HEBREWS HEB2

Jesus the greatest man Hebrews 2:5-18

Introduction: While the contrast of Jesus with Angels continues (5,7,9), the dominating emphasis in this section is His identity with humanity.

1. God’s plan is for man to regain God’s original purpose for him. (5-8)

What was God’s original purpose? (7,8). Think about Gen. 1:26-30.

What indications of the Fall do you find in Heb. 2:6 and 8?

Think about the implications of Gen. 3:1-24: Why did they fall, what did they lose, what was their condition, what was the curse?

What are the human characteristics that Paul notes in Rom. 3:10-17?

What situations do you find at work which illustrate these verses?

How does Paul in Romans see Jesus Christ as rectifying man’s wrong? (Rom. 5:12-19)

2. The details of God’s rescue operation are set out in Heb. 2:9-18

Having read these verses try to sum up God’s plan in a single sentence.

Discover the main emphases of this section:

1. What details are stated about Jesus in v.9? How are these basic facts expanded

in vs. 14-17? Pick out the relevant phrases.

2. What possible reason could the writer have for using the single name `Jesus’

(9,11) rather than His full title?

3. What is significant about Jesus calling us His brothers? Why is He not

ashamed to do so? Vs. 11 provides a key.

4. To understand the three O.T. quotations in vs. 12, 13 see a commentary, e.g.

The Commentary for Today.

1. In what sense was Jesus as the `Pioneer of our salvation’, made `perfect

through suffering’? (10). How do vs. 17,18 relate to this?

2. In what ways is Jesus identified with us in vs. 11-18?

What encouragements do you find from these facts?

3. What does `atonement’ mean? (17) Discover its O.T. and N.T. significance

(e.g. Lev. 16, espec. vs. 15-17: Heb. 9:5-14).

3. Think about the benefits we derive from God’s rescue operation.

Check on vs. 11,15,18. Anything else?

1. What are the fears that characterise many non-Christians? How would you show to such people that faith in Jesus makes a radical difference?

2. Do Christians have fears? What effective steps can we take toward dealing with them?

3. What common temptations do Christians face? Having made a list, check it against Col. 3:5-9. In what practical ways can Jesus help in such circumstances? And what is Jesus expecting us to do?

Think about such verses as 1 Cor. 6:18; 2 Tim. 2:22; Jas. 4:7; Col. 3:10,12-14.

Postscript: Why is Jesus the greatest man?