You [the Father] made him [the Son] for a little while lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:7). Citing Psalm 8, this is a reference to Yeshua’s incarnation as a human being. But as the exalted Son, the world is subjected to Jesus, not to angels. You have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet (Psalm 8:7-8).
Angels only stand in the presence of God as worshippers and servants. Never is it recorded that an angel sits on God’s throne, or other angels worship an angel, or an angel participates in the divine work of creation, or an angel shares in exercising divine rule. But all of these things are said of Jesus.
In view of the glory of the Son and the greatness of the salvation that God has brought through him, as illustrated in chapter one, what should be our response?
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it (Hebrews 2:1). Notice that he says we, not you. The author is rhetorically and effectively including himself with the congregation. There is a sense of intimacy and relationship.
For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? (2-3). What is that message declared by angels? He is referring to the Torah, the five books of Moses found at the beginning of the Bible.
Here, we have a first-century Jewish way of arguing from the minor to the major (Kal va-homer in Hebrew means light and heavy). It reasons that what applies in a less important case will certainly apply in a more important one.
The message and the salvation brought to us through Jesus surpasses what came before. If, concerning the Torah mediated by angels, every transgression received a just punishment, how much more peril are we in if we are neglectful?
Do you get the point? This is a stern warning.
It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard (3). The author did not see Jesus in person. Like his audience, he received and experienced that reliable message from the first witnesses. God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will (4).
The way the author uses the exposition of Scripture along with exhortation is effective and featured throughout Hebrews (chapters 2, 3, 5, 10, and 12). He teaches and applies it to their situation, often with warnings like the one we just read. He is working in a spiral pattern. He says something, and later, he repeats it, while amplifying the message.
In chapter twelve, let’s look at another notable example of this pattern and the Kal va-homer method of reasoning. He is teaching from the events in Exodus 19 and saying, “These things are important.”
For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” (18-19, 21).
These things are important, says the author of Hebrews. But here is something even more important.
But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel (22-24).
What do we find after the exposition and exhortation? Warning.
See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. (12:25).
Because of the exaltation and greatness of the Son and the glory of the salvation God has wrought through him, we must be paying attention. In effect, he’s saying, are you listening? Are you really listening? Pay closer attention. Yes, you are in a New Covenant position of privilege, but that means you are subject to greater peril if you slip away or fall aside.
Where have we heard all of this before? That’s right, back where we started in Hebrews 2:1. Therefore, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. Drift away speaks of gradual movement, while neglect can refer to distractions or desire for other things.
Pressures, both overt and subtle, can pull you away.
My wife Keren told me a vivid story of how she nearly drowned in the ocean off Durban, South Africa. As a teenager, she went to the beach with friends on a picture-perfect day. While swimming, she just lay back in the salty water with her eyes closed and completely relaxed.
Unbeknownst to her, she had floated about 50 yards from the shore near the safe swimming boundary. As she was drifting, she got caught in the powerful currents that came down past Cape Town and up the eastern side of South Africa. Before she knew it, she was shocked to find how far away from shore and her friends she was. As she attempted to swim back, her legs were seized with terrible cramps.
That is peril. From a place of contentment and rest—not paying attention—suddenly, you are in danger.
Several times, Keren went underwater to vigorously rub her legs, trying to get her muscles to relax. The situation grew more desperate in her panic and fatigue. Suddenly, she heard a man’s calm voice ask her, “What’s the problem?” Understand that she is now more than 100 yards away from everyone.
Seemingly, from out of nowhere, this strong man lifted her and swam her to shore, overcoming the tide. Friends and concerned onlookers ran down the beach to her and asked what happened. “I thought for sure I was going to die, but this man rescued me.” “What man, they asked?“ He was nowhere to be found. As suddenly as he had appeared, he had disappeared.
According to the author of Hebrews, it is appointed for a person to die once. It was not the appointed time for this young woman in South Africa. God had a mission for her, though, at that point, she didn’t even know Him.
God has a mission, a purpose for you.
In Greek, the author uses the phrase “pay close attention to“ several times in its cognate form, which means “to hold fast to.“ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful (10:23). They are two sides of the same coin.
No wonder Hebrews chapter twelve, indeed the entire sermon, ends on a magnificent crescendo, an ocean of praise swelling with grandeur echoing Moses in Deuteronomy 4: 23.
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire (12:28-29).
