blood.

Who will reign in paradise (2:5-8)?
Kinship with Jesus (2:10-14).

By American artist Danny Hahlbohm (1949-)

Who was -

Abraham -
Abraham was the founder of Judaism, the father of all Jews (Romans 4:11-16; Galatians 3:7), the spiritual forefather of Christians (Galatians 3:29), a man of faith (Galatians 3:9; Hebrews 11:8-9), and a "friend" of God (2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23). He was also called the "Father of a multitude," "exalted Father," and Abram (Genesis 15:1; 17:4-5). Born in Ur (present-day Iraq), Abraham is perhaps the most respected ancestor of the Jews. His story is part of almost every eastern religion, including Islam, where he is considered the father of all Arab peoples through his son Ishmael. Abraham, a man of tremendous faith, left his home and family when God asked him to (Genesis 12:1; Acts 7:2-4). Then, God asked Abraham to sacrifice his own son Isaac as a test. Trusting God's reasoning, Abraham set off to Mount Moriah,* a hill near Jerusalem, to obey (Genesis 22:1-10). Having passed this test of faith, God sent an angel to save Isaac (Genesis 22:11-13) from Abraham's hand. Because of his faith, God, God promised Abraham that his descendants (Jews) would be a great and populous people (Genesis 17:2-7; 22:16-18; 26:4; 24) and to bless all Gentiles through him (Genesis 12:2-3; 15:1-21; 18:18; 22:18; 28:14; Exodus 32:13). This is called the Abrahamic Covenant. Abraham's deeds sometimes disappointed God, but he never lost his righteousness because it is never deeds that earn righteousness; it is faith (Genesis 15:6). Abraham died at 175 (Genesis 25:7) and was buried alongside his wife Sarah in a cave of Machpelah (Genesis 23:9; 25:7-10) on the western slope of Mt. Hebron. Centuries later, a Christian church was built over the cave. Subsequently, the church was converted into an Islamic Mosque. Jesus' roots go back to Abraham (Matthew 1:1-16), proving that His lineage dates back to the beginning of the Jewish nation. You can read more about Abraham in Genesis 11:26-25:34.

* Some Bible scholars believe Mount Moriah, where Abraham went to sacrifice his son, is the same hill Jesus was crucified on centuries later. However, many Jews believe the Temple's sacrificial altar in Jerusalem was built over the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son.

Study Tip:

Listen closely to what God is telling you.

The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Hebrews

The King James Bible

Hebrews 2:5-18
Jesus, made like His brothers

5 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.

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.

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.

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,

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.

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;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16 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.

Margin notes:

"The world to come." (2:5) - The world to come will be under the control of Jesus, not angels.

"But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man..." (2:6) - The "one" refers to King David. Verses 2:6-8 are a paraphrase of Psalm 8:4-6, written by David about God's love for mankind. Notice how verse 2:9 develops verse 2:8.

"Visitest him?" (2:6) - Means "cares for him."

"Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet." (2:8) - Everything in the universe is subject to Jesus (I Corinthians 15:27).

"Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death." (2:9) - Angels don't die, so when Jesus died on the cross, He was temporarily "a little lower than the angels." But thanks to His resurrection, He became the "captain" of our salvation (2:10).

'He by the grace of God should taste death for every man." (2:9) - Jesus died to save all mankind (John 3:16).

"It became him." (2:10) - "It was fitting for Him."

"For whom are all things, and by whom are all things." (2:10) - "For whom and by whom all things were made" (Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2). This verse shows that Jesus is not merely God's equal, He is God (John 10:30).

"Bringing many sons unto glory." (2:10) - Bringing many people to heaven." God wishes eternal glory for everyone.

"To make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." (2:10) - Being perfect, Jesus was the ideal sacrifice.

"He that sanctifieth." (2:11) - Christ is the sanctifier (John 17:19), atoning for our sins.

"Sanctified." (2:11) - To be blessed, consecrated, cleansed of guilt, made holy, purified of sin through faith (Acts 15:9), and thus connected to the spiritual and set apart for special use by God. Believers are sanctified, not because they are perfect, but because they have a relationship with Jesus (Hebrews 10:10; 13:12).

"He is not ashamed to call them brethren." (2:11) - "He (Jesus) is not ashamed to call Christian's, brother."

"I will declare thy name unto my brethren..." (2:12) - This passage is paraphrased from Psalm 22:22. It was written by King David, whose suffering and eventual glory foreshadowed the coming Messiah.

"I will put my trust in him." (2:13) - Paraphrased from Isaiah 8:17-18 and 12:2, prophecies of the coming Messiah written 700 years before the birth of Christ.

"The children are partakers of flesh and blood." (2:14) - "The children (of God) are flesh and blood."

"Who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (2:15) - People who fear death don't know Christ and have no hope of eternal glory. This fear is a form of bondage.

"Verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham." (2:16) - "Truly, Jesus was not born into the world as an angel, but rather a descendant of Abraham (a Jew)."

"It behoved him to be made like unto his brethren." (2:17) - "He (Jesus) had to be born like His brothers (mankind)."

"High priest." (2:17) - Before Jesus, a high priest acted as a mediator between God and mankind by offering up prayers and sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins (Leviticus 4:3). The high priest supervised the lower priests and had the final say on matters of theocracy. The high priest was also the civil leader of Israel. Moses' brother Aaron was the first High Priest followed by his son Eleazar (Numbers 20:28; 27:21). High priests enjoyed a lifetime position (Exodus 40:15), but when the Romans controlled Israel, they frequently replaced the ones they didn't like. Most Jews resented this intrusion into their religious matters. Jesus became the final and ultimate high priest (Hebrew 3:1) and mediator between God and mankind when He was sacrificed on the cross (Romans 8:34; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17; 4:14; 9:26; 10:10).

"He is able to succour them that are tempted." (2:18) - "He is able to comfort, help those who are tempted."

New Living Translation

Hebrews 2:5-18
Jesus, the Man

5 And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about.

6 For in one place the Scriptures say,

  "What are mere mortals that you should think about them,
      or a son of man that you should care for him?

7 Yet you made them only a little lower than the angels
      and crowned them with glory and honor.

8 You gave them authority over all things."

Now when it says "all things," it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority.

9 What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position "a little lower than the angels"; and because he suffered death for us, he is now "crowned with glory and honor." Yes, by God's grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.

10 God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.

11 So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.

12 For he said to God,

  "I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
      I will praise you among your assembled people."

13 He also said,

  "I will put my trust in him,"
      that is, "I and the children God has given me."

14 Because God's children are human beings-made of flesh and blood-the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.

15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

16 We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham.

17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.

18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. Why was Jesus "crowned with glory and honor" (2:9)?

Our good works do not save us. We are saved for good works.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. "Because Jesus "became obedient to the point of death...God also has highly exalted Him" (Philippians 2:8-9). By
His redemptive work, Christ has fulfilled all that is required as the supreme representative of mankind. By His Incarnation, substitutionary sacrifice, and victory over sin and death (cf. Romans 6:23; I John 4:10), He has fulfilled man's original purpose. As the Second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:47), He was for a short time lower than the angels. Now, He has glory and honor and all things (including angels) are subject to Him."

(From "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; pages 1838-1840).




Application thought for the day:

Because Jesus was tempted and suffered, He is qualified to help and comfort us (2:18).

Likewise, when we suffer or are tempted to sin, it prepares us to comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2023 evolke

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