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I would like to start with a quote about faithfulness from a man by the name of Vance Habner. He wrote the following:

God is faithful, and He expects his people to be faithful. God’s Word speaks of faithful servants. Faithful in a few things. Faithful in the least. Faithful in the Lord. Faithful ministers. It all points to that day when He will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” What terrible times we have trying to keep people faithful in attendance and loyalty. How we reward, coax, and analyze church members into doing things that they don’t want to do, but which they would do if they loved God. The only service that counts is faithful service. True faith shows up in faithfulness. Not everyone can sing, serve, or preach, but all can be faithful.

I am not sure that I agree with everything that Vance Habner said, but I do know this – I agree that we need to be faithful. Did you know that faithfulness is spoken of a number of times in the gospels? For example, in Matthew 23:23 we are told that Jesus rebuked the Pharisees. Jesus rebuked them for paying attention to many little details while they ignored major issues such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. In Galatians 5:22-23 we are given a list of the fruit of the Spirit. The first fruit of the Spirit is love, then peace, patience, joy, goodness, kindness and faithfulness. Isn’t it interesting that one of the fruits of the Spirit is faithfulness? The Holy Spirit is working to make us faithful. We get excited about love, peace, joy, and sometimes we forget about patience. Patience is something we all struggle with, but how about faithfulness? I have to admit faithfulness is not something that I often think about when I think about the fruit of the Spirit.

In the gospels there are many parables from Jesus. Among the parables there is one about a servant who received a reward because he was faithful. The one who was faithful got a reward. The principle is one who is faithful receives honor. Faithfulness is important in the Christian life. I find that all too often we are motivated by our emotions. When we have a difficult time or encounter a difficult situation, we get moody, and then we are not very interested in being faithful at that point: therefore, we aren’t. But 2 Timothy 2:2 calls us to be faithful. God wants us to be faithful. The Holy Spirit is working so that we will be faithful. That is, we are supposed to be faithful. The reason we are discussing faithfulness is that our study is about faithfulness. It is about Jesus and about Moses who were both faithful.

Review of Chapters 1-2

Our study begins in Hebrews 3:1. The book of Hebrews was written to Jews. Some of them were not Christians and some of them were Christians. Both worshiped together and that is also true today. We will discover later that they had gone through a difficult time, and some of these folks had questions about Jesus. The book of Hebrews is written to help non-Christians come to faith and Christians to become serious about their faith.

So far in our study in Hebrews we have discovered that Jesus is greater than the angels. That was an important truth for the Jewish readers because they were struggling to understand who was Jesus Christ. It is an important truth for everyone. Throughout the book of Hebrews, the Holy Spirit is trying to help the Jewish readers understand who Jesus was and is. In the process of teaching that Jesus is greater than the angels, the Holy Spirit taught that Jesus is also our Creator and God.

The unbelievers had heard about Christ. They had heard He died on a cross, but they were starting to move away. Therefore, in the beginning of chapter two they were called to believe in Jesus. In Hebrews 2:3 we read,

How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Hebrews 2:3 (NASB)

The point was how are you going to escape judgment if you ignore Jesus?

Written to Holy Brethren

In Hebrews chapter three we are going to be told that Jesus is greater than Moses. If you are not a Jew it will be difficult to understand why it is important to know that Jesus is greater than Moses. It is important to understand that Jews highly regarded Moses. Jews had high regard for both angels and Moses.

Therefore, let’s look at chapter three, verse one. We are told,

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession . . . Hebrews 3:1 (NASB)

This verse tells us who the passage is written to. It is written to the holy brethren or those who are partakers of a heavenly calling. Now, the question is who are those folks? What does “holy brethren” mean? The term “brethren” is very common in the New Testament, and it can refer to Christians as well as non-Christians. But the keyword is the “holy.” The Greek word for holy is “hagios“. It means holy or holy ones. The word “holy” implies that they were holy. Years ago, I was talking with a man who was describing a certain individual. He told me that this man was really holy, and he honored and respected that man because he was really holy. I knew what he meant. He did not mean that the person was without sin, that the person was without fault, or that the person did not have any serious problems in his life. He meant that the person, for the most part, was as holy as you can get in this life. That is not the meaning of the word here. The Greek word hagios has the idea that a person is without sin. A person who is holy as God is holy. That is, all of your past sins are forgiven, all of the sins that you commit today are forgiven, and all of the sins that you will commit in the future are forgiven. All of your sins are forgiven! All your sins are forgiven as far as the East is from the West. All of them are forgiven. Who is holy? Those whose sins have been forgiven in the past, the present, and the future already. Christians! Christians are people who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. They are people who believe that Jesus is God, they believe He died to forgive us of our sins. They are people who see themselves as sinners and have asked God to forgive their sins. Christians are the holy brethren.

As a result, the holy brethren are partakers of a heavenly calling. Later on in Hebrews 11:16, we will find that they will inherit a heavenly country. Hebrews 12:23 will say they will inherit a heavenly Jerusalem. In Revelations 21 we read the following,

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. Revelation 21:1 (NASB)

The verse tells us that the current heavens and the current earth are all going to disappear some day.

And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them . . .” Revelation 21:2-3 (NASB)

This is a picture of the new heaven. Sometimes we think of heaven as being a place where we will be sitting on clouds. Well, no, no! There will be a place for us to live, a place to walk and a new city called Jerusalem. Since we will be partakers of this heavenly calling, we will inherit a new country, a new land, and a new Jerusalem. The capitol will be in heaven. It will be called Jerusalem. It will not be the Jerusalem of today. It is a future Jerusalem with all the magnificence, and God will be there.

Jesus Christ is Our Apostle & High Priest

Hebrews 3:1 says,

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession . . . Hebrews 3:1 (NASB)

Now you may say, wait a minute, the Holy Spirit is talking to Christians. Why would He ask Christians to consider Jesus? Because these Christians were struggling in their relationship with Jesus Christ. They were wondering about who Jesus is. Now, I do not know if you are a Christian and if you have some doubts about who Jesus really is. If you do have questions, then this study is for you. In fact, the entire book of Hebrews is for you.

The Spirit says “Consider Jesus.” He tells us two important things about Jesus. First, Jesus is the apostle and high priest of our confession. Now the Greek word for apostle, apostolos, means “sent one.” That is, Jesus is a “sent one . . .” We will talk more about that in a little bit. We have already been told that Jesus is our high priest in Hebrews 2:17. In that verse we were told that “Jesus is our merciful and faithful high priest.” So, verse one is essentially a summary of key parts of chapter two. Therefore, Jesus is the apostle and high priest of our faith, of our confession. Jesus is the One who was sent to die for our sins and became our High Priest as a result. As High Priest He forgives our sins and comforts us. This will become clearer later.

Jesus Christ Is More Faithful Than Moses

The Holy Spirit has been setting us up for a series of comparisons between Jesus and Moses and a critical conclusion. It is important to know that when the Holy Spirit said “Apostle,” He was actually preparing us for a statement about Moses in verse two.

He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house. Hebrews 3:2 (NASB)

If you think back to the time when God met Moses, called him and sent him to the Israelites to deliver them from Egypt into Canaan, that reveals Moses was a sent one – an apostle. He was one sent by God. Therefore, when the Spirit says that Jesus is the apostle or a “sent one,” that was a very important comment because it prepares us for the point that both Moses and Jesus were sent.

When the Spirit said that Jesus was the High Priest of our confession it is important to understand that Moses was never a high priest. At this point, a Jewish reader would start comparing Jesus and Moses. Jesus is a sent one. Moses is a sent one. Jesus is a high priest but Moses was not a high priest. A Jewish reader is going to be making all of these comparisons. The conclusion is that Jesus is more important than Moses, because Jesus was a high priest, but Moses was not.

Verse two is important so let’s slow down and think about this verse. It says, “He was faithful to him.” Now, the question is who is he? The him refers to Jesus. “And was faithful to him who appointed him.” The one who sent Christ was God the Father. Therefore, watch this, Jesus was faithful to God the Father. When we think about being faithful, faithfulness is always toward somebody or something. Faithfulness always has an object. If you are faithful, you are faithful to somebody or you are faithful to something. For example, are you faithful to your wife? Are you faithful to your husband? You can be faithful to your wife, or unfaithful to your wife. You can be faithful to your husband, or unfaithful to your husband. You can be faithful to your employer, or you can be unfaithful to your employer. You can be faithful to your country, or you can be unfaithful to your country. You can be faithful to your church, or you can be unfaithful to your church. You can be faithful to God, or unfaithful to God. Therefore, we have the conclusion that Jesus was faithful to God the Father who appointed Him. This is a very important conclusion about Jesus.

In John 6:57 Jesus says, “As the living father sent me . . . ” I like that, Christ was faithful to the living Father. God the Father was not a dead father. God is not dead. He is a living Father. We cannot see him, but He is living. He is alive and He is active. The important part of the verse is that the living Father sent Jesus. He appointed him. Look at John 8:16,

But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me. John 8:16 (NASB)

The verse says the Father appointed Jesus for a task and sent Him to accomplish that task. In John 15:10 we find that Jesus was faithful to his Father’s will. Jesus is an example of faithfulness. We are to be faithful as He is faithful. Therefore, in Hebrews 3:2, we see that “He was faithful to Him who appointed Him.”

Now, here is the comparison to Moses, “. . . as Moses also was in all his house.” That is, Jesus and Moses were both faithful but in different ways. The Jews would have recognized that Moses had been faithful. In Numbers 12 there was a discussion that occurred between Moses and Miriam and Aaron. In Numbers 12:1-7 we read the following,

Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married (for he had married a Cushite woman); and they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us as well?” And the Lord heard it. (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.) Suddenly the Lord said to Moses and Aaron and to Miriam, “You three come out to the tent of meeting.” So the three of them came out. Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the doorway of the tent, and He called Aaron and Miriam. When they had both come forward, he said,
“Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, shall make Myself known to him in a vision.
I shall speak with him in a dream.
“Not so, with My servant Moses,
He is faithful in all My household . . . Numbers 12:1-7 (NASB)

Do you know what God said about Moses? Moses was faithful. Notice the word “all” in this passage. “Moses was faithful in all of his household.” Verse 8 says,

With him I speak mouth to mouth,
Even openly, and not in dark sayings,
And he beholds the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
To speak against My servant, against Moses?” Numbers 12:8 (NASB)

If I had been Miriam or Aaron, I do not think that I would have been very happy at that point. If God had rebuked me for having war with Moses – verbal war – I do not think I would have been very happy because I would have just been rebuked by God Himself.

What is important about this passage? It gives us an important truth about the relationship between God and Moses. The truth is that God and Moses talked mouth to mouth. This reveals that they had a very close relationship. When God communicated with Moses, He talked with him one-on-one. Some prophets received dreams or visions, but not Moses. With Moses, God talked with him one-on-one. But the best part of this passage is that God says Moses was faithful. Remember that in Hebrews 3:2, we were told, “And he was faithful to Him, who had appointed Him as Moses was in all of his household.” Jesus was and is faithful just as Moses was faithful. Just as Moses was faithful, Jesus was faithful too!

The New American Standard Bible, the New King James Version, the New International Version, and the New Living Translation gloss a very important point of truth in this verse. In verse 2 we were told, “Then, He was faithful to Him.” The impression left is that Jesus was faithful. It implies that Jesus was faithful in the past. The Greek word for the English word was is a present participle which implies ongoing activity. Consequently, it should be translated as “is.” He is being faithful. Moses was faithful in the past, but Jesus is still being faithful. Jesus was faithful while here on the earth to the Father, and Jesus is still faithful in heaven. He is continuing to be faithful. Jesus is better than Moses because He was also a high priest. Jesus is better than Moses in that he is more faithful than Moses. He is faithful on an ongoing basis.

The Builder and the House

When we come to verse 3 we see a black and white statement that Jesus is superior to Moses.

For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. Hebrews 3:3 (NASB)

We are told that Jesus is counted worthy of more glory than Moses. We must ask, why does the Holy Spirit say that? Is it because Jesus is a high priest? Is it because Jesus has been more faithful and is continuing to be faithful? Is that the reason Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses? The answer is no! Those are not the only reasons.

The Spirit is going to give us a third reason, and the reason begins to unfold in the last part of verse 3 and continues through verse 6. Here is what He is going to do: He is going to make a comparison between a builder and a house, and then make a conclusion. The Holy Spirit says, “The builder of the house has more honor than the house.” Now stop and think! Why would the builder have more honor than a house? He designed it, right? He decided what the house was going to look like, its dimensions, its color, and all the details about the house. The builder is the one who is the master architect. The builder determines exactly how the house will be built. The builder has more honor than the house. That is why the builder has more honor than the house. Now the only question is who is the builder? Also, who is the house?

Jesus Christ is Builder

Verse 4 tells us who the builder is.

For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. Hebrews 3:4 (NASB)

Somebody might say, “When I build something, I build it. That means I am the builder” That is what the verse says. It says for every house is built by somebody, but then we are told the builder of all things is who? The answer is God the Father. This reminds me of Psalm 127:1. It is a verse that I memorized years ago and I have remembered it to this day. It says,

Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain. Psalm 127:1 (NASB)

The verse says that every house is built by somebody but the real builder is God. Unless God is active in the building process, we can build all we want, but we are not going to get anything built. God is the real builder. I can try to preach a sermon, but unless the Lord is active in the process, I am wasting my time. I can try with all my heart, but unless God is actively involved, just forget it. It is just not going to happen. God is the real builder.

Moses Was A Faithful Servant

But what about the house that the builder built? Verse 5 describes the house.

Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later . . . Hebrews 3:5 (NASB)

We are told that Moses was faithful in all His house. This sounds like Moses owns the house. But, no, he is not the builder or owner. Verse 5 says Moses was faithful in all his house as a servant. He is a servant in the house. Servants do not own the house in which they work. He is a worker in the house.

If we can look back to Numbers 12:7 we realize that Moses was faithful in all his house. In Numbers 12:7 God said “Moses was faithful in My house.” This means that there are two faithful individuals: Jesus and Moses. This passage is about faithfulness. It is a section about who is more faithful but Jesus is more faithful. He was and is more faithful than Moses. Moses was only a servant in the house that God owns, and if he is a servant in the house, then someone else built the house.

Jesus Christ is the Builder

Verse 6 is the first time that we see the name “Christ” in the book of Hebrews. We have not seen His name earlier in this book.

. . . but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house — whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. Hebrews 3:6 (NASB)

We have seen “Jesus” before. We have seen the term “Son” before, and now for the first time we see “Christ.” The Spirit wants us to know that Christ is the son over God’s house. Remember that Jesus is called the Son of God (Hebrews 1:5).

For to which of the angels did He ever say,
“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”?
And again,
“I will be a Father to Him
And He shall be a Son to Me”? Hebrews 1:5 (NASB)

Next we are told that Christ is a Son over His house. That is, God the Father is the owner and builder of the house and Christ is over the house as a manager.

The House is Christians

But who is the house? The house is all true Christians! The verse says, “Christ was faithful as a Son over His house — whose house we are . . .” Because the Holy Spirit wants to make sure that any reader understands who are true Christians. Then He quickly adds, “. . . if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.” That is, any true Christian will continue believing in Christ and not depart from the faith. Just because someone once claimed to believe in Christ does not mean that they are really part of “His house.”

But Moses Was Not Completely Faithful

Now you might be thinking, “That does not mean very much to me. I am a Gentile and that does not mean very much to me.” For the Jews this was a powerful argument. The first time I read this passage I had a question going through my mind, but it was not answered in these six verses. The events that occur in Numbers 20 happen in the last year of Israel’s wilderness journey. The Israelites have been journeying from the land of Egypt to the land of Canaan, and only months are left. They are camped at a place called the wilderness of Zen. The Israelites find that there is no water. They find that there isn’t a lot of food, and start complaining. They complained to Moses. He and Aaron go before God and ask God to resolve the situation. God tells Moses to speak to the rock and then water would flow. But Moses goes out to meet the people but he does not speak to the rock. Instead he hits the rock, and as a result, God tells Moses he cannot go to the Promised Land. Every time I think about that, I always think that if I had been Moses, that would have been the worst news that I could have heard. It would have been the worst because it was my responsibility to take the Israelites out of the land of Egypt into the land of Canaan. It would have also been the worst because I wanted to see the Promised Land. But I was derailed by a group of people who were unbelieving and unwilling to trust God.

As a result, Moses got stuck wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Now he is at the very end of the 40 year journey and about ready to enter the Promised Land, and he sinned. Because he hit the rock, God said he could not go. Just imagine dying before you get there. Later in Deuteronomy 3:23-27, we can read that Moses complained and pleaded with God to let him go into the land.

Let me, I pray, cross over and see the fair land that is beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon. Deuteronomy 3:25 (NASB)

But God said, “Enough Moses. Be quiet. I don’t want to hear any more about this. You are not going.” Then in Deuteronomy 32:51, God tells Moses that he broke faith with Him. Moses broke faith. I take that to mean that Moses was not faithful. He was not as completely faithful as God had wanted him to be. This example from the life of Moses reveals that God expects much from those who serve him, especially those whom He puts in positions of responsibility.

If I’d been a Jew reading this passage, I would have said, “Wait a minute! Moses could not go to the Promised Land. That reveals he was not always faithful.” Isn’t it amazing that the Holy Spirit does not mention that incident at all in Hebrews 3. He does not mention it at all. He could have. It would have proven how much more faithful Jesus was. But the Spirit does not. This reveals that God looks at the pattern of life of a man or woman and not at a single disappointing event in his or her life.

Jesus is Superior to Moses

Yet, this shows us that Jesus is really faithful. He was and is more faithful than Moses. But the Holy Spirit didn’t need to do that. There is enough evidence to show that Jesus was and is faithful, but do you know what the example of Moses does reveal about our God? It screams that God’s merciful. In the New Testament, nothing is said about Moses’ slipping-up at the end of his ministry. Nothing! What Moses only gets in the New Testament is honor. That’s all he gets. He gets honor and accolades. That is God’s mercy! God’s love! It reveals God’s faithfulness to us. It is truly terrific that God does not say anything negative about Moses at all in Hebrews. Moses was faithful in his general management and his general oversight of the Israelites. It was not necessary to say about what happened at the end because Moses was faithful as a pattern of life. Moses brought the Israelites all the way up to the point of entering the Promised Land and they were able to go in on their own. Moses was incredibly faithful for 40 years, through pain and struggle and trial. It is incredible what Moses did, but Jesus is even more incredible. What is the point of these six verses? Jesus is greater than Moses.

Conclusion

Now we could have asked, “Jesus is our example of what?” The answer is faithfulness! We are called to be faithful too! We saw that at the very beginning of the message. God has called us to be faithful too! We are to be faithful to him. Part of the fruit of the Spirit is what? Faithfulness! Are you faithful? Are you faithful to God? Are you faithful in every area of life as He would want you to be? Or, do you just pick when to be faithful? Or, will you do things for God when it is convenient, or when you feel like it? I find sometimes that my problem is not that I have an intellectual issue, but because I have an emotional problem. Emotionally, I do not want to do certain things because I do not feel like it. Yet, God asked us to use our head and be faithful. I would like to close with an illustration that I think will make the point that we are to be faithful.

One of the most tragic events during the Reagan presidency was the Sunday morning terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, in which hundreds of Americans were killed or wounded as they slept. Many of us can still recall the terrible scenes as the dazed survivors worked to dig out their trapped brothers from beneath the rubble. A few days after the tragedy, I recall coming across an extraordinary story. Marine Corp. Commandant Paul Kelley visited some of the wounded survivors then in a Frankfurt Germany Hospital. Among them was Corp. Jeffery Lee Nashton. He was severely wounded in the incident. Corp. Nashton had so many tubes running in and out of his body that a witness said he looked more like a machine than a man. Yet, he survived. As Corp. Kelley neared him, Corp. Nashton struggled to move and racked with pain, motioned for a piece of paper and pen. He wrote a brief note and passed it back to the commandant. On the slip of paper were two words, “Semper Fi,” the Latin motto of the Marines meaning “forever faithful.” With those two simple words, Corp. Nashton spoke for the millions of Americans who had sacrificed body and limb and their lives for their country. These are those who have remained faithful. I was thinking to myself, maybe Christians should adopt Semper Fi – Forever faithful. Wouldn’t that be great? We are called to be faithful forever!

 

Questions or Comments?

There is a fictitious story about a snake and a boy. The story goes something like this. Many years ago, a strong, young boy climbed to the summit of a nearby snowcapped mountain. When at last he reached the summit, and gazed over the panorama below, he saw something move at his feet. It was a snake and it promptly spoke to him, “I’m about to die,” said the snake, “It’s too cold up here for me and I’m freezing. There is no food and I am starving. Please wrap me around your shirt and take me down to the valley.”

Well, the boy wasn’t stupid. “No!” He said, “I know your kind. You are a snake. I’m not going to pick you up because you’ll bite me and you will kill me.” The boy knew it was a rattlesnake and if he picked it up it would bite him and kill him. “No,” said the snake, “I will treat you differently. If you will do this for me you will be special and I will not harm you.” At last the youth gave into the snakes pleading and tucked the snake under his shirt.

Upon arriving down in the valley, he removed the snake and laid it on the ground where upon the snake immediately coiled, rattled, struck and planted his deadly fangs in the young man’s leg. “But you promised!” said the young man. “You knew what I was when you picked me up,” said the snake as it was slithering away.

Satan Is a Deceiver & Murderer

It is a fictitious story, but when we look at scripture, often times a snake is symbolic of Satan. And just like the rattlesnake in the fictitious story, Satan is a liar. Satan is a deceiver and a murderer. The first time that Satan murdered, he did not do it with a gun. He did not murder with a knife. He did not murder with a rope. He did not murder with a spear or a lance. He murdered with deceptive words.

Genesis 3:1-5 tells us that Satan lied about what God had said. Satan motivated Eve to doubt God. God had said “You can’t eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” and the consequence was that if they ate of the fruit of the tree they would die. Satan said, “Oh no, God’s a liar. God is a deceiver.” “Oh no, that is not true! You will not die!” Satan lured her with words and the result was spiritual and physical death for Eve, then Adam and finally all of humanity. That was the result.

Even though Satan had sinned due to his pride (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:11-17) and rebelled against God, he wanted revenge. Therefore, he attacked Adam and Eve. He wanted them to die. His lure was words and his goal was death — spiritual death and physical death. So, Satan is a liar and a murderer.

It is important to note that Jesus said in John 8:44 that Satan is a murderer. This reveals that Jesus believed in Satan. Satan is not a murderer in the physical sense. He is a murderer in the spiritual sense, and has been this way since the beginning. If we read 1 John 3:10-12, we are told that Cain murdered Abel, just like Satan. Isn’t that interesting? Cain murdered just like Satan did. Satan is a murderer! He brings death – physical and spiritual death.

In 1 Chronicles 21:2 we are told that Satan motivated David to number Israel. The result was that many of the Israelites died. Once again, we see that Satan is a murderer! In Luke 22:3 we are told that Satan entered Judas and Judas betrayed Jesus. Watch this, Satan he is a liar. He is a deceiver. He is a murderer. His goal is to keep people spiritually dead and cause them to spend eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:12-14). That is his goal.

The sad part is that most people do not know that he exists and does not want them to have eternal life. I believe that he is on a campaign of revenge against God. Satan does not like God and he does not like you either!

Satan Wants You to Join Him

In Mark 4:15 we are told that Satan is the one who steals the Word of God from people so that they do not hear or understand it. In the parable of the sower and the seed, there are seeds that are sown on four different soils. We are told that the evil one, that is Satan, snatches the word away from the first soil. The reason that he snatches the word away is not that he wants us to die physically – No! No! No! Satan wants us to die a spiritual death. That’s what Satan wants. He wants us to die a spiritual death.

In Ezekiel 18:4 we are told the soul that sins will surely die. That is what Satan wants. He has been successful in keeping people from eternal life. He is a master at deception and lies. Satan will continue until Jesus returns. Spiritual death is the sphere in which Satan operates and his goal is not friendship. He is a liar, a deceiver and his goal is to cause every man and woman to die spiritually. That is his goal, and he wants you to join him in eternal punishment. He knows already that is where he is going.

Satan Is Going to the Lake of Fire

Revelation 20:10 tells us that Satan will end up in the lake of fire. The bad news is that Satan is working so that we will join him, although scripture seems to teach that there will not be much interaction there. The lake of fire is a place of darkness, fire and brimstone. It will not be a place that anyone will enjoy. It will not be a place of fun and relaxation. Now you might wonder how does this connect with our study? The answer will become obvious soon.

We have already discovered that the first chapter of Hebrews was about the superiority of Christ. We were taught that Jesus is our creator, our sustainer, our savior, He is greater than the angels and He is our God. That was how chapter one answered the unspoken question, “How important is Christ?”

Our last study was in Hebrews 2:1-4. In that study, we were given a warning, and the warning is that if Jesus is God, if Jesus is greater than the angels, and He is, then you had better listen when He tells you how to escape spiritual death — how to escape what Satan wants for you. That was the opening four verses of chapter two.

The rest of chapter two answers another unspoken question, “Why did God become a man?” Verses 1-4 of chapter two is like a parenthesis or a side comment. Starting in verse 5 the discussion about Jesus and the angels continues from Hebrews 1:14.

Who Will Control the Coming World?

At the very end of Hebrews 1:14 we were asked the question, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?” and now the Holy Spirit continues the discussion about angels when he says,

For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. Hebrews 2:5 (NASB)

Now there are two important points in this verse that we want to examine. The first point is what does He mean by the “world to come”? Some people have thought that “world to come” refers to heaven. Well, the Greek word for world actually refers to the inhabited earth. Since heaven is not an inhabited earth this phrase is referring to the Messianic kingdom. It is referring to the 1,000 year kingdom that is coming in the future.

And the second point that we want to look at is the phrase, “not to subject to angels.” In the Greek text the word “not” comes first in the sentence. This is important because the most important thought that the author wants to communicate comes first in the Greek sentence. The literal Greek is, “not angels did he subject the world to come.” So, when the word “not” appears first, we are alerted to the fact that the angels are not going to be in control of the world to come.

All Things in Subjection Under His Feet

Therefore, who will be in control? The answer is Christ. The Messianic kingdom will exist for a thousand years and Christ will reign on earth. He will be in  charge of the world to come and we’re told that in verses 6 through 8. These verses quote Psalm 8:4-6.

It has been testified somewhere,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

Hebrews 2:6-8a (NASB)

Now this is great. Notice both Genesis 1:26 and Genesis 9:2-4 remind us that God put man in authority over all of the animals but He did not put everything under man’s control. The angels are not under man’s control. This can only refer to Christ. Notice what the author of Hebrews does in verse 8b.

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. Hebrews 2:8b (NASB)

The Holy Spirit quoted Psalm 8:4-6 in verses 6-8a and now He explains the passage in verse 8b. This is a great example of how to teach the Bible. It is a great pattern for every teacher to follow. First, read the verse and then explain the verse. That was the pattern Nehemiah followed (Nehemiah 8:8). It is the pattern the Holy Spirit follows. He quotes the passage and then starts explaining the passage. The Holy Spirit is the best authority on how to teach the Word of God since He is God and wrote it. Teachers would do well to follow the pattern of the Holy Spirit.

In this example, the Holy Spirit starts at the end of Psalm 8:4-6, and then teaches the passage from the end to the top. For example, verse 8a states, “You have put all things in subjection under his feet” and then the Holy Spirit starts explaining it in the last part of verse 8, “For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to Him.” The Holy Spirit explains who is in control. Men and women are not in control of everything. This can refer only to one person, Jesus Christ. Then we are told, “But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.” This is referring to a future event, the second coming of Christ. I couldn’t help but think about that statement from the standpoint of these Hebrew Christians. Everything wasn’t subjected to just some person when this was written. This is speaking of a future event. The writer of Hebrews says it has not happened yet, but it is coming. That is the message.

Lower Than the Angels

Now the book of Hebrews has not specifically stated who the Him is yet, but it does in verse 9. Verse 9 explains with, “But we do see Him,” It is interesting what the author of Hebrews does. He doesn’t identify the Him right away in the preceding verses. The Holy Spirit leaves us hanging until verse 9. He says, “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels,” namely, Jesus. That’s the Him. The Him is Jesus.

But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor . . . Hebrews 2:9 (NASB)

Do you know what the Holy Spirit is doing? He’s explaining the first part of the quote.

In verse 6 we were told, “What is man that you remember him.” What is man? Stop to think for a second. What are we? Scripture says we are like a puff of breath. Scripture says we are just like air. Scripture says that our time is really short. Psalm 90 says that we live a very short life, seventy years, and if we have enough strength then we will live longer and longer. But compared to eternity, we are nothing. We are just absolutely nothing. NASA has estimated that the number of stars in our universe is 10 to the 21st power. That is the number 1 followed by 21 zeroes. That’s how many stars we have. That’s a lot of stars. That’s an incredible number of stars. Just unbelievable, and we’re only one of those. We are insignificant.

Why do you think God is interested in us? Our sun is only one out of a billion, trillion stars in this whole universe and yet God is interested in us. Yesterday, I checked the population of the world. On the internet, you can find a world population counter. I don’t know how accurate it is, but it says that there are 6.7 billion people. And yet Jesus saved you, if you’re a Christian. Out of 6.7 billion people and God is interested in you. There are a billion, trillion stars and there are 6.7 billion people on this planet and yet, God is interested in you. It is amazing that He is interested in us.

The Psalmist says, “What is man, that you remember Him.” We could say it this way, “Why do you even think about man?” “Why do you even care about him?” Well, that’s not what verse 9 is all about. Verse 9 is not about all of us. Verse 9 is about the Him. Who is the Him? The next line says, “Or the son of man, that you are concerned about him.” That’s the Him. The Him is the son of man. “For you have made Him for a little while lower than the angels.” You ask, “How did that happen?”

It happened when Jesus became a man. The man Christ Jesus was made lower than the angels. God became lower than the angels when He took on human flesh, right? And then we were told in Psalm 8, “And you have crowned Him with glory and honor.” But it doesn’t tell us why. Do you see that? It just says, “You have made Him for a little while lower than the angels and you crowned Him with honor and glory” but it doesn’t tell us why. But verse 9 tells us why.

Therefore, let’s read verse 9 again.

But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9 (NASB)

We are told that Christ is “crowned him with honor and glory” “because of suffering and death.” He is crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death and the reason He was made lower than the angels was, “. . . so that by the grace of God he might taste death forever.”

Taste Death for Everyone

Now someone might say that the word “taste” sounds funny. They might ask, “Do you mean he just sampled death? Didn’t He actually experience death?” In order to understand what is being said we need to understand the meaning of the Greek word. The word “taste” in the Greek has the idea of “to savor.” It has the idea of all the sensations that go with it.You know what this means? It means that when Jesus died on the cross, He experienced death in the fullest measure. Jesus experienced it all – in the fullest measure Jesus experienced death.

Since God cannot die, God came in human flesh. That human flesh was Jesus and that flesh died. Some years ago, I was asked how can God die. I replied, “He did not die, but his human flesh died. He experienced the pain of dying at that time. He experienced all of that in the fullest. He tasted death and returned to life.”

To Perfect the Author of Their Salvation

Verse 10 says,

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10 (NASB)

The Him here in verse 10 is God the Father. It tells us that God the Father is the creator and owner of everything, “Through whom are all things.” He is also the Sustainer. Isn’t it great that God the Father is the Sustainer? We saw earlier in chapter 1 that Jesus is also the Sustainer. He sustains everything. Once again scripture reminds us that Christ and the Father are both Sustainers. They are the same God. When we are told that the Father did all of this to bring “many sons to glory” we are reminded of His goal. He wants to bring many sons to glory. Christians often forget that God the Father is the one who planned our salvation and predestined us to salvation (Ephesians 1:3-8). Salvation was His idea. This is an important truth. We need to thank the one who planned our salvation.

Next notice that we are told that the Father perfected, “. . . the author of their salvation through suffering.” Now this can be confusing, therefore, pay close attention. You might be thinking, “Does this mean that Christ was not perfect? Does this mean that He had to become holy?” No, He was always God. God was already holy. Later in Hebrews 4:15 we will be told that Jesus never experienced sin. Jesus was without sin. We will be told in 1 Peter that He was and is holy. Jesus was and is holy.

Therefore, the question is, “In what sense was He perfected?” The answer is first found in the gospels where we are told that He obeyed the father. I know that as I was growing up as a child it was hard to obey my parents, and as an adult sometimes I find that the only reason I obey the speed limit is because there may be a policeman nearby who wants to give me a ticket. But it shouldn’t be that way, right? The reason we should obey is because it is the right thing to do. That is why we ought to obey.

How many of you would pay taxes if the government did not tell you to do that? Some of us do it only because we are fearful. There are some things we do because we have to. Jesus obeyed and He did it perfectly from a willing heart. Jesus obeyed because it was the right thing to do and because He wanted to, and not because He had to do it. When Jesus refused to sin, He did it because it was the right thing to do. Jesus was perfect in His obedience. When it says that He learned obedience the statement means that He experienced what it was like to be a human and be perfectly obedient. We will discuss this issue more in weeks to come but not in this study.

So, Jesus learned what it was like to be like us, to suffer, to deal with sin and ultimately experience death. If you recall the very night just before He died, Jesus struggled in agony in the garden of Gethsemane. He pleaded that,

. . . if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me . . .” Matthew 26:39 (NASB)

But then He said, “Yet not as I will, but as You will.” Jesus obeyed even to the point of death. He was the author of our salvation. He was perfected through sufferings. He is our example of perfect obedience even when faced with death.

Before we go any further, notice the first part of verse 10 when it says, “For it was fitting.” The word “fitting” is a very interesting Greek word. Sometimes we do things because we know it’s the right thing to do, but not because we want to do it, right? Now I am talking to mom’s and dad’s for a minute. I am not sure how many dads have changed a diaper even when you did not want to do it. Or, you go to work but you really did not want to. Or moms have cleaned the house but really didn’t want to. Maybe a dad built something that his wife was encouraging him to build but he really didn’t want to. Maybe there is a honey-do list of things that you really do not want to do, but you are going to do them anyway. Maybe on some occasion you actually get angry or a little irritated but you do them anyway, because you know it’s the right thing to do. Well, the word for “fitting” in the Greek has the idea of “proper.” And so, we are told that it was proper for God to perfect the author of our salvation through sufferings. Does it mean that God did it because it was the right thing to do but He really doesn’t want to do it? No, no! He did it because He wanted to do it. He learned perfect obedience when He submitted to suffering on the cross for us.

Jesus Our Sanctifier and The Sanctified

Verse 11 tells us why it was fitting for Jesus to be perfected by sufferings.

For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren . . . Hebrews 2:11 (NASB)

It was fitting because Jesus is our sanctifier. He is our sanctifier and we are the ones who are sanctified. Well, you say what does the word sanctify mean? It means “to make holy or set apart.” At the moment of saving faith every Christian is declared legally holy. Isn’t it great to be holy? The Greek word for holy one is hagios. That’s what you are. You are a holy one. In Jesus, you are a hagios. You are a holy one. This is the work of Christ.

Not Ashamed to Call Us Brethren

Next, we are told that Christ “is not ashamed to call them brethren.” When I thought about the word “ashamed” I remembered an experience I had some years ago at a restaurant here in Tucson. I remember going in and sitting down for breakfast and I saw a homeless man sitting at the counter. I forget what he was eating or drinking but I asked him if he wanted breakfast. He looked at me and had a big surprised look on his face. He said, “Yeah I’d like to have breakfast.” I took an opportunity to share Christ.

And then I went to the waitress and I told the waitress to give the man whatever he wanted, that  I would pay for it. It did not matter what he wanted. I remember that she looked at me kind of funny. For some reason, I became embarrassed. I did not know why I became embarrassed, but I became embarrassed when she looked at me kind of funny. Like, “What kind of nut are you, doing this?” Well I became embarrassed for some reason.

Jesus wasn’t embarrassed to be like us. You say what is the proof? How do we know that? Look at verses 12 and 13. Verse 12 says,

I will proclaim Your name to My brethren,
In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise. Hebrews 2:12 (NASB)

Verse 12 is a quote of Psalm 22:22. Since Psalm 22:16-21 is about rejoicing after the crucifixion, this means that verse 22 is rejoicing about Christ’s resurrection. The rejoicing occurs among the brethren.

Next, verse 13 is a quote of Isaiah 8:17-18.

And again,
“I will put My trust in Him.”
And again,
“Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.” Hebrews 2:13 (NASB)

These quotes reveal that Jesus trusted the Father. Jesus walked by faith just as we are urged to walk by faith, only He lived by faith perfectly. These quotes also reveal that Jesus enjoyed being with us. Let’s put it another way. He loved us. He loves us, He cares about us.

Render the Death and Devil Powerless

Verse 14 reveals that,

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil . . . Hebrews 2:14 (NASB)

The word for “partook” has the idea that Jesus took of something that was not normally part of Himself. Therefore, when He became like us He took on our flesh and what was the reason?

There are so many “why’s” in this passage. The author does not ask the question “why” but the whys are implied. This passage reminds me of my children. There was a phase that they went through when they would ask a question and I would answer and then I would get another why? Then I would answer and they ask why? I would answer and they would ask why? After a while I would just say, “Well, stop asking why because you are asking so many whys.” That describes this passage. We read it and the Holy Spirit anticipates our question, “Why?” He keeps giving us a therefore, another therefore, here’s the reason, and here is why. We are going from one question to another question, to another answer and to another answer.

Now what was the reason He came in human flesh? Why did He come? So that He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil. We have already made the point earlier, at the very beginning of our study, that the lure of Satan is lies and deceit, and his tool is spiritual death. That is his tool.

1 Corinthians 15:54 answers the question, “How did Christ render the devil powerless?”

But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:54 (NASB)

When Christ died on the cross and was resurrected Satan’s tool of death was taken away and the devil was rendered powerless. Like a scorpion, the devil’s stinger was removed. Verse 55 adds,

O death, where is your victory? 1 Corinthians 15:55a (NASB)

The answer is there was no victory for death.

O death, Where is your sting? 1 Corinthians 15:55b (NASB)

The answer is that death no longer has a sting. It’s gone. Look at verse 26,

The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 1 Corinthians 15:26 (NASB)

This verse says the last enemy that will be abolished is death. Before Christ died and was resurrected, everyone was sentenced to eternal spiritual death, but now eternal life is possible by God’s grace through faith. Revelation 20:14 tells us that eventually death will cease to exist. It says,

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14 (NASB)

Jesus’ death has rendered Satan’s tool of death powerless and death will eventually be destroyed.

Romans 16:20 adds that Satan will be crushed too!

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. Romans 16:20 (NASB)

Therefore, when Jesus came, took on our flesh and died on the cross for us, He defeated death and He defeated Satan. In the future, He is going to finally crush Satan, and destroy death. Satan will live forever in the lake of fire and death will cease to exist. Jesus is going to obliterate both. Do you know what this reveals? It tells us that Jesus is the victor.

Christ Frees Christians From Sin and Death

Hebrews 2:15 answers another unspoken question. The question is, “Who did Christ help?” Verse 15 tells us,

. . . and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. Hebrews 2:15 (NASB)

Jesus is not only a victor, He is also a liberator. He frees us from slavery to sin and He frees us from spiritual death.

Verse 15 could apply to evil angels or fallen angels who are sentenced to eternity in the lake of fire. Therefore, verse 16 clarifies that Christ did not come to help angels.

For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Hebrews 2:16 (NASB)

Why did Jesus come? Watch this, Jesus came not to help evil angels or fallen angels which are also called unclean spirits, spirits or demons. He didn’t come to help angels. He came to help you and me. He came to save Jews and Gentiles. He came to save. He is our helper. He humbled Himself to help us.

Conclusion

Verse 17 is the summary of this passage.

Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17 (NASB)

The word “propitiation” has the idea of “satisfying God’s wrath.” Did you know that sinners are going to experience God’s wrath if they do not believe in Jesus Christ? Scriptures tell us that God the Father is angry with our sin. Scripture tells us that those who reject Jesus Christ someday will experience His wrath in its fullest measure and end up in the lake of fire where they will be for eternity

Do you know what Jesus did when He died on the cross? He satisfied the Father’s wrath. Christ enabled us to have peace with Him. Romans 5:1 tells us that Christians have peace with God. I like to ask people “Would you like to have peace with God?” They may not understand that they need peace with God, but they need peace with God because in their sinful condition they are not at peace with God. Jesus had to become a man in order to satisfy the Father’s wrath.

1 John 2:1 is a great passage. It says,

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous . . . 1 John 2:1 (NASB)

That is, Christ defends us from the Father’s wrath. Jesus is our Advocate and every time Satan, the accuser of the brethren, says, “Oh look at that Christian, look at what they’re doing, oh, that is really bad.” Jesus says, “No, I died for that Christian. I died for this Christian. No, you can’t do that.”

He or she is a hagios. They’re sanctified. They are holy ones. There is no sin in his or her life. Now, you say, “Well, but I am still a sinner.” Yes, you are but as far as God the Father is concerned, because of what Jesus did, He only sees you as being holy. That is really wonderful.

Verse 18 now gives us the second part of the conclusion.

For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:18 (NASB)

This tells us that Jesus is our helper in every way. I’d like to read a statement from Dr. Jay Burn and Magia.

“Although He was the son of God and though He was God Himself, His perfect life does not save us. His virgin birth does not save us. Actually, His teachings do not save us. His miracles do not save us, nor do His examples save us, but it is His death upon the cross that saves us. He was made complete. He reached completeness by dying on the cross. If you could convince me that God has decided to remain aloof for men, and all He did for this lost world was to pitch the Bible down here and as He sits in heaven, He looks down on men and He says, “It is too bad you’re in such a mess, here is a book and I hope you can work it out some way.” And then I’m prepared to turn my back on Him. But that is not what God did. He came down to earth, He took on Himself our humanity, because He suffered and died on the cross, I trust in Him. I love Him because of what He has done for me and all lost mankind.”

That’s what He did. Jesus did that. He did it all for us. Jesus is our creator. He is the author of our salvation. He is our sustainer. Jesus is our sanctifier. Jesus is our sympathizer. Jesus is our Savior. Jesus is our helper. But there is another great title for Jesus. He is our merciful and faithful high priest. The word “merciful” has the idea of helping somebody who cannot help themselves. We are not able to help ourselves when it comes to eternal salvation.

Therefore, He really is our merciful high priest. He is also our faithful high priest. Faithful has the idea that He is always there. He is always helpful. He is always there to take care of us. He is always our Advocate. We can always depend on Him. Unlike some of us who make promises and then never keep them, we can always depend on Jesus.

Jesus is our merciful and faithful high priest. He is the one who made the ultimate and final atonement for our sins. In the Old Testament, and in Jesus’ day, a high priest would go into the temple once a year, and make atonement for the sins of the people. He would make atonement for his own sins first. He had to do that year after year after year after year because the sacrifices were imperfect sacrifices. But Jesus. He was the perfect lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and when He died, there is no longer a need for any more sacrifices. He was the ultimate sacrifice for sins.

There’s a very great song that is entitled “Before the Throne of God Above” and I’d like to close with this.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose name is love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heav’n He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless Righteousness

 

Questions or Comments?

I‘d like to start by asking a question this morning. The question is, have you ever given someone bad advice? I suspect that you have. I know I have. In fact, I would suspect that all of us have at some point. We acted like we were experts in an area in which we really weren’t experts.

There is a true story about a once famous actress by the name of Billie Burke. She died in 1970. The story goes something like this. While enjoying a transatlantic cruise, Billie Burke noticed that a gentleman was suffering from a bad cold. She asked him sympathetically, “Are you uncomfortable?” and the man nodded ‘Yes.’ She said, “Well, I’ll tell you what you are to do. Go back to your state room. Drink lots of orange juice. Take two aspirin. Find all of the blankets that you can. Wrap yourself up in them and sweat the cold to death.” “I know what I’m talking about,” she said, “because I’m Billie Burke of Hollywood.” The man responded warmly. He introduced himself saying, “Well, thanks. I’m Dr. Mayo of Mayo Clinic.” Obviously, Dr. Mayo knew a lot more about what he needed to do to take care of his cold than Billie Burke. Billie Burke thought she was an expert. Dr. Mayo, in fact, was the expert.

Recently I encountered an individual who had found a website with a basic message. The message was,

Everybody goes to heaven. Everybody does. They said that there was no hell. They said that there was no eternal punishment. You die and you go to heaven and that’s it. We all go to heaven, and nobody has to suffer eternally.

Unfortunately, the site misrepresented and misquoted the early Church fathers. The site avoided Old Testament and New Testament passages that talked about eternal condemnation. The site misrepresented Greek and Hebrew words in order to push their point. In short, it’s a dangerous website because they acted as though they were the experts and they either willingly or unknowingly distorted the facts. Their work lacked scholarship, or either they were just plain ignorant, we were not sure which. But either way, they have it wrong.

Just like Billie Burke, they acted like they were authorities. In Jesus’ day, there were some people who thought they were authorities as well. The Sadducees at one point in Matthew 22 confronted Jesus and talked about a woman who had been married to many different men. They wanted to know which husband she would be married to in heaven.  Jesus responded,

. . . You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. Matthew 22:29  (NASB)

Jesus basically made the point that they weren’t experts. They weren’t authorities. They did not know what they were talking about. Interestingly enough, just a few verses later the Pharisees decided that they would try to stump Jesus. They came to Jesus with a question as well. Jesus responded with his own question after answering their question (Matthew 22:41-46). He asked them a question that they couldn’t answer. As a result of that, they planned to never ever ask Jesus another question. The Pharisees thought they were authorities too! They thought they were experts. Jesus demonstrated that He was the expert. He was the authority and they were not.

We discovered in our last couple of studies that the writers of Hebrews, the human author and the Holy Spirit, demonstrated to the readers and to us that Jesus is the authority. We have discovered that Jesus was the Great Creator. Jesus holds everything together. He upholds the creation. We have seen that Jesus is the Savior. We have seen that Jesus is the proper object of worship by the angels. We have seen that Jesus is greater than the angels. That is the whole theme of Hebrews 1. Jesus is better than the angels. He is greater than the angels. He is superior to the angels.

We also discovered that Jesus is God. That was the best part for me. Jesus is God. That is why He is greater than the angels. That is why He is superior to the angels. When Jesus speaks, He is the authority in spiritual matters. There is no one who is a greater expert. There is no one who is more authoritative than Jesus. When Jesus speaks, we had all better listen. That has been the message so far.

The book of Hebrews was written to Jews. It was written to people who believed and it was written to people who didn’t believe in Jesus. There were people who were wondering about Jesus, who were trying to figure out who Jesus really was.

This morning we are going to discover that all of the groundwork that’s been laid in Hebrews 1 was laid so that we can understand Jesus. Our passage is the first four verses of chapter 2. It is a warning! Watch this, the Holy Spirit is teaching doctrine. He is teaching truth. He is teaching us who Jesus is and why He is important and why we need to listen to Him.

You Better Listen!

In chapter 2 we are going to be given a warning. The warning is strong and clear. It is the first of five warnings in the book of Hebrews. I invite you to take your Bibles and open it to Hebrews 2. We’re going to start with verse 1. Verse 1 says,

For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.  Hebrews 2:1 (NASB)

The first phrase is interesting because it says, “For this reason.” It is like a therefore. It refers us back to chapter 1 of Hebrews. Because of what we learned about Jesus in the first chapter, therefore, because Jesus is the creator, He is the one who upholds. He is the savior. He is our God, and He is the authoritative One. Therefore, we must pay closer attention to what we have heard. That is the idea. He laid the groundwork of who Christ is and now the Holy Spirit says, “Therefore, you better listen.” That is the idea of what He is trying to communicate when he says, “You must pay closer attention.”

Next, we are told that we must listen beyond the ordinary. The Greek word for the phrase “much closer attention” is perissoteros. It means that we must listen more than you have been listening. I don’t know about you; but most of us when we listen, listen casually. When we hear something and  time goes by, an hour goes by, a couple of hours go by, a day goes by, then we have a hard time remembering what we heard. I would suspect that if I asked you what message I preached the first Sunday in June, most of you would say, “I have no idea.” Well, what message did we preach last year? You answer, “I don’t know” because we do not remember. The message here is pay closer attention to what was said, to what you have heard. Pay closer attention! The Holy Spirit is saying pay really close attention. This is serious business! Therefore, for this reason, you must seriously listen because of who is speaking. Jesus has spoken!

Then we are given another reason: so that you don’t drift away from it. The Greek word for drift away is pararyomen. It has the idea of gradually slipping away, or sliding away, or drifting away. It’s the idea of a ring slipping off someone’s finger little-by-little. It was used to refer to a ship that slipped from its moor, slipped from its dock or slipped from the harbor. It would be like a ship drifting down through the currents.

On June 9, 2009, there was an emergency call that was received by the Royal Navy Lifeboat Institute of Great Britain. Someone had noticed that there were two fishermen out on the sea. They were concerned that the fishermen were in trouble because they were on the Blue Anchor Beach, which is in the southwest part of Great Britain. They were concerned because it was 9:15 p.m. at night. So it was dark. They were on a small craft and little by little they were drifting farther and farther out to sea. Someone sent out a call to rescue these men. So the rescue crew got on their boats. They sped out to the men in the small craft. When they got there, they discovered that there were two men and they only had one oar to row the boat. They were trying hard to get themselves back to the coast. But in spite of all their efforts, the more they rowed, the more they were slipping farther and farther out to sea. So the rescue team asked the two men if they wanted some help and they said, “No! We are doing fine. We’ll get there.” What they didn’t realize was that they weren’t getting there. They were going farther and farther away and because it was night, they couldn’t see what was happening to their boat.

The rescue team went ahead and dragged the boat to shore. Once they got back, the rescue team manager made the following statement, “The two men were unaware of their danger. If the boat had not been intercepted, they would have drifted out to sea, and potentially they would have been lost.” The men were in danger and did not know it. They were unaware of their danger, totally unaware. So the writer of Hebrews, the Holy Spirit says, “For this reason, we must pay closer attention to what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift away.” So that we don’t drift away from the truth. Some people have heard the gospel. They have heard about Jesus Christ and are totally unaware that are little by little drifting away. They do not realize that they are headed for trouble.

Every Transgression Receives A Just Penalty

Verse 2 says,

For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Hebrews 2:2-3a  (NASB)

In verse 1 we were told that we needed to pay closer attention so that we do not drift away. Now we are told that if the word that is spoken through angels proved to be unalterable and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, then do you think you are really going to escape, if you ignore the warning? That’s the idea. The Holy Spirit makes an illusion to Mount Sinai where God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses. That is where some angels were involved also.

If we visited Deuteronomy 33:2 and in Psalm 68:17, we would discover that not only was God at Mount Sinai, but some angels were there as well. We are also told in Acts 7:38 and verse 53 that some  angels actually helped to give Moses the Law. You might ask, “How did they do that?” The answer is that Scripture doesn’t tell us. You ask, “What was their role? I mean, what happened?” The answer is we really do not know. We are only told that in some way the angels were involved in the giving of the Law.

Now notice what Hebrews 2:2 says. It states, “For if the Word spoken through angels proved unalterable.” The Greek word bebaios is translated as “unalterable.” It has the idea of secure or stable, like an anchor. In other words, what the angels spoke would not change. They spoke authoritatively. So if the word that the angels spoke proved to be unalterable, skipping to verse 3, “How shall we escape?” If the angels made a statement that proved to be unalterable, if the angels made a statement that proved to be absolutely true, if the angels made a statement and there was a penalty that resulted from any violation of that statement and if you ignore Jesus, do you think that you’re going to escape too? The answer is no!

The Greek words for “transgression” and “disobedience” in verse 2 are interesting words in Greek. The word for “transgression” has the idea of stepping across the line or of disobeying God’s standard, of violating God’s Law or of violating what God wants us to do. But of the two Greek words, the Greek word for “disobedience” is the most interesting because it has the idea of a violation that is due to – watch this, neglect. That is, you heard, but you decided to ignore what you heard. You just didn’t really pay a lot of attention to what you heard.

It reminds me of the men in the lifeboat. They had one oar and they thought they were doing great. The rescue team came and said, “Hey, here we are. We’re going to rescue you. We’re going to help you out.” And they said, “Oh no, we’re doing fine. We’re doing fine.” They didn’t really listen. They were headed for trouble and they really didn’t understand. They were headed for trouble and they just blew off the warning. Verse 2 says, “For if the Word spoken through angels proved to be the solid, truthful, immutable, and unchangeable truth, and every transgression and every disobedience—even disobedience that was due to neglect—received a just penalty, then . . .. You say, “Whoa, wait a minute. If I willfully ignore what I have heard will I be in trouble?” The answer is yes. The Greek word for penalty is an interesting word. It is translated from a Greek word that means “reward.” Now that helps us understand that God considers the penalty we receive due to either willful action or neglect as a reward. It is reward that we deserve.

You say, “Wait a minute, that sounds funny. You mean I get a reward for being disobedient or for violating God’s standard?” Yes, that is right. Yes you do. You get a reward. God gives everyone rewards. The only question is what kind of reward(s) do you get? Rewards can be negative. Rewards can be positive. The disobedient are going to receive rewards, but not rewards that they want to receive. That’s why it’s translated as “penalty.” It’s translated as penalty because this is not a positive reward. It will be a negative reward. This is a reward that neither you nor I will want to receive.

How Can We Escape?

In verse 3 we are asked a question.

. . . how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? Hebrews 2:3  (NASB)

What a powerful question. How shall we escape if we neglect or ignore so great a salvation? The question asks how are we to escape? On occasions, we talk to people about salvation and some think it’s some kind of a spiritual term. The root word for “salvation” in the Greek is just sozo. It means “to save or to rescue.” We could use the term that the Royal Navy Lifeboat Institute saved the men. They were offering salvation to the two men on the boat. When we talk about salvation, from what are we being saved? The answer is given next.

At the end of verse 3 and the first part of verse 4, we are told how to escape. The Holy Spirit says,

After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.  Hebrews 2:3b-4  (NASB)

This is the answer to the question: how shall we escape? The answer is that we escape through Jesus Christ. He is the One who spoke first. Jesus is the One who told us how to escape, and those who heard Him communicated it to us. Now the question is who heard him? Who heard Jesus, and who did the Holy Spirit attest, or confirm, or verify, or validate by signs and miracles and wonders?

Turn if you would, to 2 Corinthians 12:12. Paul is speaking here. Starting in verse 11 we read,

I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody. The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles. 2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NASB)

Paul tells us that God affirmed, validated or testified to the integrity of his ministry, to the integrity of what he said by signs and wonders and miracles. It was the badge of a true apostle. It was the authentication of a true apostle. These were the signs of a true apostle.

So what we are told in Hebrews 2:3 is that the message of salvation was first spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ. It was Jesus who talked about how to escape and how to have salvation. Then God the Holy Spirit testified the message of the apostles. God confirmed their testimony by signs and wonders and miracles. It was the Holy Spirit who verified their testimony to us. What was communicated? What is it that we need to do to escape?

Eternal Punishment

Turn with me to Matthew 25:41. Verse 41 occurs near the end of the Olivet Discourse. Jesus says,

Then He will also say to those on His left, “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.”  Matthew 25:41-42  (NASB)

This passage is describing the proof that you are a real Christian. The proof that you are a real Christian is revealed by what you do. In James 2:26 we are told that faith without works is dead. Notice what verse 41 talks about. It describes those who deserve to go to the Lake of Fire. It describes eternal punishment. It says eternal what – fire! That’s what we need to escape – the eternal fire. There’s a choice!

Let’s keep reading. Look at verse 44,

Then they themselves also will answer, “Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not  take care of You?” ⁴⁵ Then He will answer them, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.” These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into  eternal life. Matthew 25:4-46  (NASB)

Notice that the word eternal shows up twice in that verse. Punishment is eternal, and life is eternal. The issue is not, “Do you want to go to heaven so that you can live forever?”  The message is that you are going to live forever, for eternity. You are an eternal being. The only question is, “Where are you going to live eternally?”

More importantly, how do we escape eternal punishment? Look now at Matthew 22:13. We will see another statement that Jesus makes about eternal condemnation or eternal punishment. Let’s start with verse 11. It says,

But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?” And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 22:11-13  (NASB)

Here we discover that eternal punishment is not just a place of fire, but it is a place of eternal darkness. There are no lights. There are no electric lights or light from the sun or stars.

I always find it interesting that people talk about going to hell and being able to see their friends and do this activity or various other things. Well, the Lake of Fire is going to be a place of fire and darkness. It is important to notice that everyone who is in hell will some day end up in the Lake of Fire. Therefore, I’m not sure how much you’re going to see when there is total darkness. I’m not sure how much you’re going to enjoy. It’s not a place I want to go. Now, I hope it’s not a place that you want to go.

In Luke 12:47, Jesus provides another interesting description about the eternal punishment. This is at the end of a parable that Jesus is giving. Verse 47 says,

And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.  Luke 12:47-48  (NASB)

This is talking about judgment. This is talking about eternal judgment. When Jesus says that some people are going to get many lashes and other people are going to get a few lashes, He is talking about degrees of suffering in eternity for those who reject Jesus Christ. This is something that we should want to escape. It is  called eternal judgment, eternal condemnation or eternal punishment. ,Jesus has told us how to escape.

How To Escape the Lake of Fire

In John 3:16, Jesus tells us how to escape., This is a great verse. Most of us probably know it by memory. John 3:16 says,

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16  (NASB)

It says that if we believe in Jesus Christ, we will not perish but have eternal life. Jesus says that God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him – that is, in Christ Jesus – will not perish. We can escape eternal condemnation. There will not be eternal judgment for these men and women. There will not be eternal punishment but eternal life. That’s what Jesus offered. Now somebody will say, “You know, I’m not against Him. When I get to Heaven, I’ll just talk it through with God.”

Okay, look at verse 18. Verse 18 says that,

He who believes in Him is not judged . . . John 3:18  (NASB)

It says those of us who believe in Jesus Christ are not judged. There is no judgment. There is no condemnation. There is no eternal punishment. But let’s keep reading. It says then,

. . . he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. . . John 3:18  (NASB)

Watch this, there is no middle ground. Either you believe in Jesus Christ or you don’t. If you believe in Jesus Christ, you are not judged. If you choose not to believe, then you are judged already. You can be certain that judgment is coming your way. That is the message of these two verses.

Hebrews 2:2 says,

For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty . . . Hebrews 2:2  (NASB)

How do you think you are going to escape if you ignore what you just heard? Will you neglect what you just heard? Will you drift away from the truth? How do you think you’re going to escape if you ignore Jesus? Jesus has told us how to escape, and do you think you’re going to escape if you ignore His message? Jesus, our God, is the authority.

Recently, I heard about a man who was checking out Jesus. He was searching the Old Testament prophets about the Messiah. He was investigating historical statements about Christ that prove He existed. He really walked this earth. He was reading the New Testament claims about Christ and increasingly he was convinced that Jesus in fact was God. Then he hit a snag. He read a passage that caused him to start asking questions. All of a sudden he panicked inside because he discovered that the Bible said he was a sinner. The Bible said that he needed forgiveness of his sins. The Bible said that he wasn’t like our holy God, that he didn’t measure up at all and needed to have his sins forgiven. So he started asking people, “Can I really go to heaven if I do not receive Jesus Christ?” He talked to one religious authority who told him that God was a fair God. The implication was that God would let him into heaven. God was “fair.” All I could think about was the end of Hebrews 2:2 where we are warned, “And you will receive a just reward.” The emphasis is on the word “just.” God is fair. God is righteously fair. God is absolutely fair. Yes, God is fair. That is a true statement. He does not have a distorted concept of being fair as we do. Our concept of being fair is a permissiveness fair.

Another religious person once said, “Well, all good people ultimately will go to Heaven.” Well, that is not true either! Jesus has already said that that is not true. Jesus is the authority. He is our God. He has already said that that is not true. With that he started to drift. He started to ignore what the Bible had to say. He started trusting some men but not what God had to say. He believed that God was fair and so when he stands before God, if his works aren’t good enough to get him into heaven, he will ask God to just annihilate his soul so that he will not have to live in eternal punishment. The man had another option. If that was unacceptable to God, then he would pick salvation. Then he would choose to believe in Jesus Christ. Well, I’m glad that he has his plans all figured out, but he has ignored something really important.

Judgment Comes After Death

Turn to Hebrews 9:27. The Holy Spirit makes an interesting statement here that reveals the man had a bad plan. The Holy Spirit says,

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment . . . Hebrews 9:27   (NASB)

The message is very simple. We die once, and after that it is judgment. There is no opportunity to bargain with God. There are no deals.

In Matthew 7:21-23 we are told that people are going to say, “Well, Lord, I did this for you. Lord, I did that for you.” They will try to convince God to let them into heaven. But God will say, “I do not know you!” In Hebrews, God tells us now is the time to escape. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day to believe in Jesus Christ and not later. Decide today and not at some time in the future. Once you die, it’s judgment time. The decision time is now and not later. The poor man had it wrong. He wasn’t listening. He had been neglecting what he has heard. He was drifting.

It reminds me of a statement of Jonathan Edwards. Jonathan Edwards wrote a famous sermon called, “Sinners In The Hands of an Angry God.” I thought I would take a few minutes to read a couple of paragraphs.

All wicked men’s pains and contrivances which they use to escape hell while they continue to reject Christ and so remain wicked men, do not secure them from hell one moment. Almost every natural man who hears of hell flatters himself that he shall escape it; he depends upon himself for his own security; he flatters himself in what he has done, in what he is now doing, or what he intends to do; everyone lays out matters in his own mind, how he shall avoid damnation, and flatters himself that he contrives well for himself, and that his schemes will not fail.

They surely hear that only a few are saved, and that the greater part of men that have died have gone into hell; but each one imagines that he has a better plan for his own escape than others have come up with. He does not intend to come to that place of torment; he says within himself, that he intends to take sufficient care, and to arrange the concerns of his life so that he will not fail. But the foolish children of men miserably delude themselves in their own schemes, and in the confidence of their own strength and wisdom; they trust in nothing but a shadow.

There is no lack of “power” in God to throw wicked men into hell at any moment. Men’s hands cannot be strong when God rises up: the strongest have no power to resist Him, nor can anyone save them from His hands. He is not only able to throw wicked men into hell, but He can do it most easily. Sometimes an earthly prince meets with a great deal of difficulty trying to subdue a rebel, who has found ways to fortify himself, and has made himself strong by the mere numbers of his followers. But it is not so with God. There is no fortress that is any defense from the power of God. Though hand join in hand, and vast multitudes of God’s enemies combine and associate themselves, they are easily broken into pieces. They are like great heaps of light chaff before the whirlwind; or large quantities of dry hay before devouring flames. We find it easy to step on and crush a worm that we see crawling on the earth; likewise it is easy for us to cut a slender thread that anything hangs by: therefore it is easy for God, when He pleases, to throw His enemies down into hell. What are we, that we should think that we can stand before Him, at whose rebuke the earth trembles, and before whom the mountains collapse?

Wow! It was written a long time ago. Some of us may not like the words. Some of us might think the words are a little strong, but the message is right. There is no scheme that we have that will frustrate God’s will. There is nothing we can do if we neglect so great a salvation.

Conclusion

Can I ask you this morning, how will you escape? How shall we escape if we neglect what Jesus has told us about how to be saved from the penalty of our sins? There is no way we can escape on your own. There is no way we can escape other than doing what Jesus has told us we need to do.

In John 8:24, Jesus told us,

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. John 8:24  (NASB)

The way to escape is, first of all, to believe who Jesus is. You have to believe that Jesus is God.

In Luke 5:32, Jesus told us He came to save sinners and not the righteous. Today, if you think that you are a righteous person, if you think you are good enough for God, then you haven’t understood the truth yet. And God didn’t come to save you if you think you’ve got it all together. Jesus said, “He came to save sinners.” He came to save those of us who recognize that they are sinners and want to be forgiven. Jesus described it as “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” We have to start by being poor in spirit. You must realize that you are a sinner and that you need to be forgiven. Well, that’s where it starts. It starts at realizing and admitting that you are a sinner. Jesus has already told us how we can be forgiven and how we can escape punishment and that’s by accepting Jesus Christ, by believing in Him.

Acts 4:12 tells us that there salvation can be found in only one Name. It cannot be found in some other religious leader. No one else!  It can be found only in Jesus and Jesus alone. How do we escape? The answer is by recognizing we are sinners and that we need our sins forgiven through Jesus Christ. Only He can do that. Then ask Him to save you and take control of your life.

Today is the day of salvation, not some time in the future. The message of this passage is don’t neglect so great a salvation. Don’t neglect our God. He has communicated to us what we need to do in order to escape. I trust that you are a believer. I trust this morning that you are certain. I trust that you confidently know that you are in fact a child of God, and I trust that you haven’t deceived yourself. I trust that you are not like the men out on the boat with the one oar, slipping farther and farther out to sea.

Let’s pray.  Thank you, Father, for the truth of your Word. Lord, we ask that you minister to us by Your Spirit today. Father, touch those of us who are uncertain about our relationship with You. Father, if there’s anyone here who is not sure that they are Christians, Lord, we ask that You, by Your Spirit would prompt them to ask, to seek help, to seek counsel. Father, we ask that by Your Spirit, you will draw them to yourself. We thank You now in Jesus name. Amen.

 

Questions or Comments?