Page 27 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

4. Jesus had to “destroy [the devil] who holds the power of death” (2:14). 1 John 3:8 taught the
same doctrine: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” That is
why the “last enemy” to be destroyed by our Lord is death (1Cor 15:26).

5. Jesus died to “free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (2:14).
The Messiah not only abolished death by His dying and rising again from the dead, but He also
brought life and immortality to light as well (1Ti 1:10). Death still has a sting, but it no longer
has any legitimate hold over any believer.

6. Jesus accomplished our salvation in order to take hold of us as Abraham’s descendants (2:16).
In the same manner that God the Father “took hold of” (epilambanetai) the hands of the
Israelites to lead them out of Egypt (Heb 8:9), so God will do the same for all believers, now
counted to be Abraham’s seed (Gal 3:29).

7. Jesus thereby became a merciful and faithful High Priest in the service of God (2:17). Jesus had
to “become” a human. He was under no obligation to provide salvation for mortals except that
which He imposed on Himself. He did not have to die for men and women, but once he started
on that road, there was no stopping. He removed sin by offering himself as a vicarious
substitute.

8. Jesus’ suffering will help those who are tempted because He too was tempted (2:18). Why
should believers yield to temptation when help is readily available?
These, then, are the eight purposes for our Lord’s humanity and for his atonement for all. This text of
Hebrews 2:9–18 is one of the finest teaching blocks on the purposes of the atonement.
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ADDITIONAL CONTEXTUAL GUIDE

A. Chapters one and two are a literary unit. It continues the superiority of Jesus over the OT revelation (cf.
1:1-3) and Jesus' superiority over the angels (cf. 1:4-2:18).

B. The new emphasis of chapter two is Jesus' connection with His people (cf. 2:10-18). Jesus is truly
identified with them and they, as a result, share in His glory. The purpose of a superior covenant is that
fallen mankind is restored (cf. 2:9-11,14-18) to his place of pre-eminence in creation (cf. Ps. 8). Jesus is
the ideal human, our perfect example.

C. Chapter 2 is the first in a series of warnings (2:1-4; 3:7-4:11; 5:11-6:12; 10:19-39; 12:14-29). This first
warning is directed to those who might neglect the new covenant revelation (the gospel). This probably
refers to people of Jewish background who had a deep reverence for the Mosaic covenant, thus the
need for the comparison.

2:1 "For this reason" This refers to the truths of chapter 1.

"we must" This is the term "dei," which means moral necessity. This is the first (i.e., vv. 1-4) of many
warnings in the book of Hebrews addressed to a group of believing Jews still worshiping in a synagogue
with unbelieving Jews. Some of the warnings of the book are directed at the believers to take the

29 Kaiser, (pp. 360–362).

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