Hebrews 2

1. So we must be more careful to follow what we were taught. Then we will not be pulled away from the truth.

Christians can believe lies if they are not guarding their minds. We do not read God’s Word because we are following religious rules but because we need to keep our spirits full of truth.

2. The teaching that God spoke through angels was shown to be true. And anyone who did not follow it or obey it received the punishment he earned.

If we think that we do not need to follow the Bible in some way we may have to pay a price for being foolish.

The one who does not listen to the Word will pay a price for it.  Proverbs 13:13

3. The salvation that was given to us is very great. So surely we also will be punished if we live as if this salvation were not important. It was the Lord Himself who first told about this salvation. And those who heard Him proved to us that this salvation is true.

This shows that this book was not written by an apostle because whoever wrote this is saying that he heard the truth from others.

4. God also proved it by using wonders, great signs, and many kinds of miracles. And He proved it by giving people gifts through the Holy Spirit, just as He wanted.

God does prove his Word by doing things that we think are impossible.  The biggest miracle is when He changes someone’s life.

5 – 8

God did not choose angels to be the rulers of the new world that was coming. It is that future world we have been talking about.

It is written somewhere in the [Psalms],

“Why is man important to You? Why do You [care about men]?

For a short time You made man lower than the angels. But You crowned man with glory and honor. You put all things under man’s control.”

If God put everything under man’s control, there was nothing left that man did not rule. But we do not yet see man ruling over everything.

Men do not have the power of angels, but someday we will rule over the earth with Jesus.

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that run along the ground.”  Genesis 1:26, Psalm 8:4-6

9. But we see Jesus! For a short time He was made lower than the angels. But now we see Him wearing a crown of glory and honor because He suffered and died. Because of God’s grace, He died for everyone.

God cannot die. Jesus had to become a man so that He could die for us. 1 Timothy 6:16.

10 – 11

God is the One who made all things. And all things are for His glory. God wanted to have many sons share His glory. So God made perfect the One who leads people to salvation. He made Jesus a perfect Savior through Jesus’ suffering.

Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So He is not ashamed to call them His brothers.

Jesus calls us His brothers. He was not a brother of angels as some false teachers say.

12 – 13

He says, “Then, I will tell My fellow Israelites about You. I will praise You when Your people meet to worship You.”

He also says, “I will trust in God.” And He also says, “I am here. And with Me are the children that God has given Me.”

We are the spiritual children of Jesus.

Psalm 22:22, Isaiah 8:17, Isaiah 8:18

14. These children are people with physical bodies. So Jesus Himself became like them and had the same experiences they have. He did this so that, by dying, He could destroy the one who has the power of death. That one is the devil.

The Bible shows that only a blood relative can pay the price to set someone free. Leviticus 25:48

15. Jesus became like men and died so that He could free them. They were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death.

There are people like this now who live in fear. If you pay attention you will see that they are always doing things because they have fear. Anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, suicide and other evil things can come from fear.

16 – 17

Clearly, it is not angels that Jesus helps, but the people who are from Abraham.
For this reason Jesus had to be made like His brothers in every way. He became like men so that He could be their merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Then Jesus could bring forgiveness for their sins.

Jesus is like the mercy seat in the Ark of the Covenant who covers us by His blood so that God sees us through this.

18. And now He can help those who are tempted. He is able to help because He Himself suffered and was tempted.

Nobody can say that Jesus does not understand what they are going through. He has been tempted and treated worse than we have been. He shows us the way out if we will listen.