Letter to the Hebrews Volume 10

God made Man a little lower than the Angels

Hebrews 2:5-7 For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. 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? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: KJV

The old world or that which was under the Old Testament has now been done away with since our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ has come and so does the writer of Hebrews declare just that with these first words here, "For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak." (Hebrews 2:5) (KJV). The Old Testament world was that of Law and Order, nothing done outside of the 'Law' was dismissed, discounted, or disregarded (as we documented in volume 9 with the immediate deaths of Aarons sons who brought profane fire before the Lord). However, now that Christ Jesus our Lord has come, He has ushered in a new dispensation of grace now, meaning that those who break God's Laws now are not immediately delt with, but are given grace in order that they might someday come to the foot of the Cross of Christ and believe on Him so that all their sins can and will be put under His Blood, but those who continue to persist in rebellion are just storing up wrath for themselves in the day of wrath to come.

As it is written by the Apostle Paul to the Church @ Rome with these words, "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:" (Romans 2:1-6) (KJV), Note: Go back and read Romans Chapter 1 to get exactly what sins Paul the Apostle spoke of to the Church.

Here is what Vincent's Word Studies had to say of this verse, "The writer's object is to show that the salvation, the new order of things inaugurated by Christ, is in pursuance of the original purpose of creation, to wit, that universal dominion was to pertain to man, and not to angels. The great salvation means lordship of the world to be. This purpose is carried out in Christ, who, in becoming man, became temporarily subject to the earthly dispensation of which angels were the administrators. This was in order that he might acquire universal lordship as man. Being now exalted above angels, he does away with the angelic administration, and, in the world to come, will carry humanity with him to the position of universal lordship. This thought is developed by means of Psalms 8:1-9. Having set Christ above the angels, the writer must reconcile that claim with the historical fact of Christ's humiliation in his incarnate state. The Psalm presents a paradox in the antithesis of lower than the angels and all things under his feet. From the Psalm is drawn the statement of a temporary subordination of Christ to angels, followed by his permanent exaltation over them."

Next the writer of Hebrews begins to chew over and contemplate the seemingly insignificance of man with these words, "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?" (Hebrews 2:6) (KJV). When one would look up into the heavens (especially at night) taking note of the vast array of stars along side the moon, seeing how big it is compared to tiny, puny man sitting down here on the earth (like a tiny ant staring up at a giant elephant), so is man a speck of dust in God's great universe. The writer takes his scripture from what was written by the Psalmist King David (who probably wrote this in his latter years as he looked up into the night sky), "LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away." (Psalms 144:3-4) (KJV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "As applicable to mankind in general, in which sense we have an affectionate thankful expostulation with the great God concerning His wonderful condescension and kindness to the sons of men. (1.) In remembering them, or being mindful of them, when yet they had no being but in the counsels of divine love. The favours of God to men all spring up out of His eternal thoughts and purposes of mercy for them; as all our dutiful regards to God spring forth from our remembrance of Him. God is always mindful of us, let us never be forgetful of Him. (2.) In visiting them. God's purpose of favours for men is productive of gracious visits to them; He comes to see us, how it is with us, what we ail, what we want, what dangers we are exposed to, what difficulties we have to encounter; and by His visitation our spirit is preserved. Let us so remember God as daily to approach Him in a way of duty. (3.) In making man the head of all the creatures in this lower world, the top-stone of this building, the chief of the ways of God on earth, and only a little lower than the angels in place, and respect to the boy, while here, and to be made like the angels, and equal to the angels, at the resurrection of the just, Luke 20:36. (4.) In crowning him with glory and honour, the honour of having noble powers and faculties of soul, excellent organs and parts of body, whereby he is allied to both worlds, capable of serving the interests of both worlds, and of enjoying the happiness of both. (5.) In giving him right to and dominion over the inferior creatures, which did continue so long as he continued in his allegiance and duty to God."

The writer continues on with this theme in the very next verse of describing how man, that is, Adam (the first man) was created by God in His very own image a threefold being with (1) A life giving spirit and (2) A unique soul unlike any other creature or other humans and (3) The spirit and soul of man residing in or living in a body made from the dust of the earth to occupy the earth. Just as God is One, but He is Father, Son, and Spirit. Man is made a little lower than the angels, meaning in power and ability, not in love and adoration by God and so writes these words next by the writer of Hebrews, "Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:" (Hebrews 2:7) (KJV). Here is what John Wesley said of this verse, "Thou hast made him - Adam. A little lower than the angels - The Hebrew is, a little lower than (that is, next to) God. Such was man as he came out of the hands of his Creator: it seems, the highest of all created beings. But these words are also in a farther sense, as the apostle here shows, applicable to the Son of God. It should be remembered that the apostles constantly cited the Septuagint translation, very frequently without any variation. It was not their business, in writing to the Jews, who at that time had it in high esteem, to amend or alter this, which would of consequence have occasioned disputes without end."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…