Hebrews 2:10-12

Sonship Attained Through the Perfected Leader

God was the basic reason for, and power behind, creation (Romans 11:33-36; 1 Corinthians 8:6). It was both His and Jesus' purpose to cause many to attain heaven. Notice that Christians are called sons in this context (Hebrews 2:10). This Sonship is by adoption (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5). For this to be done, our leader, or pioneer who went ahead to open the path for us, had to be made perfect. He was completely prepared through suffering, which was the only thing He lacked.

Lightfoot says the word here translated "perfect" was regularly used in the Septuagint translation of the "Pentateuch to refer to the consecration of priests (Exodus 29:9; Exodus 29:29; Exodus 29:33; Exodus 29:35, etc.).” As an example, he tells of the priests under Moses' law who “were perfected or consecrated by various rites, so Christ in the New was perfected or consecrated or qualified. The thought is that, apart from suffering, Christ could not have been made a thoroughly effective, perfect Leader of His people."

Set Apart To Be God's Sons

The sanctified are those set apart for God's service. Jesus is the one who sanctifies, while those who do His will are the sanctified. Since we are both of the same Father, Jesus is not ashamed to call us brethren (2:11). In Psalms 22:22, David pled for help because of the danger he faced. His plea was also based upon his close relationship to God. Of course, Christ fulfilled the message to a greater degree (Hebrews 2:12). His suffering and the glory which followed it are both seen in its prophetic prediction. Both Lightfoot and Thompson remark that the opening verse of this Psalm is used by Jesus on the cross (Mark 15:34). Thompson shows that "the language of Psalms 22:1-31 is woven into the language of the passion narratives (Matthew 27:35; Psalms 22:18; Matthew 27:39; Psalms 22:7; Matthew 27:43; Psalms 22:8).