Hebrews 2

Hebrews 2:1

THerefore] From the former doctrine touching Christs excellencie and dignitie above angels and all other creatures, Saint Paul infers this exhortation. The scope whereof is to stirre up the Hebrews to stand fast in that faith which they had received.

let them slip] Gr. run out as leaking vessels.

slip] Unto which is oppposed the hiding of the word in our hearts, Psalms 119:11. Luke 2:51. Or lest we perish like water poured forth, which cannot be gathered up again, 2 Samuel 14:14.

Hebrews 2:2

word] That is, either the law given upon Mount Sinai, Deuteronomy 33:2. Acts 7:53. Galatians 3:19. Or else all those revelations which God made unto the Prophets by Angels.

stedfast] That is, was of such force of authoritie, that no man transgressed stubbornly and willingly, unpunished.

a just] Condigne punishment, Romans 1:27.

Hebrews 2:3

great salvation] That, is the knowledge, Luke 1:77. or the word, Acts 13:26. or the Gospel of so great salvation, Ephesians 1:13. our eternall redemption and freedome from the bondage of Sinne, Satan, and Death; called great, in comparison of all temporall and corporall deliverances.

began] Not that Christ delivered the doctrine of salvation imperfectly, and left it to be fully delivered by the Apostles, but because he first preached it, and that fully and plainly, which before was but obscurely revealed. See Chap. 1. v. 1, 2.

unto us] That is, unto our times: or else Saint Paul here joynes himself with those Hebrews, who were called into the fellowship of the Gospel, tha t there by his exhortation might leave the deeper impression in those, unto whom he did write. See 1 Corinthians 10:8-9. 1 Peter 4:3.

Hebrews 2:5

the world to] The Apostle following the Translation of the Septuagint, Esther 9:6. cals the Church under the Gospel, especially, after Christs resurrection and ascension, when he had entred upon his eternall kingdome, the world to come: first, in relation unto the Church before and under the Law: secondly, because of the restauration of all things by Christ begun already, 2 Corinthians 5:17. and shall be finished hereafter at the generall day of resurrection, which is called the time of the restitution of all things, Acts 3:21. Ephesians 1:10.

spake] Hereof he had spoke, Chap. 1. vers. 2, 3. 13.

Hebrews 2:6

What is man] Psalms 8:4. The words in the literall sense, are to be understood both of the misery and basenesse, as also of the prerogative and dignitie of man in generall, especially of the faithfull: but in the mysticall or Propheticall sense, they are to be understood of the humiliation and exaltation of the man Christ Jesus, in whom they are most exactly and exquisitely fulfilled.

Hebrews 2:7

little lower] Or, a little while inferiour. The Originall both in the Hebrew and the Greek fignifieth, both a little deale, as Genesis 18:4. & Genesis 24:17. Joshua 6:7. and a little while, as Genesis 30:30. Exodus 17:4. Lev. 25. 32. Luke 22:58. Acts 5:34. and the place may be understood of both according to the two-fold sense observed in it: according to the literall or historicall sense, or as these words speake of the basenesse and dignitie of man, we may understand them of a little deale, but according to the Propheticall sense: as they speak of Christ, we may understand them of a little while and of a little deale.

Hebrews 2:8

But now] All power was given unto Christ at his resurrection, Matthew 28:18. John 5:27. but yet he doth not fully exercise this power: this is left to the judgement of the great day, when all his enemies shall be put under his feet. See Ch. 1. 13.

Hebrews 2:9

But we see] That is, by his resurrection, ascension, and those gifts of the Spirit, which he powred down upon his Apostles and the whole Church after his ascension, Acts 2:4. Ephesians 4:8. See vers. 4.

for] That is, that he might suffer death, the Greek preposition sometimes implying the finall cause. See Romans 4:25. Or in that he did die, which the Angels do not.

grace of God] John 3:16. Titus 2:11.

taste] That is, die, Matthew 6:28. Mark 9:1. Luke 9:27. Or it may be understood of Christ dying without seeing corruption, Psalms 16:10. Acts 2:17. & Acts 13:35.

for every man] Romans 5:18. 1 Timothy 2:6. 1 John 2:2.

Hebrews 2:10

For it] Here Saint Paul proceeds to shew the reason, wherefore it became him, who was ordained to be the Prince and captain of our salvation, to be man, and in our humane nature to suffer death.

became] Whether the work of mans redemption could have been wrought without the humiliation of the Sonne of God, is not determinable by men; but that it was the most admirable way, which wisdome, justice and mercy could require, cannot be denied.

for whom] Romans 11:26. 2 Corinthians 5:15.

glory] So the eternall happinesse of the Saints is often styled. See Romans 8:18. 2 Corinthians 4:17. Ephesians 1:18.

to make] That is, to consecrate unto his everlasting Kingdome and Priesthood. So the originall word is used by the Septuagint, Exodus 29:10.

Captain of their] Acts 3:15. & Acts 5:31.

Hebrews 2:11

sanctifieth] By (sanctifie) here understand not onely the renewing of our nature, but also our justification. See Chap. 9. 9. & 10. 10. Ephesians 5:26. by both which the Prince of our salvation brings sonnes unto glory. Or Christs consecrating us unto his Father, Revelation 1:6.

of one] That is, of one masse or lump, or of the same nature. It is conceived by some that this rule is taken from the manner of sanctifying under the Old Testament; under which the high Priest and those whom he sanctified, were of one and the same nature; and so the firstlings and first fruits, were of the same nature with the whole Flock and Crop, which was sanctified in them.

brethren] That is, to reckon himselfe amongst them as one of the same nature and condition; for in those texts afterwards alleadged, he doth not in expresse words call them brethren, but onely imply it.

Hebrews 2:12

Saying] Viz. Psalms 22:22. Which though it be to be here understood of David as the type, yet is likewise to be understood of Christ as of the truth; it being a continued relation of the story of Christs sufferings, and is oftener alleadged to that purpose by the Evangelists, then any Chapter in the Old Testament.

Hebrews 2:13

I will put] Psalms 18:2. & Psalms 22:30. It is the dutie of man subject to misery and affliction to put his trust in God, and therefore when Christ affirmes of himself (I wil put, &c.) thereby he implies his humane nature subject to misery and affliction.

Behold] Isaiah was a type of Christ: hence that which he affirmes of himself, is true of Christ.

children] Not onely Isaiah himself was a type of Christ, but his children also were a figure of those whom Christ was to bring unto glory. See Isaiah 8:18.

Hebrews 2:14

Forasmuch then, &c.] The Apostle having shewed before, that Christ was of the same nature with other men, comes at this verse to shew the reason why it was so requisite.

flesh and blood] Understand thereby mans humane nature subject to weaknesse, misery and death. So Matthew 16:17. Galatians 1:16. Ephesians 6:12. See Chap. 5. 7.

took] That is, did assume into the unitie of his person, or humane nature, subject to the same common blamelesse infirmities.

that through death] 1 Corinthians 15:54-55.

through] As it were by his own weapon.

him] That is, the power and kingdome of Satan, which stands in three things: First, in tempting man to sinne. Secondly; in holding him under the bondage of sinne. Thirdly, in accusing him to God for sinne. Hence Christ may be said by death to destroy the Devil, that is, the power of the Devil, because by the merit and vertue of his death he took away both the reigning and condemning power of sinne. Romans 6:3, &c. 1 John 3:8.

power of death] That is, through sinne whereunto he had seduced man, and under which he kept him still, 1 Corinthians 15:56.

devil] He speaks of one as of that Prince, not excluding the rest. So often in the Scriptures, as John 8:44. Ephesians 6:11. James 4:7.

Hebrews 2:15

of death] That is, joyned with the anger of God, as it is without Christ, who hath taken away its sling. See vers. 14.

bondage] And so could not take pleasure in any thing, seeing death was alwaies ready to surprize them.

Hebrews 2:16

took] The originall signifieth to lay hold upon one that is flying away, or in danger. Answerable hereunto it may in this place signifie Christs redeeming not the Angels, but the seed of Abraham: that is, man, when he fled from him, Genesis 3:8. Some understand it of Christs taking upon him our humane nature.

Hebrews 2:17

in all things] Sinne excepted. See Chap. 4. 15. Hereby we are given to understand that Christ was perfect man, consisting of a humane body and a humane soule, subject to all the common infirmities and weaknesses of both; or all those infirmities, whether of body or soul, which imply neither pollution nor impotencie in his sufferings.

behoved] See Vers. 10.

a mercifull] Chap. 4. 15. & 5. 2. That is, pitifull, ready to have compassion and to help.

faithfull] In executing Gods will for mans redemption.

to make] That is, by the sacrifice of himself or merit of his passion. See Chap. 1. 3.

Hebrews 2:18

tempted] Both in body and soul, yet without sinne: tempted of God in his agonie, Luke 22:44. of the devil, Matthew 4:1. and by his instruments through his whole life.