Hebrews 2

11 Jesus is the one who makes men holy. He makes us holy by His death, by the sacrifice of His body (Hebrews 10:10). Through faith in Him, we become children of God (John 1:12). In this way we become brothers of Christ; together with Him we are of the same family. This is why Jesus is not ashamed to call [us] brothers (see Romans 8:29).

If we are not ashamed of Jesus, He will not be ashamed of us. But if we are ashamed of Him, He likewise will be ashamed of us (see Matthew 10:32-33; Mark 8:38).

12 This verse is a quotation from Psalm 22:22. Here Christ is speaking through the words of the Psalm writer. Christ says: “I will declare your (God’s) name to my brothers.” Thus, He is calling us His brothers.

13 Here the writer of Hebrews quotes from Isaiah 8:17-18. Here again, Jesus is speaking through the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I will put my trust in him (God).” Even while Jesus was dying on the cross, He put His trust in God. And then God raised Him up to heaven. Now Jesus can say: “Here am I, and the children God has given me.” We believers are the children whom God has given to Jesus. We are the sons whom Jesus is bringing to glory (verse 10).

14-15 The children—we believers—are made of flesh and blood. In order for Christ to save us, He had to become like us. He had to share in our humanity (verse 14). Only by becoming a man and dying and then rising again could Christ destroy the devil, SATAN, who holds the power of death (see 2 Timothy 1:10; Revelation 1:18). Satan has the power of death because he leads men into sin, for which the punishment is death (Romans 6:23).

Therefore, when we see Jesus in the form of a man dying like us and then rising again from the dead, we know that we too, through faith, will rise again after death (2 Corinthians 4:14). Death no longer has any power over us (1 Corinthians 15:55,57). We are now free from the fear of death (verse 15).

Why do we no longer need to fear death? Because for believers in Christ death leads to liberation, to glory, and to eternal life with Christ in heaven. But for non-believers, death leads to eternal punishment in hell.

16 Christ became a man and came to earth not to help angels but to help—to save—men. What men? Abraham’s³ descendants. Here the writer is referring not to Abraham’s natural descendants according to the flesh (the Jews), but rather to his spiritual “descendants” according to faith. All who believe in Jesus are the true descendants of Abraham (see Galatians 3:7,9,29 and comment).

17 In order to make ATONEMENT for our sins, Jesus had to become like us in every way—except that He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15).

To understand this verse, we need to know about the Jewish high priest in Old Testament times. Each year the Jewish high priest used to offer an animal sacrifice to God to atone for the sins of the people. The high priest went before God as the representative of the people. In order to be a representative of men, the high priest needed to be a man himself. In the same way, in order to be our high priest and Savior, Jesus had to become a man also. He had to come down to us in order to make atonement for our sins. Only a man can atone for the sins of men.

Jesus was a perfect high priest, because He Himself was sinless. Therefore, He could come directly into the presence of a holy God. Because He was a man, He was a merciful high priest, who could sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews4:15).

The sacrifice that Jesus offered was not a goat or a buffalo, but His own body. It was a perfect sacrifice, without spot or blemish or sin. It was fully acceptable to God. In this way, through His perfect sacrifice, Jesus was able to make full atonement for our sins (see Romans 3:24-25 and comment).

18 People who have themselves suffered are best able to help and comfort others who are suffering. If today we are suffering for Christ, let us remember that He Himself first suffered for us. And He is with us now; He will help us stand firm. He will strengthen us. And He will give us inner joy and peace (see 2 Corinthians 1:3-5).

Therefore, Jesus Christ is in every way a perfect High priest and perfect Savior. He has brought about peace between us and God (Romans 5:1). He has made atonement for our sins, and as a result, we are now justified in God’s sight (Romans 3:24). But that is not all. Because Jesus Himself suffered and was tempted, He is now fully able to comfort and strengthen those of us who are suffering and being tempted. How can we not praise and worship and love such a Savior!