Sermon Tone Analysis

!! Hebrews 2:5-18

The writer now returns to his theme of the destiny of Jesus in the */world to come/* – and Jesus’ intimate involvement [through His incarnation] with those who will */share/*/ /this destiny with Him.

!! The Destiny of the Captain (verses 5-9)

It is clear from the writer’s opening remarks that the /angels /will NOT rule in the age to come.[1]

Instead, the */Son of Man/* [Messiah] will reign during this time[2] – along with the “/many sons/” who will share His joy.[3]

Here the writer quotes Psalm 8[4] to demonstrate the fact that Jesus became */man/*[5] for the purpose of *dying for the sins of mankind* and that - though not presently ruling over the earth – He has been “/crowned with glory and honor/”[6]

!! The Captain’s Link with His Followers (verses 10-18)

While the Greek word used here is variously translated[7], its best translation here might be “*/Pioneer/*”.

The Lord Jesus is the /Captain, Pioneer /of that loyal band of people whom God is preparing for */glory/*.

In these verses, the writer is continuing to think of Psalm 8[8] and of the /glory /referred to in this Psalm.[9]

Even the expression “*/many sons/*”* *suggests that, for the writer of Hebrews, the messianic title “/Son of Man/”[10] had a corporate aspect.

That is, Jesus is/ “the Son of Man/”[11] – but His brothers and sisters are the many people who are linked with Him in both */suffering/*[12]*/ /*and future */glory/*.[13]

Thus there is a deep unity between the Son and the many sons.

By His death He makes them */holy/*.[14]

Thus they are all one family and Jesus is not ashamed to call them */brethren/*.[15]

Furthermore, He can speak to them of His own /trust /in God[16] and can speak of them as “/the children God has given Me/”.[17]

These children, however, were once held in servitude by their enemy, the devil.

Since they were /human/, He also had to become /human/ – to /die/ for them and /rescue/ them.[18]

In other words, the readers were reminded that they were no longer subject to such *slavery* and could face death with the same confidence in God that their Captain [Pioneer] had.[19]

Whatever their needs or trials, their Captain is adequate to /help/ them – since He ministers to /Abraham’s seed/.[20]

The help which the Captain can give is again predicated on the fact that He was /in every way made like His brethren/.[21]

That is, because of His identification with His /brothers and sisters/,*/ /*a/ /*priesthood *is possible - characterized by /mercy /and /fidelity /in service to God.[22]

This involved, as its basis, /propitiation [atonement] for the sins of the people/.[23]

Thus it is certain that this Captain can */help/*[24]*/ /*all those who are being */tempted/*[25]/ /in all of their trials because of His own experience of temptation and suffering.[26]

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[1] Verse 5. Apparently, the Qumran community [a Jewish sect of the first century among which the Dead Sea Scrolls were found] believed that Michael and his angels would have dominion over the age to come.

[2] Verses 7c, 8a.

[3] Heb. 1:9.

[4] Actually Ps. 8:4-6.

[5] “/was made a little lower than the angels/” (vs.

9a)

[6] Because of His death on the cross (Vs.

9)

[7] This is the word /ἀρχηγός// //archegos /which suggests /leader, originator, founder/.

[8] As the reference to “/all things/” indicates (Cf.

2:8).

[9] That is, the /glory /of dominion over the created order (verses 7-8).

“/Man was created in the image of God.

But the God in whose image he was created is a God of might and *dominion*.

He is the King of glory to whom belong the earth and ‘all its fullness’ (Ps.

24).

Thus, as a true reflection of his Maker, man was designed to exercise *dominion* over the creation.

But he lost this dominion by his fall!

And his former position can only be recovered in and through our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

For this reason the writer of Hebrews applies Psalm 8 to the ‘world to come’ (Heb.

2:5), to the destiny of Jesus (Heb.

2:8-9), and to the destiny of the ‘many sons’ (Heb.

2:10)./”

[from /Grace in Eclipse/].

[10] Mentioned in Psalm 8 (cf.

Heb.

2:6).

[11] Used 84 times in the Gospels [e.g.

Matt.

8:20, 9:26, 10:23 etc].

[12] That is, Jesus must */suffer /*in order*/ /*to be made /perfect /[/complete/]/ /for the role of bringing many sons to glory [who also must suffer].

By having done so, He can provide the consolation they need in their sufferings (2:18).

[13] Vs. 10.

Of course, these are His “*/companions/*” mentioned in Heb.

1:9.

[14] Vs. 11.

This is also mentioned in Heb.

10:10, 14.

[15] Vs. 11-12.

[16] Vs. 13.

[17] Vs. 13b.

Like an older brother in the midst of his younger siblings, He [as the Pioneer of their salvation] can teach them the lessons of /faith/ and /suffering/.

[18] Vs. 14.

In speaking of Satan as wielding the /power of death /the writer meant that Satan uses people’s fear of death to enslave them to do his will.

[Often people will make wrong moral choices out of their intense desire for self-preservation.]

The word /destroy /here {Greek: /καταργέω// katargeo/] does NOT mean that Satan ceased to exist or to be active but rather that his power over those whom Christ has redeemed is /annulled/.

[19] Vs. 15.

[20] Vs. 16.

This, of course, includes ALL believers in the Assembly – both Jews and Gentiles (Gal.

3:29).

[21] Vs. 17a.

That is, both by becoming incarnate and by virtue of suffering.

Also, here – for the first time – the concept of Priesthood is introduced.

This will be elaborated upon later.

[22] Vs. 17b.

[23] Vs.

17c.

Of this the author will speak more later.

[24] Aid, assist.

[25] The readers of this epistle – and all others in the body of Christ.

[26] Vs. 18.