Home   e-Library       中文 
e-Library Home |  Browse By Category |  Study the Bible    
 (Philemon & Hebrews)
Lesson 4: Jesus Our Redeemer (Heb 2:5-18)

Lesson 4: Jesus Our Redeemer (Heb 2:5-18)

Observation

Outline

Jesus, Man’s Hope (2:5-9)

Fellowship of the Savior with the Saved (-13)

Jesus’ Atoning Death and Redemption (-18)

Key Words/Phrases

Subjection, angels, “But we see Jesus,” suffering, death, glory, salvation, brethren, destroy, release, aid, merciful and faithful High Priest, propitiation, tempted.

General Analysis

1.   Future dominion and glory (6-8,10); the atoning death of Jesus by the grace of God (9); sanctification (11); release from fear of death and from bondage (14-15); Jesus’ propitiation for our sins (17); help from the merciful and faithful High Priest (16,18).

Segment Analysis

1a.  Man is lower than the angels in the sense that, being flesh and blood, man has many physical limitations that the angels do not have.

1b.  He has been crowned with glory and honor, and God has set him over the work of His hands and put all things in subjection under his feet. This is an honor that the angels do not share.

2.   Although we have not yet received God’s glorious inheritance, we will be crowned with glory and honor. Christ, having subdued all things, will transform our lowly bodies to conform to His glorious body at His coming (Php -21).

3.   This statement strikes a triumphant note in the section. Although man has not yet achieved dominion and has been prevented from doing so because of sin, Jesus has come to bring hope to man. We now have confidence and assurance because we see that Jesus has already accomplished the very things that God has intended for man, and He will help us along on our way to that glorious future.

4a.  Jesus was made a little lower than the angels so that by God’s grace He may suffer death for everyone and be crowned with glory and honor (9). He came to fulfill the plan of God for man which man was unable to achieve.

4b.  What our Lord did was the greatest act of humility. He left His throne in heaven and emptied Himself to become even lower than the ministering spirits. Furthermore, what He did was the greatest act of love. He humbled Himself and suffered death so that we may share His glory. Thus, we ought to imitate our Lord’s humility and sacrificial love.

5.   The suffering of death (9).

6a.  God.

6b.  Jesus.

7.   “Captain” is also translated “author” or “pioneer.” Our Lord Jesus makes salvation possible. He has opened the way () and is bringing us to glory ().

8a.  The perfection here does not imply that our Lord Jesus was morally imperfect. Rather, Jesus was made perfect in the sense that, because of His sufferings, He became qualified to be our perfect High Priest. See questions and answers on verses 14-18 for further elaborations.

8b.  The word “fitting” suggests that, to be consistent with His divine nature, it was a necessity for God to put the Lord Jesus through sufferings. The suffering and death of our Lord Jesus manifested God’s love while it also fulfilled God’s justice.

9.   In order to sanctify us, Jesus had to become one of us. That was what He did, as the Scriptures had prophesied. He was not ashamed to identify Himself with us and call us His brethren.

10.  This passage explains what it means for Jesus to be made perfect through sufferings. Jesus shared in flesh and blood and was made like us in order to destroy the devil through His death and to help us when we are tempted. His sufferings enabled Him to become a merciful and faithful High Priest. Because He took our sins upon Himself and died in our place, we are released from bondage. Because He has been in our place, He can also relate to our present weakness. In this sense, Jesus was made perfect through sufferings. Without sharing our humanity, He would not have been qualified to be our Redeemer and High Priest.

11.  Jesus was like us because He shared in flesh and blood in the same way that we have flesh and blood. He was also bound by many of the physical limitations that we have. He also suffered temptation just as we are tempted. However, Jesus was different from us in the sense that He was without sin and was therefore able to be the perfect sacrifice of atonement ().

12.  Those who through faith in Jesus Christ have been baptized into Christ.

13.  He overcame temptations and paid for the penalty of our sins. Having been clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we are no longer under the control of the devil (cf. Rom -34). Death no longer casts a shadow of fear on us because we know that we have received eternal life.

14.  Just as the priest had to offer sacrifices for sin, Jesus has made propitiation for our sins through His blood. Just as the high priest was able to identify himself with the people, Jesus is able to relate to our sufferings in temptation and help us in times of our need. His deity and humanity enables Him to be the perfect mediator between God and man.

15.  He sympathizes with us (). He gives us grace (), with which we can overcome the devil and stand (Jas 4:6-7; cf. Eph 6:13). He intercedes for us (Heb ). He is our encouragement in times of weakness (12:2-3).

 

PDF Download
Print
Email
Feedback