Please explain Hebrews 2:1-4.
The book of Hebrews was written to the Jewish Christians (although the teachings and lessons are for Gentile believers as well). Throughout this book, the superiority of Christ over all things is shown. He is better than the prophets, better than the angels, better that Moses, His priesthood is better than that of Aaron, etc. Whatever the Lord had given the Jewish people in the Old Testament as ways of knowing and obeying Him, Christ is better because He is the fulfillment of all those things. The book begins by pointing to the Son as we read in Hebrews 1:1-2, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” The literal meaning is that God has spoken to us ‘in the person of the Son’, which makes it clear that Jesus is God. God became a man! We see that truth in John 1:1 and 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Hebrews 1 speaks much of the person of Christ and His superiority.
Then, Hebrews 2 begins with the word ‘Therefore’. Let’s read Hebrews 2:1-4, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” Seeing the superiority of Christ, we ought to ‘give the more earnest heed’ to His words. The words of the Lord Jesus regarding salvation were simple. They were powerful. They were truth because He is truth. One such example is what the Lord said in John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
The Lord had used His angels in the ministering of the Law. Stephen speaks of that in Acts 7:53, “Who have received the law BY THE DISPOSITION OF ANGELS, and have not kept it.” Paul spoke of that in Galatians 3:19, “Wherefore then serveth the law? …IT WAS ORDAINED BY ANGELS in the hand of a mediator.” If the people had rightly heeded the words of the angels, how much more should they give special, undivided attention to the words of the very Son of God. How true it is that when we do not give attention to the words of the Lord, we tend to let them slip. Their importance and meaning will soon depart from our minds and hearts.
Seeing that, under the law, “every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward” we are pressed with this question: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” Some there had evidently heard the Lord Himself speak. Some heard the words of the Apostles as they confirmed the words of the Lord. None of us were there to hear the Lord Jesus as He taught, but we do have the words of those who heard him. We call them the ‘epistles’ and the book of Revelation. We have heard from John, Peter, James, Jude, and Paul. Plus, in their writings we are given the testimonies of others. How, indeed, shall we escape punishment if we disregard what the Lord has given to us through these writers? Especially since he often confirmed their words with “signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost.” Apart from the miracles that the Lord Jesus performed, we also find “signs and wonders” being performed by the Apostles. We even read in Acts 19:11, “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul.” However, these supernatural occurrences were performed ‘according to God’s own will.’ It was according to God’s will and power that these signs and wonders were displayed. They were given to confirm the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My friend, what will it take to make YOU heed the Word of God and put your faith in the Lord for your eternal salvation? If you have not trusted the Lord Jesus as your savior, I greatly encourage you to trust Him today while there is still time. (259.6)