College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Hebrews 2:1-4
Hence, we see the certainty of punishment to those who neglect God's revelation through His Son.
Text
Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we ought to give more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them. Hebrews 2:2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; Hebrews 2:3 how shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation? which having at the first been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed unto us by them that heard; Hebrews 2:4 God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will.
Paraphrase
Hebrews 2:1 Because the Son, by whom God hath spoken to us in these last days, is greatly superior to all the angels, both in His nature and office, we ought to pay the more attention to the things which the ministers of the word heard Him speak, (Hebrews 2:3.), lest at any time we should let them slip out of our minds.
Hebrews 2:2 For, if the law which God spake to the Israelites, by the ministry of angels, was so confirmed by the miracles which accompanied it, that every presumptuous transgression and disobedience received a just punishment,
Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape unpunished, if we disbelieve and despise the news of so great a salvation? which began to be preached by the Lord Himself, and hath been fully published and confirmed to us Jews, not by a vague report, but by the credible testimony of the apostles and others who heard Him;
Hebrews 2:4 God himself bearing joint witness to the salvation preached of the Lord and His apostles, both by signs and wonders, and miracles of divers kinds, which He enabled these preachers to perform, and by distributions of the gifts of the Holy Ghost, which they bestowed, not according to their will, but according to His own pleasure?
Comment
Therefore we
This suggests a conclusion to be drawn from previous points:
a.
Since God has loved us, giving us a ministry, a word, a Christ, ministering angels, some duties must rest on us.
b.
Salvation is not to be solely God's responsibility. It is time man should awaken, for God will not endure a wayward society.
to give the more earnest heed
This calls for application of man's energies, and not a careless. carefree attitude:
a.
God challenges men to hearto reason.
1)
Revelation 3:13: hath ears, let him hear.
2)
Isaiah 1:18: let us reason.
3)
Deuteronomy 18:19: not hearken.
4)
Matthew 7:27: heareth and doeth not.
b.
Man is a creature of choice. Therefore, he must use his intellect for his self-preservation.
Jesus spoke plainly concerning disbelief, saying that disbelievers will be condemned. (Mark 16:16)
to the things that were heard
What had been heard?
a.
This refers to the message heard from Christ and his Apostles.
1.
Some might want to say that it refers to all the Old Testament scriptures, but this is not true, except as preached by the Lord and the apostles.
2.
The content suggests the preaching of Christ and His apostles, and not the divers portions and manners of the Old Testament times.
b.
The message that made them Christians is referred to here.
lest happily we drift away from them.
Drifting is always downstream.
a.
Like a man that is above the waterfall, he has only to fold his hands and drift to his destruction.
b.
The man who would reach heaven must strive, not drift.
An alternate translation is, Lest at any time we should let them slip.
a.
The Word will not slipit is final and eternal.
1.
Matthew 24:35: my word shall not pass away.
b.
Man needs to guard himself lest he slip.
1.
Luke 13:24: Strive to enter in at the strait gate.
2.
2 Peter 1:10: Make your calling and election sure.
for if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast
1.
Milligan says this refers directly to the Mosaic law.
a.
Galatians 3:19law was ordained in the hands of a mediator by angels.
b.
Deuteronomy 33:2, from His right hand went a fiery law for them.
c.
Acts 7:53 :who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
God's words to Israel were filled with warnings, and the history of Israel proves that God meant what He said:
a.
Exodus 23:20-21: An angel before theeprovoke him not.
b.
Deuteronomy 17:12: There was a death penalty for rejecting the word of a priest.
The word if suggests a conclusion to be drawnlook for it.
a just recompense of reward
The penalty in the Old Testament was severe and quick. A few examples of its severity are given:
a.
Deuteronomy 19:16-21The penalty for a false witness.
b.
Joshua 7:25Israel stoned Achan for disobedience.
c.
Deuteronomy 22:21A harlot stoned to death.
The New Testament gives us a picture of the seriousness of sin.
a.
Acts 5:1-11Ananias and Sapphiracarried out dead.
a just
Israel agreed to the justice of it:
a.
Deuteronomy 27:26: all the people shall say amen.
Who is man that he could challenge the justice of a Father who is so forgiving and loving?
recompense of reward
Recompense means compensation, award or payment:
a.
Good, as well as bad, has its retribution.
b.
We live in a dependable universe, where whatever a man sows, that will he reap. Galatians 6:7-8.
c.
Every road has its ending.
d.
Every law has its penalty, else it is no law.
Recompense is God's privilege, for it is He who has made the laws of the universe.
a.
Hebrews 10:30-31: Vengeance belongeth to Me, I will recompense.
b.
Revelation 19:15: winepress of the wrath of the Almighty.
How shall we escape
This is the conclusion suggested by the if in verse two.
There is no escape.
Three characteristics of God make it impossible for man to escape:
a.
He is omnipresentman cannot go where God is not.
b.
He is omniscientall-wise, so He cannot be outwitted by man.
c.
He is omnipotentall-powerful, therefore man cannot overpower Him.
1.
He is almighty.
a)
Genesis 17:1; Genesis 35:11; Revelation 21:22.
2.
He is the source of all power.
a)
Romans 13:1: There is no power but of God.
Some have tried to escape from God, but found it impossible:
a.
Adam and Eve tried to hide. Genesis 3:8.
b.
Cain tried to hide, Genesis 4:10, but God said, The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto Me from the ground.
c.
Jonah tried it, but he had more than a tribal deity.
if we neglect so great a salvation
1.
In what ways is our salvation great?
a.
1 Peter 1:12: Angels desire to look into it.
b.
John 8:56: Abraham rejoiced as he saw it coming.
c.
Hebrews 5:9; Hebrews 12:2: Christ is the author of it.
d.
John 3:16: God loved us.
e.
Romans 1:16: It has power.
f.
Hebrews 2:3-4: It is confirmed.
the Lord
Was there no salvation until Christ?
a.
Yes, in a sense:
1.
Enoch was translated, Hebrews 11:5.
2.
Elijah went up by a whirlwind in a chariot of fire and horses of fire, 2 Kings 2:11.
3.
Lazarus carried into Abraham's bosom, Luke 16:22.
4.
Psalms 23; through the valley of the shadow of death.
b.
Old. Testament salvation is not as clearly set forth as that which Jesus gives, which is the great salvation.
1.
2 Timothy 1:10: brought life and immortality to light, Of what did He the Lord speak?
a)
He spoke of His Deity:
1.
John 1:18: Son who is in the bosom of the Father.
2.
John 10:30: I and the Father are one.
b)
He spoke of Himself as the Way.
1.
c)
He spoke of repentance.
1.
2.
d)
He spoke of His authority.
1.
was confirmed unto us
Who did the confirming?
a.
No doubt those that heard Him is here meant:
1.
The apostles were eye and ear witnesses of His personal ministry:
a)
b)
c)
d)
1 Peter 1:20: but was manifested at the end of time for your sake.
e)
Acts 26:26: This thing hath not been done in a corner. Does the word us destroy the apostleship of Paul?
a.
Not necessarily, for he could be simply associating himself with his readers.
b.
This is done frequently in other parts of the epistle, (See Hebrews 3:14; Hebrews 4:1-3; Hebrews 4:11; Hebrews 4:14-16; Hebrews 6:1; Hebrews 6:3.)
God also bearing witness with them
The apostles did not have to stand on their word alone:
a.
They had proof that accompanied their message.
b.
Thus the person who rejected the preaching rejected not only the word of God, but also His works.
The Jews in their heckling of Jesus had asked for proof. Matthew 12:39.
both by signs and wonders
What is meant by signs?
a.
Hear Jesus name some signs: Mark 16:17-18; Mark 16:20.
1.
Cast out demons, Hebrews 2:17.
2.
Speak with new tongues, Hebrews 2:17.
3.
Take up deadly serpents, Hebrews 2:18.
4.
Drink deadly poison, Hebrews 2:18.
5.
Lay hands on sick and they recover, Hebrews 2:18.
b.
These signs were miracles:
1.
They were not witch doctor trickery, but proofs of the origin of the message delivered.
2.
They are called signs because they arouse men's minds to think of something higher than what appears.
What is meant by wonders?
a.
This is not necessarily something different, but a different way of looking at the same thing:
1.
Milligan quotes Ebrard as teaching that miracles may be regarded in a fourfold aspect:
a)
First with regard to their design as signsmiraculous testimonies in behalf of the truth.
b)
Secondly, with respect to their nature as wonders, supernatural acts calculated to excite wonder and amazement in the minds of those who witnessed them.
c)
Thirdly, with respect to their origin as manifestations of supernatural powers.
d)
Finally, in their specific Christian aspects, as gifts and distributions of the Holy Spirit imparted to the original witnesses and proclaimers of the truth. (See 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11; Milligan, pp. 79, 80.)
A good example is Acts 2:43: And fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
a.
Signs would set their thoughts to work.
b.
Wonders would cause them to feel.
c.
Miracles would cause faith. John 20:30-31.
d.
Works beyond the uniformity of nature would cause astonishment.
and by manifold powers
Powers rather suggests the energy put forth in wonders:
a.
It was seen in Jesus, Luke 9:43.
b.
Christ always gave glory to God for the power that worked in Him.
The word manifold is suggestive, for Christ proved His power over many things:
a.
Power to forgive sins. Matthew 9:6.
b.
Power over unclean spirits. Matthew 10:1.
c.
Power to heal sickness. Mark 3:15.
d.
Power over nature. Mark 4:39: Peace be still.
e.
Power over death. John 10:18: Power to lay it down, power to pick it up.
f.
Power to transform human life abounds in the scripture and in human history.
These three expressions appear together to show the devil's powers likewise:
2 Thessalonians 2:9: Working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders.
a.
The devil deceives, while Jesus deals with truth.
b.
The devil's servants can practice magic as well as a magician can fool people; but remember that it is deceit, not truth.
and gifts of the Holy Spirit
These gifts pertain primarily to the church, whereas the other expressions were definitely true of God in times past:
a.
Ephesians 4:11: He gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers
b.
1 Corinthians 12:4-17diversities of the Spirit.
c.
1 Corinthians 12:28-30 is a very good list.
according to His own will
God in His wisdom is able to distribute gifts arbitrarily in order to make them most efficient in His service.
Calvin says, The words remind us that the miracles mentioned could not be ascribed to any except to God alone and that they were not wrought undesignedly, but for the distinct purpose of sealing the truth of the gospel. (p. 56)
Study Questions
164.
Did God ever speak through angels a punishment or a warning?
165.
Just recompense of reward means what?
166.
Name some instances of fair punishment.
167.
Did the people ever agree that God was just? (See Deuteronomy 27:26.)
168.
Is this a world that gives recompense of reward? (See Galatians 6:7-8.)
169.
What is there about God that makes it impossible for man to flee from God? Explain.
170.
Name some who have tried to escape.
171.
What is referred to as gifts of the Holy Spirit?
172.
Why did God give some people gifts? (See Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:4-17; 1 Corinthians 12:28-30.)
173.
What new discussion does Paul begin in Hebrews 2:5?
174.
What is meant by the expression, world to come?
175.
Does he mean that in the new earth man will reign?
176.
Was this world ever subjected to man?
177.
Was it ever lost?
178.
When? (See Genesis 3:15-24.)
179.
Was it lost to anyone? cf. Psalms 68:18; John 14:30; 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31; John 16:11; 2 Corinthians 2:2; 1 John 5:19; Revelation 12:9.
180.
Did the Jews desire signs?
181.
What is the difference between signs and wonders?
182.
What is the real difference? Are not both miracles?
183.
What power do we see in the apostles?
184.
Manifold powers suggests many powers. Will you name some indications of Christ's power over many things?
185.
Could power refer to the energy put forth in doing wonders?
186.
Does the devil have similar power? cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:9; Ephesians 6:12.
187.
Is neglect a sin?
188.
What will neglect do in other realms, such as a flower garden, a farm, a building, a baby?
189.
Is the sin in proportion to the greatness of the thing neglected?
190.
In what ways is salvation through Christ a great salvation?
191.
What in this salvation was spoken by the Lord?
192.
Did He add to what has been previously spoken?
193.
Did He just add more light?
194.
Name some things spoken of by Jesus.
195.
Did Jesus speak of the death, burial, resurrection?
196.
What do you understand by the word confirmed?
197.
Who did the confirming?
198.
Is the author stating that he received his message from the apostles who traveled with Jesus?
199.
Is it characteristic of the author to identify himself with the reader?
200.
Who is referred to by the expression, them that heard?
201.
Explain the statement, God bearing witness with them.