Letter to the Hebrews Volume 17

Jesus Christ' Suffering for Humanities Sin has brought and continues to Bring many sons/daughters to Glory Part 5


Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. KJV


As we learned in the last study/commentary, the first man and woman (Adam and Eve) tried to hide themselves from the presence of the Lord after they sinned (Genesis 3:7-8), however, as the Psalmist (King David) wrote there is no escaping the presence of the Lord God Almighty, "Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. (Psalms 139:7-10) (KJV). Ever since then, all of humanity have been trying to hide ourselves from the presence of the Lord God; the atheist does it by denying His existence (Psalms 14:1); the spiritualist/spiritist does it by listening to and following after seducing spirits and doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1); even the Christian (born again child of God) does it by presuming on the grace of God (Hebrews 3:12) (Hebrews 10:26-27). Therefore, having this as the background, the writer of Hebrews declares to us further the wonder, the wonderment, and the wow of our very own Creator taking on Himself the weak human flesh that is ours, yet living within it a perfect, pure, and pleasing life in word, thought, and deed before God the Father, making Himself and His Blood sacrifice the perfect and only substitute for humanities sin and sinfulness, as it is written here, "Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17) (KJV).


Let me say this as clearly, concisely, and concretely as I possibly can and that is there is no forgiveness of sin outside of Jesus Christ, as it is written here for us by the Apostle Paul, "But He, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." (Acts 13:37-41) (KJV); there is no heaven (for any person, not for the man Gandhi, not for the man Buddha, not for the man Muhammad) outside of union with Jesus Christ, as it is written, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) (KJV). The Lord Jesus Christ laid down His life in the human body prepared for Him (Hebrews 10:5) (before the foundation of the world was even formed) for my sin and for your sin and He considered it His duty or obligation to take on the very nature of you and I so that He could identify Himself with our sinful weaknesses, yet at the same time be completely without sin in Himself.


The little English phrase 'it behoved' is translated by the Greek word opheilō meaning (as used here) figuratively to be under obligation (ought, must, should). He made this promise to us even before we were created. The English phrase 'him to be made like unto' is translated by the Greek word homoioō meaning passively to become similar: -  resemble. God loves us so much, that He made Himself look like unto us His bretheren and sisteren, how incredibly remarkably awesome is that. The English word 'merciful' is translated by the Greek word eleēmōn meaning compassionate (actively): - merciful. The English word 'faithful' is translated by the Greek word pistos meaning objectively trustworthy; subjectively trustful: - sure, true. Our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ is a merciful mediator for us sinners at the same time as He is faithful to God the Father covering our sin before Him, that is, Christ and His Blood sacrifice for us is the atonement for all our sins (past, present, and future), that is, the compensation or payment for our offending the Throne of God.


Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "Because He thus laid hold on man in order to redeem him, it was necessary that He should in all things become like to man, that He might suffer in his stead, and make an atonement in his nature. That He might be merciful - that He might be affected with a feeling of our infirmities, that, partaking of our nature with all its innocent infirmities and afflictions, He might know how to compassionate poor, afflicted, suffering man. And that He might be a faithful High Priest in those things which relate to God, whose justice requires the punishment of the transgressors, or a suitable expiation to be made for the sins of the people. The proper meaning of is to make propitiation or atonement for sins by sacrifice. Christ is the great High Priest of mankind; He exercises Himself in the things pertaining to God, taking heed that God’s honor be properly secured, His worship properly regulated, His laws properly enforced, and both His justice and mercy magnified. Again, He exercises Himself in things pertaining to men, that He may make an atonement for them, apply this atonement to them, and liberate them thereby from the curse of a broken law, from the guilt and power of sin, from its inbeing and nature, and from all the evils to which they were exposed through it, and lastly that He might open their way into the holiest by His own blood; and He has mercifully and faithfully accomplished all that He has undertaken."


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…