Hebrews 2

From the doctrine of the excellence of the person of Christ propounded in the former chapter the apostle here draws a caution that then we must be careful to take good heed to his word 5 afterwards proceeds and shows first the meanness and afterwards the dignity of the man-hood of Christ by a place out of the eight Psalm 8 And applies it to Christ 11 proves out of yet other places of the old testament that he is partaker of one and the same nature and affection with us 16 and not with the angels 17 and that for the end that he might be a faithful and merciful high priest for us.

1. Therefore [that is forasmuch as we have now proved how excellent the person of Christ is of whom we speak]we must the more attend to that which is heard by us lest at anytime we run out [this is by some understood of the word which we have heard and we must take care that the same in us do not run out or leak through as is wont to come to pass in forgetful hearers by others it is understood of the persons themselves who are laid to run out when like water that runs out they perish or are lost out see 2 Samuel 14:14 Psalms 58:8.]

2. For if the word spoken by angels [whereby are understood all the revelations which God in the old testament made to the prophets by the angels especially also the giving of the law which was indeed given by God himself nevertheless by the ministry of the angels as Stephen testifies Acts 7:53 and Paul Galatians 3:19]was firm and every transgression and disobedience received just recompense [Gr just recompense of reward namely of punishment which therefore came upon them see some examples thereof 1Corinthians 10.5 &c]

3. How shall we escape [namely the just recompense of punishment]if we regard not so great salvation whereby is understood the gospel which is also called a ministry of those spirit and of life whereas the law is killing letter whereof see the exposition on 2 Corinthians 3:6,7]which being begun to be published [Gr having taken to be spoken] by the Lord [namely Jesus Christ when the days of his flesh he preached amongst us as a minister of circumcision]was confirmed to us [that is more and more strengthened]by them that heard him [from hence some would conclude that Paul wrote not this epistle forasmuch as he heard the gospel and was called to be an apostle not by men but by Christ himself 2 Corinthians 12:4 &c Galatians 1:1 and 2.6 but this is a very weak argument seeing the apostle by a figurative manner of speaking often includes themselves in exhortation although they do not properly concern them as is done several times in these three foregoing verses see also a notable example 1Corinthians 10.8,9 1Peter 4.3 moreover although Paul learned the doctrine of the gospel from none but Christ nevertheless he was confirmed therein by Ananias acts 9.17 and by mutual treating with the other apostle as the other apostles also by discoursing with him as he himself testifies at large Galatians 2:2 &c]

4. God moreover testifying together with them [namely with the apostle and evangelists who published the gospel unto us see Mark 16:20] by signs and wonders and manifold mighty works and dispensation of the holy ghost according to his will.

5. For he hath not subjected to his Angels [after the end of the inserted exhortation the apostle comes again to the declaration of the doctrine as these words cohere with the end of the foregoing chapter where he had said that God the father had subjected all things under the feet of Christ and so proceeds to the declaration of the humiliation and exaltations of manhood of Christ]the world to come [that is of whose coming or the state the prophets spoke so much as whereof David speaks in the place alleged Psalms 110. which world is called to come in respect of God’s promises in the old testament and of the rectifying of all things which by Christ sitting at right hand of his father was begun through the whole world and the last day shall finished] of which we speak.

6. But one testified somewhere [namely who is sufficiently known to wit the prophet David in the 8. Psalm]saying what is man[this place Psalms 8:5 some think is here only by some accommodation of the words of David interrupted of Christ although they be spoken by David in another sense as that is often done by many writers and whereof there are examples Romans 10 verse 5,18 for that which is spoken of one thing or person may also truly be spoken of another by way of comparison much more then may this be done inspiration of the holy ghost but seeing the apostle brings in this place also as spoken of Christ 1Corinthians 15.27 Ephesians 1:22 and there also here takes a proof out of the same of that which he would teach concerning Christ therefore it must be necessarily be uttered by David also for that end for which the apostle quotes it for albeit that David in the first respect seemeth there to speak of man and his dignity in general above other creatures not withstanding by seeing the first man by his disobedience immediately lost this dignity and for that cause hath no more right thereunto by nature wherefore also many creatures have withdrawn themselves from his obedience yea are become enemies to him therefore the prophets looked higher namely unto Christ and the restitution of man unto Christ who hath received a complete authority and power over all creatures great and small even over angels in heaven and all the beast on earth Ephesians 1:20,2122 Philippians 2:9,10 whereof the angels themselves ministered unto him when he walked here unto the flesh and the fishes in the sea and other beasts were subject unto him as an absolute Lord even as example show and occur everywhere in the gospel see Matthew 8:31 and chapter 21 verse 2 Luke 5:6 John 21:6 of which dignity also all that believe in Christ are now again made partakers 1 Corinthians 3:22 Ephesians 2:6 &c] that thou remembers him ? [this word remembers as also the following visistest or observest respect as well Christ’s state of humiliation from whence he was exalted as the miserable state of man whereunto he fell by sin wherein God with his merciful eyes as it were looked upon him and graciously proposed to bring him into a better estate as this phrase everywhere imports thus much see Genesis 8:1 and chapter 21.1 Ezekiel 16:4&c] or the son of man that thou visitest him ?

7. Thou madest him a little lesser [or a little while as verse 9 also for the word signifies both and this is by the apostle interpreted of believers as especially of Christ their head because they are here indeed a little or a little while after lesser then the angels even as Christ also was in the state of humiliation in the eyes of men, but by Christ they shall be like the angels in the world to come Matthew 22:30 and the Christ their head even according to the humanity after his ascension was exalted far above all angels as the scripture testifies everywhere]then the angels with glory and honor hast thou crowned him and thou set him over the works of thine hands.

8. All things hast thou subjected under his feet for that he had subjected all things to him he hath left nothing [no not the angels themselves then]that is not subject unto him but now we see not yet that all things are subject unto him but now wee see not yet that all things re subject unto him [by these words of the apostle proves that this place must first and chiefly be understood of Christ seeing in no other man in the world hath yet been fulfilled in all things.]

9. But we see Jesus crowned with glory and honor[that is we know and believe out of Gods words and have experienced it in the governing of his church that now in Jesus this was all fulfilled and that therefore it shall be fulfilled in his members also in due time according to their measure as is expressed in the following verse [who was become a little lesser then the angels by reason of the suffering of death [that is because he must suffer death or by suffering of death see Luke 24:26]that he by grace of God should taste death [that is suffer as Christ himself compares his suffering to a cup Matthew 16:28 Mark 9:1 Luke 9:27 john 8.52]for all [namely his members or brethren whom he should make partakers of his glory as John 10:11 Romans 8:33,34 &c.]

10. For it is become him [namely God the father as Romans 11:36] for whom all things are and by whom all things are that he bringing many children [Gr sons of whom Christ is called the first born to whose image the other must be confirmed Romans 8:29] to glory [that is to the communion of the glory of his son whereof he had spoken in the former verse] should consecrate [Gr teleiosai which properly signifies to perfect sometimes consecrate or inaugurate which signification may here be applied to Christ although the word consecrate is here retained because Christ thus expounds this word of himself John 17:19 and the following verse also imports this and by this word consecrate is here understood that the father ordained that Christ by his obedience even unto the death of the cross should enter into his glory and make us also fit for him]the chief leader[that is author or cause as hereafter chapter 5.9 and Acts 3:15 he nameth him]of their salvation by suffering

11. For both he hath sanctifieth and they that are sanctified [this rule is taken from the manner of consecrating in the old testament where the high priest and the others whom he consecrated were of one and the same nature and original where also the first fruits were of one nature and original with the whole mass which was consecrated thereby see Romans 11:16 Hebrews 5:1]are all of one [the Greek word benos that is one may either signify one father or one masse and nature but considering that the angels have one common father and the believers namely God and the apostle would here prove that Christ hath a communion with believers which he hath not with the angels the word one must here of necessary be understood of unity in nature even as the first fruits and the whole masse were of one nature]for which causeth he [namely the son of God or the leader of their salvation]is not ashamed [that is disdained not namely although he be incomparable more worthy then they are] to call them brethren.

12. Saying [namely in the 22 Psalm which Psalm is a continual history of Christ suffering as it was therefore always sung before the morning sacrifice according to the superscription of the Psalm for a declaration of the thing signified by his suffering and therefore they are more places rehearsed by the evangelist when they treat of the suffering of Christ out of this Psalm then out of the old testament]I will publish thy name unto the my brethren in the midst of the church will sing praise unto thee.

13. And again I will put my trust in him [by this place taken out of Psalms 18:3 the apostle proves that Christ is partaker of one kind of affection of the mind and consequently of one kind of nature with believers]and again behold I and the children [this place is taken out of Isaiah 8:18 where Christ the true Emmanuel speaketh to the prophet and comforts him in his suffering by his own example nd that of gods children who were always subject to the like troubles as that whole chapter from the eight verse and so forward is a prophecy of Christ which God hath given me [namely out of the world to sanctify myself for them see John 17:6 &c.]

14. forasmuch as the children [namely whereof Isaiah speaketh in true believers who are born of God and members of Christ]are partakers of the flesh and blood[that is consists of flesh and blood or are partakers of the frail humane nature as 1 Corinthians 15:50] he also in like manner became partaker of the same [that is assumed the same into unity of his person as he speaks afterwards verse 16 and Philippians 2:7] that by death his power or tyranny over the children of God ]him who had the power of death [namely by sin whereunto he had brought men and under which he still detained because of which sin man subjected to a cursed death see Romans 5:12 and 1Corinthians 15.56]that is the Divel [namely with all his angels as Christ speaks Matthew 25:41 for under this prince al that are under him are comprehended .]

15. And might deliver all things who through fear of death [that is of a eternal or cursed death which fear necessarily seizeth upon all sinful men until they be assured of their redemption see Luke 1:74] al their long were subject to bondage as he speaks Romans 8:15 ]

16. For verily he assumeth not the angels [that is the scripture no where saith that he should assume the angels but the seed of Abraham Genesis 12.3and 22.18and this actually appeared also in his becoming a man]but he assumeth the seed of Abraham [that is the human nature of the seed of Abraham for that some expound the word assume by help it is absurd seeing the good angels have no need to deliverance forasmuch as they have not sinned .]

17. Wherefore he must in all things [namely excepting sin as the apostle adds Hebrews 4:15] be like unto his brethren that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the things which were to be done by God [namely to reconcile man unto God] to expiate the sins of the people.

18. For that he himself suffered being tempted [namely in the state of humiliation with all manner of suffering and trouble] he can be helpful to those that are tempted [namely the better seeing he hath also had experienced of the same and therefore is affected with a greater compassion towards them.]