Hebrews 2:17

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. WHEREFORE, [ hothen (G3606)] - 'Whence.' Found in Paul's speech, Acts 26:19. IN ALL THINGS - incidental to manhood. Sin is not, in man's original constitution, a necessary attendant of manhood, so He had no sin. IT BEHOVED HIM - by moral necessity, considering what God's justice and love required of Him as Mediator (cf. Hebrews 5:3), having voluntarily undertaken to 'help' man ...

17._Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, _or, _to be like his brethren, etc. _In Christ’s human nature there are two things to be considered, the real flesh and the affections or feelings. The Apostle then teaches us, that he had not only put on the real flesh of man, but also all those feelings which belong to man, and he also shows the benefit that hence proceeds; and it is the true teaching of faith when we in our case find the reason why the Son of God undertook our infirmities; for all knowledge without feeling the need of this benefit is cold and lifeless. But he teaches us that Christ was made subject to human affections, _that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest; _which words I thus explain, “that he might be a merciful, and therefore a faithful high priest.” (50) For in a priest, whose office it is to appease God’s wrath, to help...

14-18 The angels fell, and remained without hope or help. Christ never designed to be the Saviour of the fallen angels, therefore he did not take their nature; and the nature of angels could not be an atoning sacrifice for the sin of man. Here is a price paid, enough for all, and suitable to all, for it was in our nature. Here the wonderful love of God appeared, that, when Christ knew what he must suffer in our nature, and how he must die in it, yet he readily took it upon him. And this atonement made way for his people's deliverance from Satan's bondage, and for the pardon of their sins through faith. Let those who dread death, and strive to get the better of their terrors, no longer attempt to outbrave or to stifle them, no longer grow careless or wicked through despair. Let them not expect help from the world, or human devices; but let them seek pardon, peace, grace, and a lively hop...

Verse 17. _WHEREFORE IN ALL THINGS_] Because he thus _laid hold_ on man in order to redeem him, it was necessary that he should in all things become like to man, that he might suffer in his stead, and make an atonement in his nature. _THAT HE MIGHT BE A MERCIFUL AND FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST_] ινα ελεημων γενηται. _That he might be merciful_-that he might be affected with a feeling of our infirmities, that, partaking of our nature with all its innocent infirmities and afflictions, he might know how to _compassionate_ poor, afflicted, suffering man. And that he might be a _faithful high priest in those things which_ _relate to God_, whose justice requires the punishment of the transgressors, or a suitable expiation to be made for the sins of the people. The proper meaning of ιλασκεσθαι τας αμαρτιας is _to_ _make propitiation_ or _atonement for sins by sacrifice_. _See the note on this word,...

WHEREFORE IN ALL THINGS - In respect to his body; his soul; his rank and character. There was a propriety that he should be like them, and should partake of their nature. The meaning is, that there was a fitness that nothing should be wanting in him in reference to the innocent propensities and sympathies of human nature. IT BEHOVED HIM - It became him; or there was a fitness and propriety in it. The reason why it was proper, the apostle proceeds to state. LIKE UNTO HIS BRETHREN - Like unto those who sustained to him the relation of brethren; particularly as he undertook to redeem the descendants of Abraham, and as he was a descendant of Abraham himself, there was a propriety that he should be like them. He calls them brethren; and it was proper that he should show that he regarded them as such by assuming their nature....

EXPOSITION HEBREWS 2:1 INTERPOSED EXHORTATION as explained above. HEBREWS 2:1 ON THIS ACCOUNT (_i.e. _on account of what has been seen of the SON'S superiority to the angels) WE OUGHT (or, _we are bound_)_ _MORE ABUNDANTLY TO GIVE HEED TO THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE HEARD (_i.e. _the gospel that has been preached to us in the Son), LEST AT ANY TIME (or, _lest haply_)_ _WE LET THEM SLIP (rather, _float past them_)_. _The word παραρρυῶμεν (aorist subjunctive from παραρρέω)_ _denotes flowing or floating past anything. The allusion is to the danger, inci

WHEREFORE IN ALL THINGS IT BEHOVED HIM TO BE MADE LIKE UNTO HIS BRETHREN,.... The adopted sons of God, who were brethren before Christ's incarnation, being from all eternity predestinated to the adoption of children: Christ's incarnation was in time, and after that many of the brethren existed; and it was only for their sakes that he assumed human nature; and therefore it was proper he should be like them in that nature, in all things: in all the essentials of it; it was not necessary that he should have it by natural generation; nor that it should have a subsistence in itself as theirs: and in all the properties and affections of it, that are, not sinful; for it did not behove him to be like them in sin, nor in sickness, and in diseases of the body: and in all temptations; though in some things his differ from theirs; none of his arose from within; and those from without could make no i...

Hebrews 2:1. _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._ That is to say, because Jesus is so great, because the truths which he came to reveal are so infinitely important, «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;» for, sometimes, we seem to let them slip. We grow old; our mind is dull; our heart is occupied with other matters, and we let these heavenly things leak out, or drift by us, as if we were not concerned in them. Hebrews 2:2. _For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;_...

RECONCILIATION (Greek, "hilaskomai", "propitiation"). (_ See Scofield) - (Romans 3:25). _...

II. CHRIST, SON OF MAN, HIS GLORY AND HIS SALVATION CHAPTER 2:5-18 _ 1. The Man crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:5)_ 2. His humiliation, suffering and the results (Hebrews 2:10) Hebrews 2:5 Angels are once more mentioned and the fact is stated first of all that angels are not called of God to reign: “Unto the angels hath He not put in subjection, the world to come whereof we speak.” “The world to come” is not heaven or the eternal state. The literal translation is “the habitable world to come”; it is the existing earth, inhabited by human beings in the dispensation which will follow the present age. The world in the dispensation to come, called in Ephesians “the dispensation of the f