Hebrews 2:12-18 “The Purpose of Christ’s Humanity”

2:12-13 Contains three O.T. quotations to identify Christ with the men He came to save. *Psalm 22:22,25, Isaiah 8:18

2:14 “flesh and blood”/ the common sharing of humanity. This same humanity that we share, Christ also shared in His incarnation, taking His place along side of the rest of humanity.

“took part of the same” - Lit. “to hold with” / Jesus took upon Himself an additional nature (humanity), yet without sin, holding to Himself as an additional nature. He took to Himself something which He did not have in common with human beings. God is a spirit and God’s actions may be described as the “Voluntary acceptance of humanity.”

Christ took upon Himself human form for a number of reasons:

TO DIE AND DEFEAT SATAN (2:14): “that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” Destroy is an Aor Act Subj - Lit. “to render inoperative”

Satan and his work were not annihilated at the cross, but his power was broken. Spiritual death cannot hold a person who has placed his/her faith in Christ as Savior. Physical death cannot keep this body in the grave!

Satan had power, dominion over the human race in the form of death. But that dominion has now been broken by Christ.

2 Timothy 1:10 “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”
I Cor. 15:57 “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

TO DELIVER US FROM THE FEAR OF DEATH - 2:15

“and deliver them”/ Aor Act Subj / Christ has judicially set us at liberty, as in a judge’s decision to free someone from his marriage.

This word is used to describe a person who wants released from a contract or legal obligation. We have been set free from the contract of death and bondage. Released to live for Christ.

2 Cor. 1:10 “Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;”

Psalm 56:13 “For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?”

2:16 The Lord passed having the nature of angels or their appearance. Christ as the Son of God took part of the seed of Abraham. He accomplished this, not for the redemption of some superior beings (angels), but redeemed an inferior race (man).

TO BE A MERCIFUL AND FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST - 2:17 - “behooved Him” - wfele - bound by duty because of His character and purpose, to be like His brethren. Phil. 2

that He might a merciful... - indicates his sympathy with the misery of man, which in turn leads to relieving that misery. Mercy carries with it the idea of forgiveness, tenderness, patience, compassion, etc.

“faithful”/ fidelity, loyalty, unchangeable, reliable, trustworthy, sincere, high principled.

Isaiah 11:5 “And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” cf. Heb. 7:24-26

TO MAKE RECONCILIATION - 2:17 - ilaskesqai / To bring peace between God and men. cf. 2 Cor. 5:18-21. The Greek word for reconciliation and propitiation are one and the same.

Rom. 5:10 “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

Eph. 2:16-17 “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.”

Col. 1:21-22 “And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”

TO SUCCOR THEM THAT ARE TEMPTED - 2:18 - To run to the aid of someone. When we are tempted for the benefit of our life, it is God who allows the trial and the comfort that is necessary to bare it! cf. Heb. 4:15-16

I Cor. 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”