Hebrews 2:1

Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation... But we see Jesus, who is made a little lower than the angels for suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that he, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone... that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and release those who through the fear of death were all of their lifetime subject to bondage... For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to aid those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:1–18)

When Jesus is declared "better," everything in our lives must change in response.

Strong Declarative Statements

iPhones are better than Android. Chick-fil-A is better than KFC. Chevy is better than Ford. When I, or anyone, makes strong declarative statements like that, I know I've probably lost more friends than I've made. There are a few things we'd likely agree upon when we hear them: every one of those statements is an opinion; it tells you something about the person speaking; and each could perhaps be disproven using different scales or measures. They're objective statements but subjective realities — matters of preference.

The author of the book of Hebrews is making a far stronger declarative statement: Jesus is better than fill-in-the-blank. In the 21st century it is politically incorrect to say Jesus is better. But understand, 2,000 years ago it wasn't very politically correct either. The author writes this letter from prison, in chains because of his strong position about Jesus.

An Apologetic, Not a Mic Drop

When someone makes a bold statement like this, there's an expectation that you'll back it up — that you'll give a reason for the view you hold. When someone gives a reason for what they hold, we call that an apologetic. You're not making an apology; you're giving a defense, like a lawyer arguing that the evidence and testimony point to a conclusion. So you may state the conclusion at the beginning, but the whole point is to go back and establish why you believe what you believe.

That is exactly what the author of Hebrews does. He has stated that Jesus is better than angels in chapter one. He will go on to say Jesus is better than Moses, than Abraham, than the priesthood, and than so many things that came out of Judaism — because this letter was written to Christians who came out of Judaism. So his defense is oriented toward that worldview.

If we were writing a similar book for our day, it would look different. A huge segment of the Western world holds a materialistic, humanistic worldview, so we would orient our arguments there. Many authors have done so — Timothy Keller's The Reason for God, Ravi Zacharias' Can Man Live Without God and Jesus Among Other Gods, and the writings of C.S. Lewis. Those authors were doing what this author does: establishing an apologetic for a certain segment of people.

Why Start with Angels?

The author starts at ground level. He doesn't immediately argue that Jesus is better than Abraham, because his readers held a very strong view of Abraham. He builds to that. He begins with the low-shelf claim: Jesus is better than angels. And he proves it from the Scriptures, which declare that Jesus is the eternal, uncreated Creator who came down from heaven as a man. That is why He's called the Son of God — because He is God in human flesh, God incarnate, so that we can behold the glory of God among us.

Then in chapter two he says, "Therefore." Because Jesus is greater than angels, certain things should change in our lives. Every apologetic must come to that point: what does this mean? If Jesus is God, if He is greater than angels, what does that practically mean for my life?

Point One: We Must Hear and Obey Jesus

He answers in verse one: "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard, lest we drift away." Another translation says we must "pay much closer attention to him." The Jewish readers had a high regard for angels and for the message delivered by angels. Look at verse two: "for if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast." Jewish tradition held that the angels delivered the law from God to Moses on Mount Sinai. If the word spoken by angels was steadfast and trustworthy, and every transgression against it received a just reward, then how much more should you pay attention to the message spoken by Jesus, who is greater than angels?

We live in a world with a million competing voices, bombarded by views and opinions about the purpose, meaning, and value of life — perhaps more now than at any time in history. Here in San Diego County, 3.2 million people speak 110 different languages, each representing a different belief and worldview. You go to school, work, and live next to people who see life differently. And we are constantly told that all those views are equal and ultimately the same. Yet here comes a voice that says Jesus is better — that amid the chaos of competing voices, we must give the more earnest hearing to Jesus.

"Hear Him"

There's a wonderful story in the Gospels. Jesus is on a mountaintop with Peter, James, and John to pray. As night came, the apostles fell asleep on the job — it's good to know they sometimes did. In the middle of the night they were startled awake by something phenomenal: Jesus was transfigured before them, bright and shining, His clothes whiter than any launderer could make them. Beside Him stood Moses, the representative of the law, and Elijah, the representative of the prophets.

As they spoke, Peter, overcome, interjected: "Lord, it's good for us to be here. Let us build three tabernacles — one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." So you have these competing voices: the law, the prophets, and Peter. Then a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came: "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased, hear him." That is good counsel. Amid all the competing voices, hear Him.

Point Two: The Cost of Defiance Is Dire

Why is this imperative? Verse one says, "lest we drift away" — drift away and experience judgment. "For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" The cost of defiance and disobedience to the word of Jesus is dire.

He is the eternal, uncreated Creator, the Son of God, the preacher of a message of salvation greater than any delivered by angels — a message authenticated by miracles, the greatest of which was His own resurrection, which we'll celebrate in about a month at Easter. If we neglect that message, how shall we escape a judgment that the Scriptures show is eternal and complete? Romans 1:18 says, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness." If any of us received even a fraction of a second's vision of that wrath, it would radically transform how we live. The descriptions of it in Scripture are terrifying.

So we must pay closer attention to Jesus, because He speaks of salvation — rescue from that coming day of wrath. Have you ever been in a crowded room where everyone is talking and the volume keeps rising, and across the room a friend or your spouse is trying to get your attention? You key in and discern their message amid the noise. That's what the author says: amid all the chaos, pay attention to Jesus. Revelation repeats it again and again — "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." And in Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, "I stand at the door and I knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens, I will come in to him."

Listening Versus Hearing

That brings a simple, challenging question: are we paying attention to what Jesus has said? I commend you for being here to hear His word taught, but there's a difference between listening and hearing. Every wife sadly knows this: "Are you listening to me?" "Yeah, I'm listening." That's the wrong question. The real question is, "Are you hearing me?" He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says.

Point Three: Jesus Will Rule Over All Things

Why pay closer attention? Verse five: "For he has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels." The Jewish readers regarded angels highly — created higher than humans, dwelling in God's presence as His messengers. But the author says the world to come will not be subjected to angels.

Verse six quotes Psalm 8: "What is man that you are mindful of him?... You have made him a little lower than the angels. You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet." Though humanity is created lower than angels, God will place them in a position of glory and rule. Verse eight: "He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him." We see it prophetically in the Scriptures, but we don't yet experience it practically. "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor."

Jesus is crowned with glory and honor and will rule over all things for eternity. That's a good reason to listen to Him. In order and rank, man is lower than angels, and Jesus came as a man in a body lower than angels — yet He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He humbled Himself to the very place you and I occupy, and He did so for a specific purpose.

The Humility of God Made Man

Why did the uncreated Creator occupy a created body and humble Himself within the created order? I don't think humanity could make up this story — we tend to make our gods higher than everything. And He didn't even come as a king, with power, prestige, and money. Paul describes it in Philippians 2:5–11: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, taking on the form of a bond servant... He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name."

Here, in this realm, we do not yet see all things put under Him. But in the unseen realm of heaven, beyond the instrumentation of this world, Jesus occupies a throne. We see it prophetically, not yet practically. Yet Jesus instructed us to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." That is the prayer of the church, and it will be answered. It hasn't come to pass yet, but it will.

Point Four: Released from the Fear of Death

Why was it necessary for God to come as a man? The Jewish reader might ask, "We have the law, Abraham, Moses, the temple, the priesthood — why would we need Jesus?" Verse 10: "For it was fitting for him... in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." Jesus had to become human, confronted with the realities of sin, so He could confront the problem of sin, atone for us, and pay the payment for our sin. And then the author gives one of the most beautiful statements in the entire Bible.

Verses 14–15: "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared in the same, that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and release those who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Ask people across cultures what their greatest fear is, and the list always whittles down to one thing: death.

Just yesterday we held another memorial service here, and at memorial services we are confronted with the reality of death; every one of us takes stock and realizes how short this life is. Life seems long when you're young — September comes and all you can think about is Christmas, and it seems to take forever. Now September comes and we say, "Yes, back to school," and soon, "Goodness, they're off for Christmas already." It goes faster and faster, and in the back of humanity's mind is this nagging thought: this life will end. Jesus came to destroy him who had the power of death and release us from the fear of death because of the bondage of sin.

I cannot think of any better news. The Dow Jones at 30,000 pales in comparison. Your retirement account could be set for life, and it still pales in comparison — because even tens of millions of dollars are worthless when death comes. God became a humble human being to rescue us from sin and death. Verse 16: "For indeed he does not give aid to angels, but he does give aid to the seed of Abraham." He didn't come to save angels; He came to save humans. That's why He became a human.

Point Five: He Suffered Sin to Free Us From It

Verse 17: "Therefore, in all things he had to be made like his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest... to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to aid those who are tempted." Jesus suffered the penalty, power, persistence, and presence of sin to free us from the same.

In eternity past, the eternal Word of God (John 1:1–4) was never touched by sin — completely holy, consecrated, with no sin ever in His presence. Then He stepped down into the muck and mire of this fallen world and suffered in the presence of sin, touched by what touches us every day. He also suffered the persistent temptation of sin; Hebrews 4:15 tells us He was tempted in all points as we are, yet never sinned. He never succumbed.

He experienced sin's power when His lifeless body was laid in a tomb, just as every one of us will die. His human nature feared death too — in Gethsemane He cried, "If there's any other way, let this cup pass from me." And on the cross He experienced the penalty of sin, so that you don't have to. Yes, you and I will experience sin's power — we will die. Every day we face its persistent temptation, and our whole lives we walk amid its presence. But because of what Jesus did on the cross, you don't have to experience its penalty. By faith in Jesus you can be freed from its power through the resurrection, and freed from its persistent presence in the glorification of being with Him in eternity.

I can't think of any better news. So "we must give the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard." May it be that we not only hear this message of salvation, but declare it. Amen.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, we ask for your grace. We ask that you'd meet us here this morning. We thank you, Jesus, for your goodness — that you displayed your love and grace toward us, that while we were yet sinners you came and lived here in the place where sin is present, where its persistent temptation comes against us, where its power is seen daily, and where we live under the fear of its penalty. We pray that you would increase our joy in that we have been rescued from these things by your grace. And Lord, make us witnesses of your grace to those we come in contact with in every place this week — on school campuses, at work sites, wherever we are.