Letter to the Hebrews Volume 9

God the Father Warns Humanity to Not Neglect the Free Gift of Salvation through one way & One Person Only Jesus Christ

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? KJV

The writer of Hebrews having spent the time in the entire first chapter detailing the magnificence, marvellousness, and majesty that is our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and detailing how much higher and greater than the angels is He because He is the One who made or created every angel, now turns to warn the human race of what a disaster it would be (eternally) for every individual human being to neglect or ignore the great sacrifice He (Jesus Christ) made to secure their salvation and a place in heaven with Him for all eternity. First the writer of Hebrews declares these words to humanity, "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." (Hebrews 2:1) (KJV). Because Jesus Christ has ushered in a New Covenant (making the Old Covenant null and void) it is far better and surperior to the first which called for immediate death to the person or persons found guilty of sin, but now (because of grace) this is not so under the New Covenant. Therefore, we (the human race) should see the urgency of our sinful condition and run to the Cross of Christ for shelter and refuge and forgiveness, this is exactly what the writer of Hebrews in this verse means when he writes, 'to give the more earnest heed' which is an English phrase translated by two Greek words, the first being prosechō meaning (figuratively) to hold the mind towards, that is, pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to. The second being perissoterōs meaning more superabundantly: - more abundant, the more earnest, (more) exceedingly, more frequent, much more.

We should pay attention with seriousness because our eternal destiny hangs in the balance, for if we neglect to do so, then we will let our opportunity for redemption and rebirth pass us by or as the writer of Hebrews puts it here with this English phrase 'we should let them slip' which is translated by the Greek word pararrhueō (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning to flow by, that is, (figuratively) carelessly pass (miss): - let slip. Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "Because God has spoken to us by His Son; and because that Son is so great and glorious a Personage; and because the subject which is addressed to us is of such infinite importance to our welfare. We should hear the doctrine of Christ with care, candour, and deep concern. 'Lest at any time we should leak out.' This is a metaphor taken from unstanch vessels; the staves not being close together, the fluid put into them leaks through the chinks and crevices. Superficial hearers lose the benefit of the word preached, as the unseasoned vessel does its fluid; nor can any one hear to the saving of his soul, unless he give most earnest heed, which he will not do unless he consider the dignity of the speaker, the importance of the subject, and the absolute necessity of the salvation of his soul." Now the writer of Hebrews again contrast the authority of the Old Testament with that of the New Testament by again comparing angels to our Lord Jesus Christ with these words, "For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;" (Hebrews 2:2) (KJV). The Mosiac law came from God through angels being His mouthpiece (so to speak) as it is written, "Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it." (Acts 7:53) (KJV).

The law was proven to be stedfast, that is, sure and true. Likewise, every transgression, that is, breaking or violation of the law received its just punishment do and that was then death to the transgressor, for example as it is written here, "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD." (Leviticus 10:1-2) (KJV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "The law, (according to some), which was delivered by the mediation of angels, God frequently employing these to communicate His will to men. But the Apostle probably means those particular messages which God sent by angels, as in the case of Lot, Genesis 19, and such like. Was so confirmed by the Divine authority, and so strict, that it would not tolerate any offense, but inflicted punishment on every act of transgression, every case in which the bounds laid down by the law, were passed over; and every act of disobedience in respect to the duties enjoined. That kind and degree of punishment which the law prescribed for those who broke it." If this was the result of sin and disobedience under the Old Testament, then how in the world will we get by or skate by if the human race rejects the only remedy for our sinful condition, that being, the Lord Jesus Christ and so declares the writer of Hebrews here with these words, "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;" (Hebrews 2:3) (KJV). Even though this is a question that everyone should know the answer to it, however, many human beings don't see the obvious that is set right before them because of spiritual blindness, as it is written, "But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world (the devil) hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) (KJV).

Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "If they who had fewer privileges than we have, to whom God spoke in divers manners by angels and prophets, fell under the displeasure of their Maker, and were often punished with a sore destruction; how shall we escape wrath to the uttermost if we neglect the salvation provided for us, and proclaimed to us by the Son of God? Their offense was high; ours, indescribably higher. The salvation mentioned here is the whole system of Christianity, with all the privileges it confers; properly called a salvation, because, by bringing such an abundance of heavenly light into the world, it saves or delivers men from the kingdom of darkness, ignorance, error, superstition, and idolatry; and provides all the requisite means to free them from the power, guilt, and contamination of sin. Those who neglect it, are not only they who oppose or persecute it, but they who pay no regard to it; who do not meddle with it, do not concern themselves about it, do not lay it to heart, and consequently do not get their hearts changed by it. Now these cannot escape the coming judgments of God; not merely because they oppose His will and commandment, but because they sin against the very cause and means of their deliverance. As there is but one remedy by which their diseased souls can be saved, so by refusing to apply that one remedy they must necessarily perish. Though John the Baptist went before our Lord to prepare His way, yet he could not be properly said to preach the Gospel; and even Christ’s preaching was only a beginning of the great proclamation: it was His own Spirit in the Apostles and evangelists, the men who heard Him preach, that opened the whole mystery of the kingdom of heaven. And all this testimony had been so confirmed in the land of Judea as to render it indubitable; and consequently there was no excuse for their unbelief, and no prospect of their escape if they should continue to neglect it."

In the Old Testament God the Father bore witness to all His revelations to mankind/humanity as it is written here by the writer of Hebrews, "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?" (Hebrews 2:4) (KJV). The one and only sign and wonder or miracle manifested in the New Testament is that of Him becoming a Man and then humbling Himself before His own creation (man) and allowing them to kill Him as the One and Only sacrifice for humanities sin, then He raised Himself from death and now sits on a Throne of Grace ready, willing, and able to dispense said grace to any sinner, even the worst of sinners that would come to Him for forgiveness of their sin and to receive salvation  through Him Alone. This is greater than all the miracles in the Old Testament combined. Hallelujah!!! Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "He did not leave the confirmation of these great truths to the testimony of men; He bore His own testimony to them by signs, wonders, various miracles, and distributions of the Holy Ghost. And all these were proved to come from Himself; for no man could do those miracles at his own pleasure, but the power to work them was given according to God’s own will; or rather, God Himself wrought them, in order to accredit the ministry of His servant."

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…