Chapter 2

Jesus Christ: The Perfect Man, Made Lower Than Angels

After explaining in Chapter 1 the divinity of Jesus Christ and how, through His resurrection, He was made superior to the angels, the author of Hebrews, in Chapter 2, focuses on Christ’s humanity, His being made lower than the angels, and the plan of salvation accomplished through Him.

In the subsequent chapters of Hebrews, the writer places greater emphasis on Christ’s humanity, lowered from His divine form and equality, in order to accomplish God’s redemptive plan.

Verses 1–4: Therefore, we must pay much closer attention to the message we have heard so that we do not drift away. If the message spoken through angels to our forefathers was binding, with every violation receiving just punishment, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

This salvation was first announced by the Lord, confirmed to those who heard it, and testified to by God through signs, wonders, miracles, and various gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His will.

As Chapter 2 begins, the writer gives a warning against drifting away from this salvation, which is the main theme of the epistle.

God conveys this salvation even through the Son; it was first proclaimed by the Lord, confirmed to those who heard it, and testified to by God through signs, wonders, and various gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, we must hold this message with the utmost care; otherwise, there is a possibility of gradually drifting away, leading to God’s divine judgment.

Using the analogy of a sailor, the author warns of the danger of drifting. Spiritual drifting is like a ship adrift because its anchor is not properly secured. To prevent a ship from drifting, its anchor must be firmly set. Similarly, without a firm anchor in faith, the ship of belief will crash. Examples of such “ships” breaking apart due to lack of faith can be seen throughout the New Testament.

1 Timothy 1:19 mentions some who have rejected faith and a good conscience, whose “ship has broken” — examples include Hymenaeus and Alexander.

In earlier chapters, the author emphasizes securing faith as an anchor in God’s promises and covenants, looking at Christ as the pioneer, captain, and perfecter of our faith journey (Hebrews 5).

Verse 5: For it is not to angels that God subjected the world to come.

God initially intended the earth to be under human dominion, not angelic rule. However, the first man, Adam, through disobedience, handed over that authority to Satan, making him the ruler of the world. The once-ruler of creation became a servant.

But in the fulfillment of the salvation plan in Jesus Christ, the Lord’s promise ensures that the earth will be reclaimed and restored under the dominion of humanity, God’s children. This truth is indicated in this verse.

Verses 6–7: But someone has testified: “What is man that You are mindful of him, the son of man that You care for him? You made him lower than the angels for a little while; You crowned him with glory and honor, and put everything under his feet.”

Originally, God made the earth for humanity, placing it under human dominion. To describe the salvation plan through Christ, the writer first explains how God created Adam, the first man, with glory, honor, and authority, citing Psalm 8.

This approach shows the correct understanding of redemption: salvation is the restoration of humanity to God’s original intention. Until one understands God’s original plan for humanity, one cannot return to it.

God made Adam “a little lower than the angels,” crowned with glory and honor, with all authority under his dominion. Humanity was created to reveal God’s nature and exercise His authority on earth (Genesis 1:26).

Verse 8: Yet now we do not see everything subject to him.

Although all was under humanity’s dominion, it is not currently evident. This is because Satan deceived Eve, and Adam subsequently disobeyed God’s command, transferring humanity’s authority to Satan. Humanity, once ruler over all, became enslaved to sin, Satan, and the fear of death.

God judged Adam’s disobedience, expelling him from Eden and His presence, while simultaneously revealing a plan of salvation through the promised seed, Jesus Christ (Genesis 3:15).

After explaining humanity’s fall, the writer explains that the promised seed, Jesus Christ, came to redeem humanity by being made lower than the angels and taking on human form.

Verse 9: But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering and death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

As seen in Chapter 1, Jesus is superior to angels and divine. In this chapter, He is described as humbled, taking on human form. Why? The writer explains:

“By the grace of God, to die for everyone.”

Adam’s disobedience brought sin, lost glory, and subjection to death to all humanity (Romans 5:12). But God’s plan of redemption required a sinless representative to die as a substitute for all. No human born of Adam could fulfill this role, for a sinful man cannot redeem others.

Thus, God promised a seed from a woman, born without sin, outside Adam, who would redeem humanity. In the fullness of time, this promised seed was born of a virgin, fully human, to save mankind from sin and death.

Jesus had to be fully human, subject to the same laws as humanity, to redeem humanity legally (Galatians 4:4). Through one man’s obedience, humanity could be justified; through Christ’s obedience, all who believe are justified (Romans 5:18).

Thus, Jesus died for all humanity. Through His suffering and death, He was crowned with glory and honor (Philippians 2:8).

Verse 10: It was fitting for God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.

God’s plan was not only to make us children through Christ’s death and resurrection, but to bring us into divine glory, into the very likeness of the Son. Christ had to fully share our humanity, endure our sufferings, and become perfect, becoming the leader of salvation for all who obey Him.

Verse 11: Both the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are of one Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.

Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we become God’s children, and Christ is our elder brother. Christ is the firstborn, we are God’s children, and He sanctifies us by His blood. Through His death and resurrection, the Father becomes our Father.

Verses 12–13: He says: “I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise You,” and “I will put my trust in Him,” and “Here am I and the children God has given me.”

Through Christ, we share the same relationship with the Father. With Christ, we praise God in the congregation. Note: Christ is not our Father; God the Father is. Christ is our Lord, Savior, and elder brother, and we worship the Father in Christ’s name through the Holy Spirit.

Verse 14: Since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same, so that through His death He might destroy the one holding the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who were enslaved by fear of death.

The writer explains again why Jesus became lower than the angels and fully human: death is for humans, not for God or angels. Jesus shared in our flesh and blood, defeated Satan through His death, and freed those enslaved by fear of death.

Fear is natural, with death being the root of all fears. True freedom from death fear liberates a person from all worldly fears. Satan has continually enslaved humanity through fear of death. Christ’s death defeated the power of death and Satan permanently.

Through His death, Jesus freed humanity from sin, Satan, and fear of death, restoring communion with God. Only Jesus has authority to say, “Do not fear,” because He conquered death and the grave (Revelation 1:18).

Jesus came not to help fallen angels, but Abraham’s descendants. He took human form, subjected to death, to redeem humanity.

Verse 17: Therefore, to make atonement for the sins of the people, He had to be merciful, faithful as the great High Priest, and fully like His brothers.

After explaining Christ’s humanity, the author introduces His high priestly ministry, marking the first explicit mention of Jesus as the High Priest in Hebrews. Jesus became fully human, sharing our flesh, to be merciful and faithful as our High Priest.

Verse 18: Because He Himself was tested and suffered, He is able to help those who are being tested.

Jesus can empathize with those being tested because He endured the same, becoming perfect through suffering. His shared humanity enables Him to offer compassion and assistance.

From the time of the early church to today, the two truths attacked by false teachers are Christ’s full divinity and full humanity. Through Chapters 1 and 2, the author firmly establishes both.