Hebrews 2 Study & Breakdown
2 Therefore we must give [a]the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just [b]reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts[c] of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? 5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:
“What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him [d]a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, [e]And set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”
For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made [f]a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
NOTES HEBREWS 2 – (vv. 1-4, vv. 6-8, & v. 9 – v.5 parallels through v. 18 that will be covered in tomorrow’s readings)
2:1-4: An admonition against willful negligence and carelessness by a slow process, A DRIFT – (v. 1), of attrition … IF – (v. 2) and HOW – (v. 3) suggest a conditional statement or question … If Israel was expected to obey the words of created angels or suffer punishment, how much more must we heed what God Incarnate has said through His apostles – especially when the word has been CONFIRMED – (v. 3) by many MIRCALES – (v. 4) of the Spirit, proof that the KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME UPON US??? When in the Orthodox Church we ask in liturgy for “pardon and remission of our sins and transgressions” and a “good defense before the dread judgement seat of Christ”, we affirm there is A JUST REWARD – (v. 2) or retribution, a very real judgement …
2:6-8: Hebrews applies the discussion in PSALM 8 (9) ABOUT MAN TO JESUS CHRIST, THE PERFECT MAN …
2:9: See especially (PHILIPPIANS 2:5-11) … MADE A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS is referring to the Incarnation, the Son becoming Man … Christ’s SUFFERING and DEATH have exalted Him … The Cross, which should have brought shame and reproach, has brought Christ GLORY AND HONOR … All of this is not something God has owed to man; it is BY THE GRACE OF GOD, His gift … TASTE OF DEATH means to experience it fully, to know it intimately … Christ’s death was a real death … He died for EVERYONE, for the whole world, not for the faithful only …
PSALM 100 (101) STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
PSALM 100 (101) Is simply called A PSALM BY DAVID … It is a morning prayer, and the key to understanding this PSALM is the statement, O LORD, I WILL SING TO YOU OF MERCY AND JUDGEMENT – (v. 1) … We need the Lord’s mercy and judgement each morning that we might give Him glory all day … The Lord’s mercy is His helping grace, and His judgement is His discernment, the crown of virtues … We need both to fight against the devil and his fallen angels … These enemies are identified as THOSE WHO COMMIT TRANSGRESSIONS – (v. 3), THE EVIL MAN – (v. 4), slanderers – (v. 5), ARROGANT, INSATIABLE, and unjust – (vv. 5, 7), and THE SINNERS OF THE EARTH – (v. 8) … We need the Lord’s mercy and judgement to slay them each morning – (v. 8) … We also need the saints – (THE FAITHFUL OF THE EARTH, v. 6) to intercede for us on our behalf …