THAT IS WHY. Because God speaks to us through his Son. WE MUST HOLD ON. "We must seize the Truth spoken through the Son, and firmly hold on to it!" SO THAT. The symbolism is a_ swiftly flowing flood._ In our _boat,_ we must make some effort to row against the flood to keep from being swept away by i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MESSAGE GIVEN BY ANGELS. This is the Law of Moses. See note on Hebrews 1:4. Those who did things which the Law prohibited, or who failed to do all that the Law commanded, were severely punished!... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW, THEN, SHALL WE ESCAPE? "Christ is greater than the angels; and this means the Good News is greater than the Law. If those who did not pay attention to the Law were punished severely, how can we expect to escape if we pay no attention to the message and salvation given through the Son?" THE LORD... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD ADDED HIS WITNESS. The Law of Moses was authenticated by miracles (Hebrews 12:18-21). The gospel was equally authenticated by the miracles which went side by side with the preaching of Christ and his apostles. Compare Romans 15:18-19.... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD DID NOT. The TEV is clearer here. Christ created the earth (see Hebrews 1:10), and he did not create it for angels, but for mankind, as the next verse shows. Remember: Christ in his incarnation is the _representative man,_ the Second Adam. [_Johnson_ sees in this the difference between the Jewis... [ Continue Reading ]
INSTEAD. This is from Psalms 8:4-6 Septuagint. WHAT IS MAN? _MacKnight_ says this is Adam, who represents all mankind. MERE MAN = the son of man = all the descendants of that first man (so _Mac-Knight_ says). On "Son of Man" as a messianic title, see notes on Luke 22:69-70. God's _valuation_ of the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A LITTLE WHILE. Mankind, in this world which is under the curse, is for a little while lower than the angels. Christ, in taking our human nature (Romans 8:3; Hebrews 10:5; Hebrews 2:14), became, like us, a little lower than the angels. But in his Resurrection, he became higher than the angels (H... [ Continue Reading ]
RULER OVER ALL THINGS. This is the point of the quotation. All things (except God, 1 Corinthians 15:27) were placed under man's rule in Genesis 1:28. But we do not see our human race _in control_ over all things now. Compare Genesis 3:16-19. In the Incarnation (John 1:14), Christ took our human limi... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE DO SEE Jesus! The TEV correctly makes this the climax of the apostle's reasoning. The hope of mankind is not _angels,_ but Jesus!!! He is the Second Adam who brings us life!!! See Romans 5:14-18. FOR A LITTLE WHILE. Jesus had to share our humanity to die for all men. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS ONLY RIGHT. "You should not be surprised that God would save man by means of the death of Christ." SHOULD MAKE JESUS PERFECT. Not perfectly holy, since he was already sinless. But perfectly prepared to be our Savior. The rest of this chapter explains this. FOR JESUS IS THE ONE. "In the _guide... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MAKES MEN PURE. He makes men pure when they reach out through faith to seize his sacrifice and make themselves part of it. He continually is making men pure, on the basis of the _one sacrifice_ which he made on the Cross. ALL HAVE THE SAME FATHER. Christians are _twice-born_ (John 3:5_ and note).... [ Continue Reading ]
AS he says. This is from Psalms 22:22 Septuagint. I WILL PRAISE YOU. HUMNEO: to praise; to sing; to keep talking about. See note on Ephesians 5:19. The point is that Jesus is not ashamed to share _humanity_ or _humanness,_ and call men (including women) his brothers!... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ALSO SAYS. This quotes Isaiah 8:17. He shows his _brotherhood_ with _man_ as he speaks his trust in God. AND HE ALSO SAYS. This quotes Isaiah 8:18. This shows both that He was to come in human form, and that He makes himself the brother of the _saved._... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS HIMSELF. As mankind are all people of flesh and blood, Jesus the Logos shared the human nature that we all have in common. HE DID SO. He took flesh and blood, to destroy the Devil by means of his own death on the Cross. DESTROY THE DEVIL by canceling his power. He did this through his _raising... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO SET FREE. In sharing death, the final horror which all must face, Christ completely shared the human experience. By raising from death he added a _new dimension_ of hope. Not only does he make it possible for us to be forgiven our sin and be changed from the enemies of God into the friends of... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS NOT THE ANGELS. _MacKnight_ understands this: _"Moreover, by no means doth he take hold of_ the _angels_ who sinned, to save them; _but of_ those who are _the seed of Abraham_ by faith _he taketh hold,_ to deliver them from death, and to conduct them to heaven." THE SCRIPTURE SAYS. _"He helps... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MEANS. He had to share completely our human nature and experience. See Hebrews 4:15; Romans 8:3. WOULD BE FORGIVEN. See Hebrews 2:14. As High Priest, he offered the sacrifice of his own death so that the people's sins would be forgiven.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE. Because he has experienced all these things himself, he is able to help those who are tempted. Compare Matthew 4:1-11 and notes. Note that temptation itself is not sin, but it can lead into sin.... [ Continue Reading ]