In this section of Hebrews, the writer builds on the truths shared in chapter 1, namely that Jesus was a better messenger than the angels because of who He was as the Son of God and because of the ministry He had exercised as the Redeemer of humankind. In this chapter, the writer spells out in more detail why Jesus became a human and how His suffering through death brought a perfect salvation to guilty sinners who turned to Him in faith.
1]. GOD MADE HUMANS TO HAVE DOMINION OVER THE WORLD BUT THEY FAILED
As we read the opening chapter of Genesis we learn of God’s plan to create a world and as a climax of creation to create humans to have dominion over the world, “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26. However sin entered the world with dramatic consequences [Genesis 3:16-24] and humans lost that dominion over the world.
God in His eternal plan and purpose for the world would eventually bring into the world a perfect person as a human, who would die for the sins of humans and bring victory to fellow humans through His resurrection from the dead. That of course was His own eternal Son, Jesus Christ. There is a problem in understanding who “man” refers to in verses 6 to 9. It could be said that in verses 6 to 8 it is a reference to humans as a whole and then in verse 9 the focus shifts to the perfect human, Jesus. “5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honour, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.” Hebrews 2:5-8. It is true that God created humans to have dominion over the world and were superior to angels, but when they sinned they lost that authority and became for a time less than angels. They were initially crowned with glory and honour at creation and will eventually be honoured that way when Christ returns and takes them to glory.
2]. JESUS AS THE PERFECT HUMAN NOW RULES THE WORLD. BUT HOW?
i]. By Becoming A Human. 2:9
The attention now shifts to Jesus as the “him” in verse 9, “But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9. Jesus was and is the eternal Son of God but in a passage of time He humbled Himself by coming into the world as a human baby. In this sense He was made ”lower than the angels” in the purpose of God as He set aside the privileges that were His as the Son of God. However, He fulfilled the purposes of God in suffering death on the cross for humans as the long-promised Suffering Messiah and was again “crowned with glory and honour.” Not only was He the Son of God but through His life, death and resurrection, He became Perfect Man and is seated at the right hand of God in glory.
ii]. By Dying As A Human For Humans. 2:10
The writer says, “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” Heb 2:10.
“Fitting” is [prepō; πρέπω] meaning it is proper, it is right. It was in accord with God’s purposes that Jesus “should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” It was in order that He should bring “many sons to glory.”
But what is meant by the phrase “should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering?” Jesus was always perfect in every way, so how could he be made perfect through suffering? “Perfect” is from [teleioō; τελειόω] which can mean to execute fully, to bring to completion. Jesus’ suffering on the cross completed God’s plan of saving the world and so bringing many sons to glory.
iii]. By Bringing Believers Into The Family Of God. 2:11-13
Jesus is not only the perfect human but He has brought believers into the family of God. As the perfect human, He could see human believers as brothers in the same family under the same Heavenly Father, “For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” 2:11-13. What a great privilege it is to belong to the children of God and to know that Jesus sees us as His brothers.
3]. THE RESULTS OF HIS DEATH AS THE PERFECT HUMAN FOR HUMANS
i]. His Death As The Perfect Human Set Humans Free From Their Bondage To The Devil. 2:14. “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” When sin entered into our world death came with it. The author of sin and death is the Devil. The coming of Christ destroyed the works of the Devil in the sense that Christ paid the penalty for sin so that the devil as diabolos [the accuser] can no longer hold this power of accusation over believers.
ii]. His Death Set Humans Free From Bondage To Their Fear Of Death. 2:15
“and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
It is true that humans have a strong fear of death. Some people realise their lives have not been perfect and fear that they may have to suffer some punishment for their sins in the afterlife. However, when believers recognise that Christ has atoned for their sins and God no longer sees them as guilty, they lose their fear of death. They see death as passing from this world into the presence of Christ, so there is nothing to fear.
iii.]. His Death Atoned For The Sins Of The World. 2:16-17
Jesus Christ helps believers, described here as “the offspring of Abraham.” “Helps” here is [epilambanomai: ἐπιλαμβάνομαι.] This has the meaning to lay hold of, take possession of, overtake, attain, to rescue one from peril, to help, “For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” 2:16-17.
He “helped” believers by paying the penalty for their sins as the writer describes later in Heb 10:12-14. “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” This single sacrifice achieved a “propitiation.” The word “propitiation” is from [hilaskomai; ἱλάσκομαι] meaning to appease, to conciliate to one’s self. The NIV and CSB versions translate the word as “makes atonement.” It has the idea of not only getting rid of sin, but also bringing about a reconciliation between God and humankind.
iv. His Suffering in death Means He Is Now Able To Help Those Being Tempted. 2:18
Heb 2:18 “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Jesus knows what it is like to live life as a human. He faced all the temptations humans suffer except to a far greater degree, without ever sinning. He knows how to overcome temptation as a human and so He is able to help those being tempted.
“Help” is from [boētheō; βοηθέω] meaning to run to the aid of those who cry for help; to advance to the assistance of anyone, to help, to aid. Jesus faced temptations to the nth degree and is thus is able to help believers to resist when they are being tempted. He understands the complexity and the strength of the temptations humans face and is able to help them overcome temptation.
SUMMING UP
The writer is reminding Hebrew readers that Jesus is not only the Son of God but through becoming a human He brought salvation to guilty humans through His sacrificial death on the cross. Thus He understands their suffering temptations and is able to help them when they are being tempted. The writer expands on this truth in Heb 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
The Hebrew readers could take confidence that Jesus becoming a human was not a sign of His weakness. Rather it showed that He became human in the purposes of God in order to die a perfect death for humans. This was to enable those who trusted in Him to receive His help in their temptations on earth and to be able to take them home to glory when they died.
Jesus is the Son of God and the Perfect Son of Man who is able to help the people of God as they seek to live for Him in their daily lives!
Blog No.515 posted on Sunday 14 January 2024.
holbeck 
515. JESUS BECAME A HUMAN TO SAVE HUMANS. Hebrews 2:5-18
In this section of Hebrews, the writer builds on the truths shared in chapter 1, namely that Jesus was a better messenger than the angels because of who He was as the Son of God and because of the ministry He had exercised as the Redeemer of humankind. In this chapter, the writer spells out in more detail why Jesus became a human and how His suffering through death brought a perfect salvation to guilty sinners who turned to Him in faith.
1]. GOD MADE HUMANS TO HAVE DOMINION OVER THE WORLD BUT THEY FAILED
As we read the opening chapter of Genesis we learn of God’s plan to create a world and as a climax of creation to create humans to have dominion over the world, “Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26. However sin entered the world with dramatic consequences [Genesis 3:16-24] and humans lost that dominion over the world.
God in His eternal plan and purpose for the world would eventually bring into the world a perfect person as a human, who would die for the sins of humans and bring victory to fellow humans through His resurrection from the dead. That of course was His own eternal Son, Jesus Christ. There is a problem in understanding who “man” refers to in verses 6 to 9. It could be said that in verses 6 to 8 it is a reference to humans as a whole and then in verse 9 the focus shifts to the perfect human, Jesus. “5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? 7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honour, 8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.” Hebrews 2:5-8. It is true that God created humans to have dominion over the world and were superior to angels, but when they sinned they lost that authority and became for a time less than angels. They were initially crowned with glory and honour at creation and will eventually be honoured that way when Christ returns and takes them to glory.
2]. JESUS AS THE PERFECT HUMAN NOW RULES THE WORLD. BUT HOW?
i]. By Becoming A Human. 2:9
The attention now shifts to Jesus as the “him” in verse 9, “But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9. Jesus was and is the eternal Son of God but in a passage of time He humbled Himself by coming into the world as a human baby. In this sense He was made ”lower than the angels” in the purpose of God as He set aside the privileges that were His as the Son of God. However, He fulfilled the purposes of God in suffering death on the cross for humans as the long-promised Suffering Messiah and was again “crowned with glory and honour.” Not only was He the Son of God but through His life, death and resurrection, He became Perfect Man and is seated at the right hand of God in glory.
ii]. By Dying As A Human For Humans. 2:10
The writer says, “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” Heb 2:10.
“Fitting” is [prepō; πρέπω] meaning it is proper, it is right. It was in accord with God’s purposes that Jesus “should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” It was in order that He should bring “many sons to glory.”
But what is meant by the phrase “should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering?” Jesus was always perfect in every way, so how could he be made perfect through suffering? “Perfect” is from [teleioō; τελειόω] which can mean to execute fully, to bring to completion. Jesus’ suffering on the cross completed God’s plan of saving the world and so bringing many sons to glory.
iii]. By Bringing Believers Into The Family Of God. 2:11-13
Jesus is not only the perfect human but He has brought believers into the family of God. As the perfect human, He could see human believers as brothers in the same family under the same Heavenly Father, “For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” 13 And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” 2:11-13. What a great privilege it is to belong to the children of God and to know that Jesus sees us as His brothers.
3]. THE RESULTS OF HIS DEATH AS THE PERFECT HUMAN FOR HUMANS
i]. His Death As The Perfect Human Set Humans Free From Their Bondage To The Devil. 2:14. “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” When sin entered into our world death came with it. The author of sin and death is the Devil. The coming of Christ destroyed the works of the Devil in the sense that Christ paid the penalty for sin so that the devil as diabolos [the accuser] can no longer hold this power of accusation over believers.
ii]. His Death Set Humans Free From Bondage To Their Fear Of Death. 2:15
“and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”
It is true that humans have a strong fear of death. Some people realise their lives have not been perfect and fear that they may have to suffer some punishment for their sins in the afterlife. However, when believers recognise that Christ has atoned for their sins and God no longer sees them as guilty, they lose their fear of death. They see death as passing from this world into the presence of Christ, so there is nothing to fear.
iii.]. His Death Atoned For The Sins Of The World. 2:16-17
Jesus Christ helps believers, described here as “the offspring of Abraham.” “Helps” here is [epilambanomai: ἐπιλαμβάνομαι.] This has the meaning to lay hold of, take possession of, overtake, attain, to rescue one from peril, to help, “For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” 2:16-17.
He “helped” believers by paying the penalty for their sins as the writer describes later in Heb 10:12-14. “But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” This single sacrifice achieved a “propitiation.” The word “propitiation” is from [hilaskomai; ἱλάσκομαι] meaning to appease, to conciliate to one’s self. The NIV and CSB versions translate the word as “makes atonement.” It has the idea of not only getting rid of sin, but also bringing about a reconciliation between God and humankind.
iv. His Suffering in death Means He Is Now Able To Help Those Being Tempted. 2:18
Heb 2:18 “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” Jesus knows what it is like to live life as a human. He faced all the temptations humans suffer except to a far greater degree, without ever sinning. He knows how to overcome temptation as a human and so He is able to help those being tempted.
“Help” is from [boētheō; βοηθέω] meaning to run to the aid of those who cry for help; to advance to the assistance of anyone, to help, to aid. Jesus faced temptations to the nth degree and is thus is able to help believers to resist when they are being tempted. He understands the complexity and the strength of the temptations humans face and is able to help them overcome temptation.
SUMMING UP
The writer is reminding Hebrew readers that Jesus is not only the Son of God but through becoming a human He brought salvation to guilty humans through His sacrificial death on the cross. Thus He understands their suffering temptations and is able to help them when they are being tempted. The writer expands on this truth in Heb 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
The Hebrew readers could take confidence that Jesus becoming a human was not a sign of His weakness. Rather it showed that He became human in the purposes of God in order to die a perfect death for humans. This was to enable those who trusted in Him to receive His help in their temptations on earth and to be able to take them home to glory when they died.
Jesus is the Son of God and the Perfect Son of Man who is able to help the people of God as they seek to live for Him in their daily lives!
Blog No.515 posted on Sunday 14 January 2024.
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About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.