Hebrew writer said (3)
In chapters 1 and 2 the Hebrew writer said that prior to Jesus Christ the truth of God was given in fragments that led the way to the present in which all the purposes and promises have been and are being fulfilled. He said they are and were being fulfilled in the one whom God has made the heir of all things. This was more than a prophet—it was a "son". (There is no possessive or definite article in the Greek; it’s simplyen huio, which stresses status and difference from "servants" rather than his relationship to his Father.)
These fragments of truth were given by servants (prophets) but this fullness of truth and the fulfilment of all God’s purposes are centred in and brought to fulfilment in an incarnate Son (and not merely a servant) that is the very image of God. He’s the glue that holds all things together and his is the power that maintains all that exists. Though he became a human and for a little while (see 2:7,9) was made a little lower than angels he accomplished his redeeming work and was exalted above the angels. (1:1-3)
The OT covenant and Torah were brought to Israel by angels (angels that appeared in bushes and on mountains, angels that represented God and spoke for him—compare Acts 7:32-32,35,38). But God himself brought this new covenant; it came by one that is part of the divine "family" and not one of the angelic beings. (1:4-14)
That being true, it’s of critical importance that they don’t drift from the truth that has now been brought to them. For if the OT that was brought by angels had to be obeyed and demanded faithfulness how much more is that true of truth brought by God himself and confirmed by miracles and such? (2:1-4) Here the Hebrew writer doesn't have a host of individual truths or commands in mind; he has in mind the covenant and the Torah that was immediately linked with it. It's apostasy that the Hebrew writer has in mind and not simply "committing sins". Committing sins is not to be scoffed at but it is full scale apostasy the writer has in mind. He tells us that every disobedience was punished but we know that isn't true of every individual sin committed by individuals. The book of Judges and the exiles would illustrate what he has in mind.
Prior to Jesus, angels had brought liberating truth and while it was truth they brought, they were almost spectators of those to whom they brought the truth. That was not the case with the Messiah. He brought no truth that he offered from a distance. His truth was embodied truth. He brought help and salvation by becoming one of those in trouble. Though higher than all the angels he became for a while lower than angels (see 2:7-9, taking brachu ti as temporal rather than qualitative). He became a son of Israel, a child of Abraham and wasn’t ashamed to be called their brother. He worshipped with them and saw what they feared most, embraced it and in that way defeated death, and thus the fear of death and the world spirit that had introduced death to the world through sin (compare Genesis 3:1-4,19). No, this was no angelic spectator and so he could understand the troubles and weaknesses of Israel as he brought them to glory. (2:5-18)
2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.
Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.
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