Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, as I read today, touch me in new ways to appreciate the reality of what you gave up and suffered for me.
Read HEBREWS 2:1–9
Warning to Pay Attention
2 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Jesus Made Fully Human
5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:
“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,
a son of man that you care for him?
7 You made them a little[a] lower than the angels;
you crowned them with glory and honor
8 and put everything under their feet.”[b][c]
In putting everything under them,[d] God left nothing that is not subject to them.[e] Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.[f] 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 2:7 Or them for a little while
- Hebrews 2:8 Psalm 8:4-6
- Hebrews 2:8 Or 7 You made him a little lower than the angels;/ you crowned him with glory and honor/ 8 and put everything under his feet.”
- Hebrews 2:8 Or him
- Hebrews 2:8 Or him
- Hebrews 2:8 Or him
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Worship Jesus, now crowned with glory and honor at God’s right hand.
Think Further
Today we discover why the writer thought it important to emphasize Jesus’ superiority to the angels. The chapter gives three reasons, two of which are in today’s reading. Verses 1–4 are the first warning passage of Hebrews, referring to the message spoken through angels. These words reflect an ancient Jewish tradition that the law of Moses was mediated by angels.1 If violations of the law (mediated by angels) received just punishment, how much more serious is it for those who neglect the gospel of salvation declared by the Lord?
The second reason is in verses 5–9, a meditation on Psalm 8:4–6. In the Greek Old Testament (which the writer always quotes) these verses refer to humans being both a little lower than the angels and crowned with glory and honor, having been given dominion over all God’s handiwork. Psalm 8 is Genesis 1 set to music, celebrating humanity’s dignity as made in the image of God.
Some think that these verses celebrate not the dignity of humanity as made in God’s image, but the exaltation of Jesus,2 but I think the TNIV has it right – the verses are about human dignity (vv. 5–8) and Jesus’ exaltation (v. 9). The section begins by claiming that dominion over the world to come has been given not to angels but to humans. Jesus enters the picture in verse 9 (the first time his name appears in Hebrews). At present we don’t see humans exercising our God-given dominion, but we do see Jesus, the representative human. He was made a little lower than the angels, suffering death for everyone, and is now exalted above the angels, crowned with glory and honor, where he rules the world to come (v. 5) with the power and authority of God.
Apply
Adam’s role in the garden was ‘to work it and take care of it.’3 This is our calling, now and in the world to come. How are we doing?
Closing prayer
You came to us as the Lamb of God, Jesus, and now you reign for us as King of Kings. I come to you in awe, with thanksgiving, and with praise. Help me, that who I am will testify to the wonder of who you are.
Last Updated on July 20, 2024 by kingstar
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