Hebrews · Chapter 2
Hebrews 2 KJV Explained Verse by Verse
Also on
About Hebrews 2
Nobody sets out to drift away from God. It happens the way a boat drifts when nobody ties it off. One missed Sunday becomes a month, and one day you look up and the shore is a long way off. That’s why chapter 2 opens with a warning to hold on.
Verse 1: “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.”
That word therefore points back to the Son. The greater the One who spoke, the more it matters whether we’re listening. The word in verse 3 is neglect: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation;” Nobody has to rebel against the gospel to be lost. Neglecting it is enough. And when nothing in this world looks under control, verse 9 opens with four words: “But we see Jesus”. He tasted death for every man.
Verse 11 then says something many of us struggle to believe about ourselves. So why is the Son of God not ashamed to call His people His brothers?
Teaching Notes
Don’t let it slip (verses 1–4)
Chapter 2 opens with “Therefore” (verse 1). The greater the One who spoke, the more it matters whether we’re listening. The word spoken through angels held firm, and every transgression received its just reward (verse 2). If the lesser word couldn’t be brushed aside without a price, the greater one can’t be either, an argument this letter makes again in chapters 10 and 12. The word in verse 3 is neglect. Nobody has to rebel against the gospel to be lost. Neglecting it is enough.
This salvation was first spoken by the Lord and “confirmed unto us by them that heard him” (verse 3). The writer counts himself among the people it was passed on to. God backed their witness with signs, wonders, miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost (verse 4). Those signs aren’t a pattern for demanding new proof today, because the proof has already been given. This warning isn’t a threat that a true believer can lose what Christ has done, but it should stop anyone who has heard the gospel for years and never actually received it.
But we see Jesus (verses 5–9)
God did not put the world to come under the angels (verse 5). The writer brings in Psalm 8. The psalmist looks up at the moon and the stars and wonders why God would give man a second thought (verse 6). Man was meant to have everything under his feet. But verse 8 says plainly that we don’t see all things under him yet. Then verse 9 opens with four words: “But we see Jesus.” He was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, and He is now crowned with glory and honor. By the grace of God He tasted death for every man. To taste death means to really die.
Not ashamed to call them brethren (verses 10–13)
It was fitting for God, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (verse 10). That doesn’t mean Jesus was ever lacking. Through what He suffered He was made fully fitted for the work of saving us. A captain goes first, and the road to glory for His people ran straight through His cross. The One who sanctifies and those being sanctified “are all of one” (verse 11). I take that to mean they have one Father, and so He is not ashamed to call them brethren. Psalm 22 is given in His own voice (verse 12), the same psalm whose opening words Jesus cried from the cross. Then He says, “I will put my trust in him” (verse 13).
Flesh and blood (verses 14–18)
Since the children share in flesh and blood, He took part of the same (verse 14). He had a real body, the kind that can die, so that through death He could destroy the devil, who held the power of death, and set free those who were slaves their whole lives to the fear of dying (verse 15). For the believer, death is still an enemy, but it is no longer a master. He didn’t take on the nature of angels. He became one of Abraham’s descendants (verse 16). He was made like His brethren in every way, so that He could be a merciful and faithful high priest (verse 17), merciful toward us and faithful toward God, never having to choose between the two. Because He Himself suffered being tempted, He is able to succor those who are tempted (verse 18). Succor means to come to someone’s aid.
Hebrews 2 (KJV)
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
8 Thou hast 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 see not yet all things put under him.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.