Chapter Two
Heb. 2:1. Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard,
Since, he says, so great is the superiority of the Son who spoke to us over the prophets and angels, the ministers of the Old Testament, what He said must be heeded more than the law. But he did not say this directly, so as not to shock them at the beginning; he left it to them to draw this conclusion from what follows. He says this not comparing the Old Testament with the New — no, but against the opinion of those who speak with great glory of the Old Testament and neglect the New.
Heb. 2:1. lest we drift away. (μή ποτέ παραρρυῶμεν)
That is, so that we might not perish. He borrowed the expression from Proverbs: "my son," says the Wise One, "do not let them slip away" (μὴ παραρρύης) (Prov. 3:21), expressing both the ease of falling away and the gravity of perdition. For what has fallen away is difficult to restore.
Heb. 2:2. For if the word spoken through Angels was steadfast,
Here he reveals his intention. By the word spoken through angels, one must understand either the Ten Commandments, for it is true that angels were present at that time, to whom the Hebrew people had been entrusted, and they produced the trumpet sounds, fire, darkness, and the rest, as it says in the Epistle to the Galatians: "it was ordained through angels" (Gal. 3:19), and in another place: "who received the law at the disposition of angels" (Acts 7:53); or by the word one must understand all the commandments in the Old Testament delivered through angels, as for example, at the place of weeping during the time of the judges, and with Samson (Judg. 2:1, 13:3). Therefore he did not say "the law," but "the word," in order to indicate this. So then, all this was "steadfast," that is, it was true and the threats were carried out, and nothing of it was lost.
Heb. 2:2. Every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense,
Not so that one thing received punishment and another did not; but "every," and nothing remained unpunished. He calls punishment a recompense, and although this word is used in a good sense, the apostle does not concern himself with expressions.
Heb. 2:3. How then shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation,
There "the word," here "salvation." If there was salvation there too, it was not great: they were delivered from enemies and received earthly goods; but here it is far greater. Therefore he also said, "so great." For the destruction of death, the perdition of demons, the Kingdom of Heaven—all this comes to you by the word of the Son.
Heb. 2:3. Having been first spoken by the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
Lending credibility to his words, he says that this salvation was proclaimed not through prophets or angels, but received its beginning from the Master of all Himself, from the very Source; then it spread among us truly and reliably through eyewitnesses of the Word and servants. Luke also speaks of this (Luke 1:2). They firmly instructed us. How then does the apostle say in another place: he did not hear it from men (Gal. 1:12)? Because there it was important and necessary to insist on the thought that he did not learn from men. For he was accused of not having heard the Lord, and therefore he was in danger that his preaching would not be believed by his disciples. But now there is no such need for this. For he was not preaching to the Jews, nor was it among them that he was accused of having learned from men and not from Christ. Or, by citing here the words: "with God bearing witness by signs and wonders," he shows that he received this not from men, but from God.
Heb. 2:4. God also bearing witness with signs and wonders,
Having said "was confirmed," he shows how. Lest anyone say that the hearers were mistaken, he says: God bore witness together with them; He would not have borne witness if they themselves had invented anything. They bear witness, he says; God also bears witness together with them — not by voice, but by signs and wonders, which confirmed what they were saying. Therefore we believe God, and not men.
Heb. 2:4. and various powers,
Expressing the abundance of gifts, he said "various." Since sorcerers also perform many signs, he therefore said "powers." Those signs are not powers, but weakness, fabrication, and empty phantoms.
Heb. 2:4. and by distributions of the Holy Spirit according to His will?
And he added this for the very same reason. For the signs of sorcerers are not from the Holy Spirit, but deceptions of unclean demons. He gives to understand something else as well. Probably there were not many people there who had spiritual gifts, which had diminished because the believers were less zealous. Therefore, to console them in this, he says that the "distributions of the Spirit" occur according to "His will." He knows what is beneficial for each person, and thus distributes grace. Often someone does not receive gifts because of an impure life; often a person of pure life also does not receive gifts, so that he would not become proud. This is precisely why they were imparted more to humble and simple people.
Heb. 2:5. For not to Angels did God subject the world to come,
Showing further the superiority of the Son over the angels, he says that God subjected the universe, that is, this world, not to them but to the Son. He calls it "the world to come," because the Son of God always existed, while it was yet to appear, since obviously it did not exist before. Therefore, in relation to the eternal existence of the Son, the universe was indeed the world to come.
Heb. 2:5. of which we speak;
That is, about the universe, of which it was said above: "when He brings the Firstborn into the world" (Heb. 1:6). Therefore, let not your erring mind seek another universe. Some understood the coming universe as the future world. About this world, he says, is our entire discourse. Then the angels will stand by as servants, while the Son will be seated as Judge.
Heb. 2:6. But one in a certain place testified, saying: What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that Thou visitest him?
Heb. 2:7. You made him a little lower than the Angels; with glory and honor You crowned him, and set him over the works of Your hands,