Jesus is Ruler of All the Earth
Hebrews Chapter Two
Introduction:
There are two hundred and fifty-six names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express.
Billy Sunday, in a sermon, “Wonderful,” quoted in The Real Billy Sunday
a. In the first chapter of Hebrews, the author established Christ superiority.
i. God speaks to us now through Jesus his Son.
1. There is no other Gospel.
ii. In chapter one, we clearly see Jesus’ superiority.
1. He is better than the prophets.
a. He is the Glory and Image of God
b. He sets at the right hand of God.
c. He has a better name.
2. He is better than the angels.
a. He is called Son.
b. He is worshipped.
c. He is king.
d. He is creator.
e. He is eternal.
b. In this chapter Paul will argue for the superiority of Jesus by showing that his humanity, and his suffering does not contradict his previous statements regarding his position in reference to angels.
I. A Superior Message v. 1-4
a. “give the more earnest heed”
A story is told of two men who got into conversation on a boat when returning from India. One was an English sportsman and the other was a missionary. The sportsman said, "I’ve been in India for 25 years, and I never saw one of the natives converted." "That’s queer," answered the missionary, "did you ever see a tiger?" "Hundreds of them," was the reply, "and I have shot dozens in the hunt." "Well, I have been in India for many years," said the missionary, "but I have never seen a tiger. But under the power of the Gospel of Christ, I have seen hundreds of the natives of India turn to the Savior!" You see, one loved hunting and was looking for tigers. The other loved individuals who needed God and was looking ways to bring them to Jesus! The Bible says, "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." \reference{Dan. 12:3}{Daniel 12:3} 252
i. This is simply a call to remember the Gospel.
1. The words “more earnest heed” in another translation is “pay much closer attention to”.
a. The Greek is προσέχω (prosechein), and it means not only to focus on a thing but also to act on it.
b. Peter in his epistle encourages his readers to know the Gospel of Christ so well that they can give an answer to every question.
1 Peter 3:15b
(15b) …. and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
ii. “should let them slip”
1. The American Standard Version
Hebrews 2:1 (ASV)
(1) ……., lest haply we drift away from them.
a. It is not the Gospel which slips from men, but men from the Gospel.
2. “From them”
a. “The verb pararuomen (παραῤῥυέω)can have several meanings. It is sometimes used as a nautical term meaning to “drift away,” as a ship not tied securely slips from its mooring and drifts away from shore to destruction. It can mean “to let slip away,” like a valuable ring slipping off the finger of a careless swimmer. It sometimes means “to take a wrong course,” like a crumb going into the windpipe and choking the person.”
b. The author is trying to tell the Hebrews not to let their persecution affect their focus on Jesus and his Gospel.
iii. The penalty for disobedience.
1. The “word” is the Law of Moses.
2. This “Law of Moses” was “spoken by angels”.
a. Angels are the messengers of God used to deliver Gods Decree.
b. The bible verifies to work of the angels in relationship to the Law of Moses.
Acts 7:53
(53) ye who received the law as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not.
Galatians 3:19
(19) What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise hath been made; and it was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.
c. Josephus (Ant. XV.5.3) has Herod remind the Jews that the noblest of the ordinances contained in the Law had been learned by them from God through angels. c.
3. Every commandment of the law had an appropriated punishment.
b. “How shall we escape”
i. Answer: We shall not escape.
ii. “Spoken by the Lord”
1. These early Jewish Christian never doubted the Old Law because they understood that it was from God.
2. The author of Hebrews is showing them that the Gospel of Christ should not be doubted on the same grounds that the Law should not be, i.e., because God authorized both.
iii. Confirmation
1. God had proven through the ministry of his son, Jesus.
c. “God also bearing them witness”
i. Signs and wonders and miracles
ii. Gifts of the Holy Ghost
II. A Superior Man v. 5-8
a. “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?”
b. “Thou madest him a little lower than the angels;”
i. He is crowned with glory.
ii. He is crowned with honour.
iii. Gave him a job.
c. “Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet.”
i. This is a reference to Genesis (subdue the land) by the Psalmist.
III. A Superior Christ v. 9-10
a. “But we see Jesus, who was made….for the suffering of death”
i. He is crowned with glory.
ii. He is crowned with honour.
iii. He suffered so that he could bring “many sons unto glory”.
b. “The Captain of our salvation”
i. Jesus did not need to save himself from sin because he had none.
1. If one were going to rent a boat to travel from one destination to another, he would need to hire a captain to navigate the vessel. In this fashion Christ came into the world to bring lost sinners to heaven because he was the one who knew the way.
ii. “perfect through sufferings.”
1. The Greek word here for perfect is τελειόω (teleioo).
a. It is a word that is used 14 times in the book of Hebrews.
b. It means to complete, that is, (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character): - consecrate, finish, fulfill, (make) perfect.
c. It never means perfect in regard to sin.
2. In the Torah the word is used to describe the process in which a priest was consecrated.
3. It seems that Paul is trying to show that Jesus is qualified to be our high priest because he was consecrated through suffering.
D.M. Stearns was preaching in Philadelphia. At the close of the service a stranger came up to him and said, "I don’t like the way you spoke about the cross. I think that instead of emphasizing the death of Christ, it would be far better to preach Jesus, the teacher and example." Stearns replied, "If I presented Christ in that way, would you be willing to follow Him?" "I certainly would," said the stranger without hesitation. "All right then," said the preacher, "let’s take the first step. He did no sin. Can you claim that for yourself?" The man looked confused and somewhat surprised. "Why, no," he said. "I acknowledge that I do sin." Stearns replied, "Then your greatest need is to have a Savior, not an example!" Source Unknown.
IV. A Superior Relationship v. 11-13
a. Sanctification
i. One needs to be “sanctified” before he can enter into the presence of God (Heb. 12:14).
Hebrews 12:14
(14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
ii. The Hebrew writer now stresses the unity between the believers and Jesus.
b. “he is not ashamed to call them brethren,”
i. Jesus considers us to be brothers and sisters.
1. This is very rare to see the word “brethren” (ἀδελφός Adelphos) being used to describe the relationship of Jesus and the believers.
2. It may be used in this regard in the book of Romans.
Romans 8:29
(29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
An incident is told about two soldiers who had recently been released from a prison camp in Siberia following World War II. "We did our best," said an officer, "to repatriate the men as fast as possible, but many were still there when winter threatened to close up the port." Only a limited number could board the last small boat. Among those waiting to be transported were two who had been chums all through the war. One of them was selected, but the other seemed doomed to remain behind. An order was given that those who were leaving could take only one important item of luggage. The heart of the man who was chosen went out to his buddy, so he emptied his duffel bag of its prized souvenirs and his personal belongings and told his companion to get into the canvas sack. Then carefully lifting the bag on his shoulders, he boarded the ship with his friend as his single, most precious possession. This man truly loved his neighbor as himself.
ii. Since we “are all of one,” Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers.
1. i.e. we all have the same father.
c. “sing praise unto thee”
i. Christ is one of us in the congregation.
1. He is one of us.
ii. Jesus is not just another demagogue in a far off place making judgments.
1. He is right “in the midst” of us.
d. “I will put my trust in him.”
i. “Behold I and the children which God hath given me.”
1. This phrase is taken from the book of Isaiah, chapter seven.
a. The background of this text deals with a message sent to king Ahaz which spoke of a league made between Rezin of Damascus and Pekah of Israel to destroy Judah.
b. Isaiah had earlier prophesied that this league would not overtake Judah, but a year later it seems as if this confederation cannot be stopped.
c. Judah begins to lose faith in the prophecy.
d. Isaiah prophecies again, but this time he enlist the help of his two boys.
e. Isaiah and his children travel throughout Judah preaching that God will stop this league.
f. God holds true to his promise.
2. The author of Hebrews is no doubt referencing the togetherness of Isaiah and his two children, and there trust, and reliance in God.
a. It is interesting to see the unity of Isaiah and his children.
b. These boys had the faith of there father and were not ashamed to be aligned with him.
i. Isaiah means “Jehovah is salvation.”
ii. Shear-Jasub means “a remnant shall return.”
iii. Maher-shalal-hash-baz means “speed to the spoil, haste to the prey.”
V. A Superior Personification v. 14
a. “flesh and blood”
i. Jesus became just like us.
ii. “he also himself likewise took part of the same.”
b. Jesus destroyed the devil.
i. The only way Jesus could destroy the Devil was to sacrifice his life.
ii. The only way for him to sacrifice his life was to take upon him his humanity.
VI. A Superior Life v. 15-18
a. “subject to bondage”
i. The devil had oppressed men with the power of death for too long.
ii. Jesus came into this world to release the devils death grip.
b. “he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.”
Hebrews 2:16 ASV
(16) For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham.
i. Now the author has shown that Jesus is superior to the angels, he continues by showing that Jesus came to save man as opposed to angels.
ii. These men who are “a little lower than the angels,” are the only creation of God that can boast of having a plan of reconciliation to there creator.
1 Peter 1:12
(12) Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
c. “merciful and faithful high priest”
i. The author has already alluded to Christ being our high priest in the first chapter.
ii. The high priest was the most important spiritual person in the life of every Hebrew, and the Hebrew author is going to continue to show how Jesus is a superior high priest.
d. “to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.”
i. The American Standard Version has the correct translation here when it uses the word propitiation for the Greek ἱλάσκομαι (hilaskomai).
1. This word means to “atone” or to “cover.”
2. Man could not be reconciled to God with out the shedding of Christ blood.
e. “he himself hath suffered being tempted”
i. Because he was tempted and suffered because of sin, even though he himself never had sinned, is able to “succour,” (come to the aid) the sinner.
Years ago in a Western city, a husband and wife became estranged and finally separated. They left the city and resided in different parts of the country. The husband, one day, chanced to return to this city on a matter of business. He went out to the cemetery to the grave of their only son. He was standing by the grave in fond reminiscence, when he heard a step behind him. Turning, he saw his estranged wife. The first inclination of both was to turn away. But they had a common binding interest in that grave; and instead of turning away they clasped hands over that grave of their son and were reconciled one to another. It took nothing less than death to reconcile them!
It takes nothing less than death, the precious blood of Christ, to reconcile man to God. The pronouncement, the proclamation of that, is the gospel message. --McCartney
Conclusion
1. The author has given a great argument for Christ superiority.
a. A Superior Message.
b. A Superior Man.
c. A Superior Christ
d. A Superior Relationship
e. A Superior Personification
f. A Superior Life.
2. In the next chapter Paul will argue that Jesus is better than Moses.
