Hebrews 2:9-18; Big-Brother Jesus, the Prince-Founder of our Faith

Hebrews 2:9-18

Jesus > Angels, Part 4:N

Big-Brother Jesus, the Prince-Founder of our Faith

This section of scripture has two themes woven around each other throughout, so it will be dealt with in two sessions.  In the first portion, we deal with Jesus as the Prince-Founder of our Faith, who conquered death by going through it in all of its horrors for us. By his work, we are now freed of the terror of death, which has enslaved those who are not being saved. 

Part 2 of this

 message was delivered 4/15.  This focused on our relationship with Jesus as our Big Brother.   The video is below.   The same outline,  below,  was followed.

1. Two emphasis here:
1. Jesus walked through the dark valley of death before us and took its horror upon himself. He has defeated the enemy that lies in wait there.  He routed out the thieves and robbers.  He crushed their head.  That valley no longer holds terror for the believer.  Death is not a passageway to communion with God. There is still a valley, and a shadow, but there is no hardship which will befall us therein.
2. Jesus has endured all things as a true man.  He made himself of one nature with us here so that we might be made of one nature with him in heaven. He has shared all of our humanity, and we are promised that we shall share in his glory.
2. Prince Founder:
1. Context: Read Ps 23: Valley of the shadow of death.  
2. Vs 9: By the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
1. Taste-Partake in, experience.
2. Not just a sample.  He drank the full measure of the wrath of God. Mat 25:42; John 18:11.
3. Vs 10: It was fitting.
1. Conceivably, there could have been other ways to engineer salvation.  Nothing is impossible with God.
2. This was “seemly”
3. Isa 53: 10 is was the Lord’s will to crush him
4. Mat 26:24 Jesus went as had been declared of him
5. Rev 13:8  slain from before the foundation of the world. Always the plan.
6. Why choose this plan? God is not constrained.
1. To declare the glory of his love and justice Rom 3:25-26
2. To display to those watching that he is loving Rom 5:8
3. To demonstrate what love is 1Jhn 4:10
4. To bring himself more glory (Heb 2:9); John 21:19
4. Jesus is the “Founder” of our salvation
1. G: ἀρχηγός archēgos Founder and Ruler.  “Prince-founder”
2. He goes before us into death and defeats the enemy as a pioneer.
3. Then, he walks through suffering with us as our shepherd (Ps 23)
5. God, in saving us, made Jesus “perfect” through suffering.
1. Not that Jesus was imperfect before.
2. Jesus does not improve.
3. His job is completed.
1. G: τελειόω teleioō to make complete, to fulfill.
2. Jesus uses it of himself in Luke 13:32 “finish my course.”
3. Phil 3:12 in negative “not made perfect” so you need to keep pressing on.  Course not done.
4. Used several times in Hebrews, always in reference to the sacrifice of Christ.  It is finished! (John 19:30).
6. Vs 14: Since the children “share” in flesh and blood
1. G: κοινωνέω koinōneō to have in common or make common, to make sinful, unclean.
2. Since we have unclean flesh, he put that on for us and conquered the enemy in sinful flesh. Romans 8:3
7. “Partook” looks back to vs 9.
8. “Through death”  He did not conquer death from above/outside it.  He walked through the valley and conquered Satan by dying.  
1. Not an air war, a ground assault door-to-door in the valley of death.
2. The enemy has no power to terrify the Christian anymore.
9. Vs 15: Fear of death, lifelong slavery.
1. For the unsaved, it is not only the moment of death itself that brings terror.  
2. Live life afraid that it will end.
3. Ultra paranoid of danger. Ultra-healthy.  Live forever. Cryogenics. Eiffel Tower promise
10. The Devil:
1. Not absolute power over death (Deut 32:39; Ps 90:3),
2. but allowed to operate in that realm because it is a consequence of the curse of sin (Gen 3; Rom 6:16, 23)
3. Power of death removed (Col 2:13-15)
11. Vs 16: “helps”
1. G: ἐπιλαμβάνομαι epilambanomai  “to lay hold of”
2. He does not “take hold of” the nature of an angel to deliver them from the consequence of sin.  Only mankind.
3. Jude 1:6
4. 1 Pet 1:10-13
5. Literal: “For surely he has not laid hold of angels, but he lays hold of the seed of Abraham.”
12. Seed of Abraham: Lit: sperm.  
1. Singular, as in Gen 12:1-3
2. This is to the Hebrews, but Jesus also helps gentiles. (Isa 25:6; 41:8-9)
3. Elder Brother:
1. The church is here referenced as “Sons” (vs 10), “Brothers” (vs 11, 12, 17), and “Children” (vs13, 14), emphasizing that we are now a part of the family of God
1. Mal 2:10; Hos 11:1; Matt 25:40; John 1:12-13; Gal 4:7;
2. Rom 8:15-17, co-heirs
3. NOT the Mormon sense of spirit children of the Father. We are adopted, not begotten.
2. Vs 11: He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified “all have one source.”
1. Lit: all are of one.
2. We have taken on the nature of Christ, and he has taken ours.
1. 1 Cor 15:20-23; 42-57
2. 2 Cor 5:21
3. We share in the family traits:
1. Holiness: Lev 11:44-45; 1Jn 2:3-6; 3:6
2. The Fruit of the spirit: Gal 5:22
3. Gifts of the Spirit: Eph 4; 1 Cor 12-14; Romans 12; etc.
4. Above all, Love! John 13:35
3. Not ashamed to call us brothers.  
1. He could have looked down on us and said, “no,” leaving us in our sin, and still been a good God.
2. He joyfully took on our nature and solved our problem Heb 12:2
4. Psalm 22 quote
1. Messianic prophetic psalm, including his death (vs 1-18); his resurrection (vs 19-21); the church age (vs 22-26); and the Messianic kingdom (vs 27-31).
2. Quote is from the church age section, vs 22.
3. In context, Jesus is exalting in the triumph of the cross over Satan and inciting praise in the church.
4. “Congregation” H: קָהֵל qahal and G: ἐκκλησία ekklēsia are very similar in meaning.  It’s a called out group of people.  In this case, possibly the angels who are watching the working out of salvation.
5. Isa 8:17-18 quote
1. This whole section is heavily Messianic  (7:14 Immanuel; 8:14-15 stone of offense; 9:1-3, Galilee).
2. The prophet cites the names of children as portents against Israel
1. Shear-Jashub (7:3) “A remnant shall return”
2. Maher-shalal-hash-baz (8:3) “The spoil speeds, the prey hastens”
3. Immanuel is also prophesied here, but not one of Isaiah's children.
3. In the face of the coming stumble of Israel, which is coming soon (Maher…), God will be with his people (Immanuel), and a remnant shall return to the land (Shear…).
4. Isaiah’s hope is anchored in the declared word of God as evidenced by these children.
5. Back in Hebrews 2, the speaker is understood to be the Christ and the church make up his children. (John 17:2)
6. Similar meaning.  There is evidence here, in our close fraternal relationship with Jesus, that God’s plan is at work and will be realized, in the midst of a confusing and uncomfortable present.
6. Vs 17: Jesus’ identity as a man is necessary
1. For his role as high priest (more on that later)
2. For our propitiation
1. Psalm 65:3; 78:38; 79:9
2. He cannot save angels because he did not take on their nature.  He saves men.
7. Vs 18.  He can identify with us in our suffering, although his is not from his own sin.  

Hebrews 2:5-9; The "Already and Not Yet" Kingdom of Christ

The "Already and Not Yet" Kingdom of Christ

Hebrews 2:5-9

In our continuing conversation about the fact that Jesus is greater than the angels, this next section deals with the fact that Jesus' dominion is greater than the angels' dominions. We focus in on the fact that Jesus' kingdom is "already here" and "not yet fully realized." My notes follow the video.

In the teaching, I referenced Louie Giglio's "How Great is Our God" sermon.

Hebrews 2:5-9

1. Jesus’ exaltation is greater than the exaltation of the Angels
2. To Jesus the world to come will be subjected.
1. World to come.. Changing times.
2. “Inhabited world,” Roman empire
3. Quote from Psalm 8:4-6
1. Masoric seems to speak of mankind (Ps 8 in context).  LXX definitely has a messianic bent.
1. Referenced by Paul twice (1Cor 15:25; Eph 1:22) in this light.
2. HS used this translational bias to teach about Messiah!
2. Jesus, the truest man, who will repair what Adam screwed up.
1. Gen 1:26-28
2. Phil 2:6-8
3. 1 Cor 15 (esp 44-45)
3. “Are mindful,” G:Perfect. “Meditate”
4. “Care for” is “visit”
5. Made him for a little while lower than the angels
1. Not mankind, which is, for all of this creation, lower than the angels.
2. Jesus’ first advent.
3. Highly exalted, but for a little while, humiliated.
6. Crowned with glory and honor….
1. Jesus, on account of his sacrifice (vs 9) is glorified
2. Second advent.             
4. Jesus’ control is absolute (vs 8b).
1. Paul excepts the Father from Jesus’ authority, which seems obvious (1Cor 15:25).                       
2. Jesus, as creator/sustainer is not only responsible for the origin of all things but also their continued existance.
5. Jesus’ control and rule is not unchallenged or undelegated (vs 9).
1. Lit: Now and not yet we see (visual) all things submitted to him who, for a little while is made lower than the angles, we can see (understand) that Jesus, through suffering and death, has been crowned with glory and honor, by the grace of God to taste death for everyone.   
2. The point of this sentence is that Jesus is exalted, and that his exaltation is made greater by, not lessened by, the humiliation of suffering and death for our salvation.
3. We see now (Nun), but not yet (oupo).  Right next to each other in the text.  Jesus’ exaltation is now (seated at the right hand) but not yet (Rev 19-20).
4. For now, his kingdom is held hostage by Satan
1. Gen 1:28 given to mankind
2. Gen 3, lost to Satan
3. 2 Cor 4:4
4. Mat 4:8-10
5. Jesus will regain complete control when the “last enemy to be defeated” is defeated.
6. The Grace of God drove Jesus to the cross to “taste death for all.”  
1. He did not take the cross out of weakness.  He was not forced to do so.
2. He did so out of a place of sovereignty.
3. He was driven to do it, not be Satan, but by His own grace.
4. John 10:18
7. Application:
1. For Jesus, exaltation came because of willing humiliation.  The same can happen to us: Jas 4:7-10
2. When we don’t “see” how Christ can be in control, He still is!

Hebrews 2:1-4. The Danger of Drifting Away

The Superiority of Gospel Over Law

The author of Hebrews compares the gospel, as the message of Christ, to the Mosaic Law, as the testimony of angels.  Interestingly, the law's transmission is never attributed to angels in Exodus, but that is clearly the belief of Jews by the second century B.C., and it is clearly the belief of Paul and the author of Hebrews.  Accepting that angels had a role to play, this passage warns us that, if the law has severe penalties for its transgression, we should take the words of Jesus all the more seriously and heed the call of grace in the gospel.    My notes follow the video

Pew 2014 Religious Landscape Study

Hebrews 2:1-4

1. Cautionary notes are inserted five times in the midst of thematic blocks in Hebrews.  
1. Others: 3:7–4:13; 5:11–6:12; 10:19-39; 12:14-29
2. Always surrounded in same topic, not standing alone.
3. Here: Jesus is greater than the angels, so pay attention to his words!
2. Jews (including Paul and the author of Hebrews) believed that Angels were the agents of the delivery of the law.  
1. New Testament text:
1. Gal 3:19
2. Acts 7:53
2. LXX:
1. Psalm 68:17
2. Deut 33:2
3. No direct evidence of this in the Masoric OT manuscripts, but the NT authors did believe this, and so did their audience.
4. Josephus states in his antiquities that “the firmest authorities of our faith were delivered by angelic ambassadors”
5. The book of Jubilees, a second-century Hebrew text, states that all revelation from God is through the “Angel of his presence,” which is identified as the Angel of the Lord later in the text.
6. If Jesus, as “The Angel of the Lord” gave the law, then the analogy breaks down.
7. If The Angels delivered the law to Moses, then what does it mean that he saw God face to face? Or that the tablets were written by the finger of God?
1. Ex 31:18
2. Deut 9:10
8. Not only did the author of Hebrews believe this, but the Holy Spirit allowed it to serve as the basis for an argument in scripture, not as a passing detail.  
9. Somehow, it’s true!
3. Following the theme, then, that Jesus > Angles, his dispensation > theirs.
4. The law, given by angels, was
1. For all time, perfect tense: λαλέω laleō: spoken once and for all.
2. binding:  βέβαιος bebaios
3. Came with “just retribution” for not obeying it.
1. Deut 32:25
2. Transgression: παράβασις parabasis: stepping outside the line
3. Disobedience: παρακοή parakoē:not willing to hear it.  
5. The dispensation of Jesus is:
1. Focuses not on the retribution, but on the salvation.
2. A “great salvation” as opposed to the law.
1. Gal 3:24
2. Rom 8:1-3
3. Testified to by Jesus himself first (Luke 4:43; Mark 1:48)
1. “Declared” in perfect tense, as above.
2. 1 Cor 11:23
4. Then entrusted to faithful apostles, pastors, and teachers.
1. 1Jn 1: 1-3
2. John 1:14
3. 2 Tim 2:2
4. Author includes himself in one who heard from the Apostles.  Not Paul (1Cor 11: 23; 15:8)
5. God the Father also testifies to the greatness of the salvation worked by Christ:
1. Lit: “accompanied by the simultaneous testimony of God”
2. “Signs and wonders” common phrase [Ex 7:3; Deut 6:22; Deut 26:8; Neh 9:10; Psa 135:9; Jer 32:20-21; Dan 4:2; Dan 6:27; Mat 24:24; Mar 13:22; Jh 4:48; Acts 4:30; 5:12; 14:3; 15:12; Rom 15:19; 2 Cor 12:12; 2Th 2:9]
3. “Diverse Powers” seen as a summary of all the gifts of power at work in the early church and the lives of the apostles. (1Cor 12;28)
4. “Distributions of the Holy Spirit”
1. Does not use “gifts,” Charisma.  Instead focuses on the giving of the Holy Spirit to all believers in their measure.
2. Jesus received the Holy Spirit without measure (John 3:34)
3. We, believers in Christ, receive the Holy Spirit according to the measured will of God and the measure of our faith (Rom 12:3, 6; 1Cor 12:4-11)
4. The only other place in scripture where “diverse powers” are combined with “signs and wonders” in the NT is 2Th 2:9, where the complete list is seen as evidence of apostolic authority.  
6. Warning Passage #1:
1. Vs 2-4 are one sentence, the main phrase of which is “How will we escape?”
2. We will not escape judgment if we ignore this gospel.  
3. To whom is it written?  The unconverted.  Those who are saved have not ignored the gospel.
4. The unconverted Hebrew, attending a Christian church out of curiosity, were torn between the new freedom of the gospel and the familiar traditions and experiences of the Levitical system.
5. This particular passage is not about falling away, but about letting the gospel pass by you while you remain unaffected.
6. “Lest we drift away” in the English implies that it is the listener who has moved, but the greek παραρρέω (only time in the NT) more often implies that something has drifted by a stationary observer, as in a river.
1. lest the salvation which these things heard show us how to obtain, slip away from us
2. “Slipped my mind.”
3. “Got away from me.”
4. “Left me behind.”
7. The warning is that the church age is happening.  The gospel is available, but the times are changing!  Don’t let this pass you by.  Don’t let it leave you unchanged.
7. Have you responded? <Gospel Presentation>
8. Are there people in your life whom you love but are letting the river of grace pass by them without a clear appeal for a decision on Christ?
   
   
   

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