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Hebrews 2:1-4
The author of Hebrews gives a big “Therefore” in the beginning of Chapter 2 that indicates not just a review of the immediately preceding verse(s) but a review of his introduction from the beginning of Hebrews 1:1-4, which informs us of what the core of the book/letter of Hebrews is to teach, and is as follows (NKJV), “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” The remaining verses of Hebrews 1:5-14 are support for verses 1-4. Picking up with the “Therefore” in Hebrews 2:1 (NKJV), the author tells of how important it is to take, “heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.” This indicates a study of God’s word that goes beyond a simple reading of it as to pacify a “requirement” of spending time in God’s word each day. The growth and reward of growing in Christ Jesus is not a blessing of following a rule, but through a sincere heart of seeking to grow in that relationship that leads to eternal life. It’s a sincerity to “take heed” to the teachings of Jesus through the documented words of Him and the testimony of His apostles/disciples who were inspired through His Holy Spirit to document these things for future generations to continue growing and learning of salvation in the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 2:2-4 is a reference to the Law of Moses given in the Old Testament and of how showing disobedience to each of the laws was to be punished. This in reference to that of the New Covenant in Christ Jesus and of how much more punishable is disobedience to Jesus and His teachings which are far superior to the Law of the Old Testament in that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Law in being the sacrifice that paid for all the punishment that was due to breaking all of the Law. God also provided signs, wonders, miracles and gave gifts to those who put their sincere faith in Him through the salvation that He provides in His one and only Son Jesus.
This is a promise brought to us in the form of a question, “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:3a).
God has given us all we need, and more, to show His great love for us in sending His one and only Son, Jesus, to save us all from sin. But if we neglect or disregard His teaching and ultimately deny His gift to us of salvation in and through Christ Jesus, we place ourselves without defense in the line of the punishment for denying Him, which is death; being separated from Him for all of eternity where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth to be experienced by all who deny Him. Satan tries to make us believe that this is not true, but we can escape the lies of Satan by opening our hearts to Jesus and putting God first in our lives. Simply and sincerely open your heart to Jesus and ask for His forgiveness and turn away from the sinful nature and begin living a new life in Christ Jesus today.
Dear LORD,
This lesson is great for helping sinners to realize the importance of putting You first in our lives and to trust in Jesus to forgive our sins that we may be adopted as Your children – in Christ. But please help us who are believers to realize that as we learn from Hebrews 2:1, “we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.” Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to save the world from sin that we all may live – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.