A Solemn Warning (2:1–4)Chapter two begins with the first of four "warning passages" we find in the epistle of Hebrews. The writer begins with "therefore," which means he is drawing a conclusion based on what he has said previously. In chapter one, he has made the point that God's Son is superior to God's angels (1:4). The Old Testament Law, mediated by angels (Gal 3:19), was familiar to the readers. If those who disobeyed God's Law in the Old Testament were punished, what would happen to those who ignored or neglected the way of salvation given to them by the Son?
The readers had every opportunity: they had heard God's Son, Jesus Christ give them the message of salvation (e.g., "I am the way, the truth, and the life"). They had access to eyewitnesses who had heard these same things from Jesus' lips. They were familiar with the signs and wonders that verified Jesus' claim to be the Son of God. If those who despised God's Law, given by angels, were punished, how will we escape if we shrink back from the Son?
We must pay close attention to the message about Jesus Christ so that we do not drift away. The writer says that we have only two options: continue in faith in God's Son, Jesus Christ, or stand in judgment before God's Son.
The Submission of God's Son (2:5–9)
The writer of the book of Hebrews continues on outlining the superiority of the Son of God to angels. Certainly, Scripture assigns greater position to the Son over angels, but what about the Son's incarnation? In coming to the earth to suffer for sin, Jesus humbled himself and became a man, "lower than the angels." Does this mean he is not superior to the angels?
Jesus, being God, never became less than God, but he submitted to God's authority just like the angels do (remember, they are God's servants). The writer of Hebrews points out, however, that Jesus' subjection was temporary. Angels will not rule in the coming Kingdom of God, but the Son will. The reason Jesus was humbled and came to earth was to suffer and to die for mankind. Now he has ascended to heaven, where he is "crowned with glory and honor."
The Suffering of God's Son (2:10–18)
The Son is superior to angels in Scripture, and even his incarnation and temporary humbling do not render him inferior to angels. But the Son did not come to earth and enjoy great privilege and acclamation; no, he came to earth and suffered. Great people, powerful people, do not suffer. How does this suffering display the greatness of the Son?
The writer of Hebrews says that it was fitting for the Founder of our salvation, Jesus Christ, to suffer while here on earth. He has experienced the full range of human being. In this way, he is our "brother" and not an impersonal God who doesn't know how bad we have it. The recipients of the book of Hebrews are suffering persecution, but Jesus knows what it is like— he suffered the worst possible persecution during his time on earth. The angels do not enjoy this kind of help or companionship; only those who exercise saving faith like Abraham did can enjoy the comfort and help of the Son of God. Furthermore, as the writer of the Hebrews will expound later, Jesus was the ultimate High Priest: he is compassionate and merciful because he knows what it is like to suffer. He can help us because he has suffered before us.
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