Hebrews 2

Hebrews 2:1

Since Christ is thus infinitely superior to the ancient prophets, and even to the loftiest angels, it highly concerns us who live under the more eminently glorious dispensation of the gospel, both in respect of duty and interest, to attend the more diligently, affectionately, and stedfastly unto, and with humble faith and love to esteem, embrace, meditate upon, and seriously improve the everlasting doctrines thereof, which have been delivered unto us in the ministry of the word; and to retain them carefully in our hearts and memories, and persevere in our holy profession of them; lest at any time, through the corruption, heedlessness, treachery, and prejudices of our hearts, or the temptations of Satan, and the snares of this evil world, we should be carried away from the truth, and suffer it to slip out of our minds, and so should lose the benefit of it, and perish under its gracious administrations

Hebrews 2:2

For if the law of Moses, which was given at Mount Sinai by the ministration of angels, acting as Christ’s messengers, was established by divine authority, and enforced with an awful sanction; and every contemptuous violation of any of its precepts, or act of wilful disobedience to the authority of God in it, was severely punished with death

Hebrews 2:3

How can we expect to escape the judgments of God, in time or eternity, if, through carelessness or unbelief, we despise and reject the glorious gospel, which alone reveals, exhibits, and offers to us that spiritual, heavenly, and eternal salvation, which was purchased by the infinitely precious blood of Christ, and comprehends in it deliverance from so great sinfulness and misery, and an advancement to so great holiness, happiness, and glory, as answers all our wants, and infinitely transcends all our conceptions: the first clear publication of which, without the vail of typical shadows, was begun in the personal ministrations of our Lord Jesus Christ himself on earth, and was further explained and confirmed to us Jews by his inspired apostles, evangelists, and others, who themselves heard him preach these glad tidings of salvation: 4. Yes, to assure us of the infallible certainty of their testimony, God himself attested their integrity, and the truth of their doctrine, by manifold miraculous operations and effects on the bodies of men, and by an abundant bestowal of spiritual gifts, such as prophecy, wisdom, knowledge, and utterance, speaking with or interpreting languages they never learned, which were dispensed by the Holy Ghost in their different kinds and degrees, according to the good pleasure of his sovereign will

Hebrews 2:5

But to proceed in our comparison of Christ, with the holy angels: it is manifest that, in his mediatorial office as well as in his divine person, he is infinitely superior to them; for though God employed them as his heralds in publishing the law at Sinai, and employs them as ministering spirits to the neirs of salvation, yet he has not given them any headship or ruing power over the new Testament church, nor are its doctrines, ordinances, privileges, or blessings derived from, or even published by them

Hebrews 2:6-8

But the inspired psalmist, David, when contemplating the magnificent works of God, breaks out into a rapture of admiration, that God should so favour, support, and assist man; and, after a short debasement, constitute him the universal Lord and Sovereign of all his creatures, not one excepted; that he might conquer, subdue, and triumph over his enemies, casting them like slaves and captives beneath his feet. Now it is fully evident from observation and experience, that never since the fall neither mankind in general, nor any particular one of them, has ever had an absolute and universal dominion over all things

Hebrews 2:9

But though Jesus Christ has not yet put an end to all the opposition of his and his people’s enemies, we certainly know, from the testimony of inspired writers, and from the marvellous effusion of the Holy Ghost in his miraculous gifts and graces, and the wonderful effects of the gospel in convincing and converting multitudes,—that he, in consequence of his debasement, obedience, sufferings, and death, in the stead of all his children, Jews and Gentiles, is exalted to the highest glory, power, and authority, that he might be in full capacity to accomplish the great end of his death in their effectual salvation

Hebrews 2:10

For, however offensive the doctrine of his debasement may be to carnal Jews, who only look for a temporal deliverer, it infinitely well became and tended to the singular glory of the justice, holiness, wisdom, goodness, and other perfections of God, the Creator, Preserver, and last end of all things,—and of his holy law and government,—in bringing his chosen, adopted, and regenerated children to their complete happiness in heaven, to prepare and consecrate his only begotten Son as their Prince, Leader, and Author of eternal salvation, to his heavenly work of intercession and government, by his suffering on their behalf and in their stead

Hebrews 2:11

For both Jesus the Redeemer, who by his blood purges away the guilt and filth of our sin, and we his redeemed, who have our sins purged away, are, by the constitution of the covenant of grace, one in the view of the law; and are partakers of the same human nature, in the same condition of weakness, trouble, and mortality; on which account Christ, however great and glorious, does, and in the last day will more openly avow us, however mean and despicable, to be his brethren

Hebrews 2:12

Engaging to his Father that he, in his personal ministrations and by his servants, will make known the glory and celebrate the praises of his perfections and counsels among his brethren, effectually called and gathered to him as his peculiar people

Hebrews 2:13

And like one having communion with us in human affections, sufferings, and graces, he represents himself as trusting in God for support, assistance, success in and reward of his work, and as ready to do whatever is necessary for our future or eternal salvation, who, as his spiritual seed, were given to him by his Father

Hebrews 2:14

Since therefore these children, whom God has given to his Son to be saved by him, are equally partakers of immortal souls and mortal bodies as the rest of mankind, he also having existed the Son of God from all eternity, did in the fulness of time assume a true human nature, with all its essential properties and sinless infirmities, into personal union with himself, that he, as their Kinsman-Redeemer, in the same nature which sinned, might make a proper satisfaction to the law and justice of God: and that thus—by means of his meritorious death which he suffered in their room and stead, to take away their sins and the curse of the law, and to purchase their happy resurrection and eternal life—he might entirely conquer, overthrow, and make void the power of that great destroying adversary the devil, who by means of Adam’s first transgression had brought sin and death upon men, and has a limited empire over death, to inflict it upon obstinate and incorrigible sinners, and to be their everlasting tormentor in eternal death

Hebrews 2:15

And that through his suffering of death he might destroy death in its destructive influence; and deliver his people from the sting, dominion, and terrors of it, and in due time give them a complete victory and triumph over it; even though their inward sense of guilt, the terrors of the Jewish dispensation, or Heathen ignorance of an happy immortality, had long rendered the thoughts of their death ensuing and terrible

Hebrews 2:16

For to accomplish these important ends, he did not lay hold upon the nature of angels, by taking it into personal union with his divine, as if he intended to recover any of them who fell from their original holiness and happiness; but passing by them, he laid hold on, and personally united to himself the far inferior nature of man, as derived from the patriarch Abraham, to whom God promised that in his seed all the nations of the earth should be blessed

Hebrews 2:17

From which it is plainly evident that, in order to Christ’s duly answering the great design of his office as their Redeemer and Saviour, it was thought fit and necessary that he should partake of their nature in all its essentials; and be made in suffering, and every thing but sin, like unto those brethren whom he was bring to glory, that so, by his own experience of sufferings in their stead, he might be the better qualified, and the more feelingly engaged, to act the part of a compassionate tender-hearted High Priest for them towards God, in making satisfaction to his Father’s justice for their sins, and in purchasing and procuring peace and reconciliation for them

Hebrews 2:18

And having thus experimentally endured the temptations of Satan and troubles of this world, as well as the weight of his Father’s wrath, and triumphed over them, he is the more fit and inclined to sympathize with, support, comfort, and relieve his brethren, when exercised with any like temptations, afflictions, or trials

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. II.—In the superior excellency of its principal preacher, in its manifold and marvellous attestation, and in the full and extensive salvation which it exhibits, the gospel far transcends the law of Moses. With great care and reverence then ought we to hear, receive, and retain it, and all the spiritual and eternal blessings which it conveys. To neglect so great a salvation is one of the most atrocious crimes, and exposes men to the most terrible vengeance of God. How astonishing is it that God should leave angels to perish in their sins, and fix his love upon men, and unite his Son to them! But never can we sufficiently adore the excesses of that love through which we behold him in our nature for a time, debased, suffering, and dead; and then gloriously exalted to his Father’s right, as Head over all things to his gospel church, and expecting till all his enemies be made his footstool. Infinite is the mercy that God should thus bring sinful men, as his chosen, adopted, and regenerated children, to eternal life through the sufferings and death of his Son. Yea, herein all his perfections are highly glorified, and his Son qualified to be an exalted intercessor and Captain of salvation. Delightful is Jesus’ connection with us, as our elder Brother, and the source of all our sanctification, comfort, and victory over sin, Satan, fears, troubles, and death. And amazing is his Priesthood, and kind his manner of executing it. But great indeed are the effects of this love, that by the death of my divine Saviour I am made alive and free, and sin, devils, and death are conquered; that by his temptations and trials I am succoured under and delivered from mine! Since he then is merciful, let me always flee into his bosom; and since he is faithful, let me always adore and trust him