Hebrews 2

Hebrews 2:1

THerefore] naly, because of Christs Majestie, and ivine Authoritie, who is the everlasting King of the Church More earnest heed] by obedience and perseverance To the things] namely, to the Gospel, which is as it were the Law of this foresaid great King Let them slip] that is to say, that we may not go away from the communion of Christ and his Church, nor forsake his faith and service, like disbanded souldiers, who forsake their colours and captain, Jude 1:11.

Hebrews 2:2

If the Word] namely, Moses his Law published by the Ministerie of Angels, Acts 7 53. Galatians 3:19. ministring to the great Angel, which was the Son of God himselfe, Acts 7:38. or all the revelations which were made to the Prophets by the meanes of Angels Sted fast] was of such authoritie and consequence, that those who violated it could not scape unpunished.

Hebrews 2:3

So great] namely, everlasting redemption, revealed and communicated by the Gospel, and implicitly by the Apostle opposed to the temporal deliverance out of Egypt, for the contemning of which, the Israelites were punished in the wildernesse Confirmed] by all manner of proofes, of doctrine, of life, and of miracles.

Hebrews 2:4

Miracles] the Italian, powerfull operations; whereby are meant the highest and sublimest kindes of miracles. See 1 Corinthians 12:10. According to] See 1 Corinthians 12:11.

Hebrews 2:5

For unto] He proves that though our Lord Jesus hath taken upon him humane flesh, yet there is no lesse obedience or reverence due to him, seeing that in this assumption and union of the two natures, the Father hath made him Head of the renewed state of the world: and he seemes to exalt Christ so much above the Angels, because the carnal Jewes did so much magnifie their Law which had been proclaimed by Angels, in contempt of the Gospel, preached by Christ, man, and by the Apostles The world] he als the state of the world, o being by Christ restored from its ruine and spoil, which through sin and death had befallen it, as it had been foretold by the Prophets, that it should be under the Messias, the accomplishment whereof shall not be till his last comming, Isai 65. 17. and 66. 22 Rom 8:20. Revelation 21:1.

Hebrews 2:6

But one] that is to say, he hath subjected it to man in Christs person, as it appeares by that passage of the Psalmist What is man? See the Exposition of this upon Psal. 8. 4.

Hebrews 2:7

Thou madest him] Though the humane nature which Christ hath taken upon him, of it selfe be inferiour to the Angels, who are spiritual creatures, more sublime, potent, and glorious than man, yet the universall Kingdom is attributed to Christ Man, and not to the Angels A little] this, if it have a relation to Christ, signifies the time of his humiliation.

Hebrews 2:8

For in that] in this universalitie of things, which are subject to Christs Kingdom, the Angels themselves are comprehended But now] though for the present we do not yet see the accomplishment of this Kingdom, the Church being as yet not wholly gathered together, nor glorified, nor joyned with God, nor all her enemies beaten down and destroyed, yet Christ reigneth powerfully, and fulfilleth every thing from time to time according to his will and pleasure.

Hebrews 2:9

We see] by the high effects made manifest, and considered by faith For the] See upon Philippians 2:9. That he] now he proceeds to set down why Christ was made man, namely, that he might suffer death for sinfull men By the grace] which is the first cause of salvation by Christ, which he gives unto man for the price of his redemption, and likewise accepts of it for satisfaction of his debt Should taste] should die, and should feel the extreme paines of death, as it is joyned with Gods wrath, and with his curse upon sin, for which he had made himselfe a suretie, and therefore is likened to a bitter cup, Matth. 20. 22. and 26. 39. 42 For every man] namely, for every one of them whom his father hath bestowed upon him, in which is comprehended the universaltie of his bodie, and of his Kingdom, John 6. 45. and 10. 15. and 12. 32 Rom 5:11.

Hebrews 2:10

It became] it was a thing conformable, and agreeable with his justice, that Christ should make satisfaction for the sinnes of men Him for] namely, God the Father, who is the soveraigne Authour, and cause of all things, and chiefly of the Elects salvation, to whose glorie all things ought to be directed, and referred as to their last end, Romans 11:36. whereupon for the glorie of Christ our sureties great righteousnesse, and of his infinite mercie towards men, this meanes of salvation hath been most fitting and convenient To make] the Italian, to consecrate namely, to make him perfectly fitting, and sufficient, to be the Authour of eternal salvation to the Elect by the sacrifice of himselfe, Isai 53. 10. and by it install him in his Kingdom, a terme taken from the ancient consecrations of Priests, Exodus 29:1-46. The Captain] the Italian, the Princé; namely, Christ Jesus, who by his Priesthood hath obtained right to everlasting salvation for Gods chilrden, and by his Kingdom brings them to the perfect fruition of it.

Hebrews 2:11

For] As he had in the former verse declared, that it was convenient that Gods justice should receive satisfaction; so now he further sheweth that it ought to be done by one who was likewise of humane nature, as he was to whom the Law was given He that sanctifieth] namely, Christ according to the flesh, in whom, and by whom, the guilt of sin hath been expiated, and the corruption purified And they] namely, Gods elect Are all] are all come from one father, namely Adam.

Hebrews 2:13

I will put my trust] because David in all that eighteenth Psalme was the figure of Christ, these words of the Psalme also ought to be applied to Christ, to shew that he is not onely become Man, but hath also taken the condition of Man upon him, by being subject to the Law, and bound to fulfill it, upon confidence of the reward promised therefore, Galatians 4:4. Or to a man in a lowly estate, weaknesse, and miserie, who did not for the present enjoy those goods which he expected, and depended upon God, and craved for assistance from his power and rested upon him And again] in this passage Isai his children were also a figure of Christ, being given by God for a token and assurance of a temporal deliverance, which was the figure of the Everlasting, which is promised together with it, Isai 8. 10.

Hebrews 2:14

The children] namely, Isai his children: Are partakers] the Italian, were partakers; were very men, subject to the same chances and dangers, and were tokens & pledges of a deliverance, and not Angels, nor glorified men He also] that is to say, Christ hath likewise been very man as we all are, to be not onely the signe or token, but also the Authour and Foundation of salvation Through death] that by it having expiated the elects sinnes, and appeased Gods wrath, he might disannull the devils power over them, which he exercises onely to death and destruction, as minister of Gods wrath upon sin.

Hebrews 2:15

Them] the Italian, all them; this must be restrained onely to the elect, as verse 9 Romans 11:32. Colossians 1:20. Through fear] who even in this world carried the devils bonds, and prison in their consciences, by the terrours of everlasting death, the true foreunners of hell torments, which was figured by the besieged Jewes terrour, Isai 7. 2. to whom Isai with his children were sent to encourage them, Isai 8. 12. 18.

Hebrews 2:16

For verily] He confirmes that which he had said verse 14. of Christs communion in the selfe same humane nature, for it is never said in the Scripture, that he took upon him the nature of Angels in a personall union, as he is foretold, and represented true Man, the Son of David, and of Abraham.

Hebrews 2:17

Wherefore] seéing he hath made himselfe true man, to save us, it behoved him also to put on all our conditions, not onely the natural ones, but also those that are come upon us by reason of sin, excepting sin it selfe That he might be] that being touched with a lively feeling of the miseries of humane nature, he might the rather be induced to free it from them by the sacrifice of himselfe, and by his intercession, wherein he should shew great mercie towards men, and perfect loyaltie and obedience to God in performing the taske which was imposed upon him Pertaining to] every Priest being a Mdiatour between God and men, to offer unto God sacrifices, prayers, and intercessions, and to do all other religious actions, Hebrews 5:1. and to bring men tidings of Gods peace and grace, and to blesse and instruct them in his Name. See Exodus 18:19.

Hebrews 2:18

For in that] he proves the foresaid things by the event, namely, because Christ doth now shew himselfe to his believers in effect powerfull enough, to free them from temptations, and from the terrors of death and judgement, he himselfe having tried the same agonies for them, and overcome them.