Hebrews
Chapter 2
Christ, Son of God and Glorified Man
So, we need to pay close attention to the preaching we hear, or we might drift away.
If words spoken through angels became law, and disobedience or neglect received the proper punishment,
how can we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? For the Lord himself announced it first, and it was later confirmed by those who heard it.
God confirmed their testimony with signs, wonders, and various miracles—primarily through the gifts of the Holy Spirit that he distributed according to his will.
The angels were not granted authority over the new world we’re discussing.
Instead, someone declared in scripture: What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him?
For a little while, you made him slightly lower than the angels, you crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him dominion over all things. When it is said that God gave him dominion over all things, nothing is excluded. As it is, we do not yet see his dominion over all things.
But Jesus, who suffered death, and for a little while was placed lower than the angels, has been crowned with honor and glory. For the merciful plan of God demanded that he experience death on behalf of everyone.
Pioneer of Salvation and High Priest
God, from whom all things come, and by whom everything exists, wanted to bring many children to glory. He thought it fitting to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.
The one who gives and those who receive holiness are one. He himself is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters,
as we read: ‘Lord, I will proclaim your name to my brothers; I will praise you in the congregation,
saying: I will put my trust in him. And again, here am I, and the children God has given me.
And since the children share the same nature of flesh and blood, Jesus, likewise, had to share this nature. This is why his death destroyed the one holding the power of death, that is, the devil,
and freed those who remained in bondage all their lives because of the fear of death.
For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham.
So, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect to be the high priest, faithful to God and merciful to them, a priest able to ask forgiveness and atone for their sins.
Having been tested through suffering, he is able to help those who are tested.
Commentaries
Christ, Son of God and Glorified Man.
The saving word, the Good News, surpasses the Law. Salvation has become possible because Jesus is the “Lord,” the preacher affirms, thus mentioning his name for the first time to refer to his human nature. It is the “Lord Jesus” who, sharing equality with God, humbled himself to our level and became man like us. Through his passion and death, he was crowned with glory and honor.
Pioneer of Salvation and High Priest.
Solidarity is the core trait of this salvation pioneer: “he had to be like his brothers in every way” (17) to make us like him. This solidarity led him to death, and by accepting death controlled by the Devil, he defeated the Devil (cf. Jn 12:31) and death (cf. 1 Cor 15:55) “to free those who, through fear of death, spend their lives in slavery” (15). Thus, Christ becomes High Priest, “mediator” between God and humanity. In the entire New Testament, only Jesus is called ‘Priest’ in this letter.