Hebrews 2:11-18

August 19, 2012 I would summarize what weve read so far in four points: Jesus is better than the prophets, the angels, and all of creation (1:1-14). Therefore we have to be sure to obey His commands since we know all disobedience will be punished (2:1-5). It might seem right now that He isnt in charge, but thats because He took on the form of a man so that He could die (2:6-9). This was necessary because atonement could only be made through blood (2:10). The next thought, then, is how could His blood cover our sins? The answer is found in our union:
11For

both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one:

To sanctify is to make something pure or to set it apart for holy use. These Hebrews would have immediately thought of Leviticus 20:8And ye shall keep my statues, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you. They knew that everything needed cleansing from sin through blood. (1) Jesus is God. But also notice that we are all of one. Skip down and read verse 14, and I think well see the meaning: Christ isnt just fully God, (2) Hes also fully man. Hes not half-God and half-man: He shared in flesh and bloodHe was made up of the same stuff as us. We have a common bond: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Think about the depth of this statement: Jesus isnt ashamed to be identified with us as brothers. There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. 32And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. 33And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? 34And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 35For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother (Mk. 3:31-35).

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29). He came to secure an inheritance (1:3), and so He has sanctified us so that we may join in that inheritance with Him! He is not ashamed to call us His brothers! Think about what this means: A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity (Prov. 17:17).
12Saying,

I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. 13And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the childr en which God hath given me.1 We find these instances in the Old Testament Scriptures where Christ is seen calling us His brethren. Hes not ashamed to die for us and be identified with uswere even called the children which God has given to Him. And what do we read Him saying in the New Testament? All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day (Jn. 6:37-40). Jesus is better than all creation, but He came down from heaven to be made like us so that He could die for us! He died for us because were united to Him, and so Hes not ashamed to call us brothers:
14Forasmuch

then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; Now, how does it work that the devil is destroyed through death? Skip ahead to 9:11-15But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the
1

These come from Ps. 22:22 and Is. 8:17-18.

purifying of the flesh: 14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For a time God accepted the blood of animals as a shadow under the first testament. But now we have Christ who is the fulfillment of the shadowhow much more shall His blood purge our consciences? Its by means of death that were forgiven; and since were forgiven (and no longer breakers of the law) we receive the promised inheritance of eternal life! Satan tried to take life from us, but he failed because of Christ! Look at the result:
15And

deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. The prospect of a painful death is fearful, but the idea of leaving this body and going to be with the Lord is wonderful! Weve been delivered from the bondage of that fearthough we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we fear no evil for He is with us (Ps. 23)! We know we can walk before His throne with confidence because we have a Mediator who lives and who is faithful. We know that we have a High Priest whos offered a sacrifice for us once for all:
16For

verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. His plan wasnt to die for the angelsthe Word became flesh and dwelt among us and died for us.
17Wherefore

in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren,

And so, He had to be made like us to secure our forgiveness. Why? that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

He has compassion on us because Hes gone through the same things we experience. He knows spiritual warfare, and suffering. He knows hunger and thirst and fatigue. He identifies with us in our weakness, and Hes a faithful High Priest which means we can rely on Him. Hes not going to fail or give up or miss anything. http://newgracebaptist.blogspot.com/