HF179 - Hebrews 2:5-14 (#5 Behold I and the Children)

To:  Hebraic-Foundations@YahooGroups.com
From:  "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Subject: Bible Study HF179 - Hebrews 2:5-14 (#5 Behold I and the Children)

Hebraics,

In our walk through the book of Hebrews, we will continue to see new covenant truths unfold. We will also see how the new covenant far exceeds the former covenant of the Law of Moses.

This is Bible Study HF179 - Hebrews 2:5-14 (#5 Behold I and the Children)

Heb 2:5 "For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.

The ancients believed that the Law was given under the administration of angels. Of course the primary angel in the Old Testament was known as 'the angel of the Lord,' since this 'messenger' (that is what the Hebrew word for angel actually means) was spoken of as Yahweh. Many believe that the angel of the Lord was the preincarnate Jesus.

But the point at hand is that the new covenant is a covenant of sons and daughters of God; that the new covenant has its summing up and force in God's very own Son, Jesus Christ. This issue will become even more pronounced in the studies to come.

Heb 2:6-8 "But one has testified somewhere, saying, 'What is man, that you remember him? Or the son of man, that you are concerned about him? You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and have appointed him over the works of Your hands; You have put all things in subjection under his feet.' For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him."

The quotation is from Psalms 8. It reflects both on the bringing forth of the first Adam, but it also has speaks to the one Paul calls, 'the last Adam', that is, Jesus Christ Himself. What largely needs to be kept in mind is that aside from Jesus Christ, Adam is the only person in the Bible given the title 'the son of God.'

The stress of Psalm 8, is that Adam had a family relationship with the Almighty that angels did not have. Angels are a separate class of beings altogether. As we saw earlier, angels are actually ministering spirits, who serve to bring aid to those to the inheritors of salvation.

But since Psalms 8 reflects both on Adam and Jesus Christ, there can be a bit of confusion over the statement, 'made a little lower than the angels.' To interpret this we have to look through two windows, that is, Adam's original creation, and then Adam's fall through sin. And finally how that Jesus came into the world of fallen Adam in order to take our place, which, in turn, would restore those 'born from above' back to their original place as being the 'family of God.'

Again the point is that Adam was actually made 'a little lower than God,' (That's the generic word used in the Hebrew; Elohim.), that he was less than God, but higher than the angels. In the fall his sinful status caused the Adam race to become lower than the angels.

This will unfold more so in the next Scriptures.

Heb 2:9 "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.

Notice how that when Jesus came into our world, He took His place fully as a human. He became one of us, and one with us. Thus His status in the world, as a human, was 'a little lower than the angels.' (Not in who He was, but in laying aside His divinity for the purpose of taking our place.

One of the earliest creedal statements of the church is given by the apostle Paul in Philippines 2:5-11:

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Special note - In the New Testament writings where it speaks of Jesus Christ as being Lord, it most often speaks of Him as Yahweh, the God of Creation.

Let's move on...

Heb 2:10 "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.

Jesus came into our world, to bring us back into His world, that is, the world that we were originally designed to be part of. Every born again person is a child of the living God. In the world to come we will hold that honor in the all of creation. It was our design and purpose from the beginning.

Heb 2:11 "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,

Isn't it amazing, that the One who saved us, the One of whom we love with all our heart, the very One we acknowledge fully as Lord and Savior, looks upon us as His own brothers and sisters. What an amazing thing.

Heb 2:12 "...saying, "I will proclaim Your name to My brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.'

Notice that it is Jesus who introduces us to the Heavenly Father. This is why we can pray, 'Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed is Your name."

Heb 2:13 "And again, 'I will put My trust in Him.' And again, 'Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.'"

Well, we've made it - We've arrived at the title for this study.

In all the studies it is important to draw attention to what is being quoted from of the Older Testament. Often a quote is generic in that no single one Scripture is being referenced. Sometimes a number of Scriptures will be grouped together. However, what is being addressed is a truth that can be found in the ancient writings.

Consider these:

Isa 8:17 "And I will wait for the LORD who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will even look eagerly for Him. Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion."

Isa 45:11 "Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: 'Ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, and you shall commit to Me the work of My hands."

Isa 29:23 "But when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they will sanctify My name; indeed, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel."

I don't want to reach too far ahead in our studies, but the writer later speaks of the joy that was set before Jesus. Evidently the Father pulled back the veil and Jesus saw through eternity. What He saw was the millions and millions of the family of God. This is why He could endure the cross and the shame.

The study is open.

Blessings,

Buddy
---
Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
 email: Bro.Buddy <at> ChristianChallenge.Org
 Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
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"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)