Hebrews 2 explained: Why Jesus Became Fully Human

Do not drift away (vv. 1-4)

The earlier message delivered through angels is the law given at Mount Sinai, which Jewish tradition said angels helped deliver, and breaking it brought real penalties. The writer argues that ignoring the greater rescue first announced by Jesus is even more serious, since it was passed on by people who heard him and backed by miracles and gifts of God's Spirit.

Humans were meant to rule (vv. 5-8)

The writer quotes Psalm 8, which marvels that God gave small, fragile humans honor and charge over creation. He then admits the obvious: the world is not yet under human control.

Jesus fulfills the psalm (v. 9)

Where humanity falls short, the writer points to Jesus, who was placed lower than the angels and then honored by God because he died on behalf of everyone. The Greek phrase can mean lower by a little or lower for a little while, so translations differ on this point.

Part of the same family (vv. 10-13)

When the writer says God made Jesus perfect through suffering, he most likely means made fully fit for his role, not that Jesus had a flaw to fix. He reads lines from Psalm 22 and Isaiah 8 as Jesus speaking, calling the people he saves his brothers and sisters.

Freed from the fear of death (vv. 14-16)

By sharing human flesh and dying, Jesus is said to break the devil's power over death and free people from a lifelong fear of it. The writer stresses that Jesus came to help Abraham's family line, meaning God's people, and not angels.

A priest who understands (vv. 17-18)

In ancient Israel the high priest offered sacrifices so that the people's sins could be dealt with and their relationship with God put right, which is what atonement means. Because Jesus faced suffering and testing as a real human, the writer says he can help others who are being tested.

Key verse: Hebrews 2:9

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on whether the writer reads Psalm 8 mainly as a song about humanity in general that Jesus fulfills as the true representative human, or as a direct prophecy about Jesus himself as the Son of Man.

Something to think about

When has knowing that someone went through the same hard thing as you changed how much you trusted their help?