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Additional Comments |
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| 1 Because of this it behoveth [us] more abundantly to take heed to the things heard, lest we may glide aside, |
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| 2 for if the word being spoken through messengers did become stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience did receive a just recompense, |
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| 3 how shall we escape, having neglected so great salvation which a beginning receiving to be spoken through the Lord by those having heard was confirmed to us, |
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| 4 God also bearing joint-witness both with signs and wonders, and manifold powers, and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to His will. |
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| 5 For not to messengers did He subject the coming world, concerning which we speak, |
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| 6 and one in a certain place did testify fully, saying, 'What is man, that Thou art mindful of him, or a son of man, that Thou dost look after him
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| 7 Thou didst make him some little less than messengers, with glory and honour Thou didst crown him, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands, |
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| 8 all things Thou didst put in subjection under his feet,' for in the subjecting to him the all things, nothing did He leave to him unsubjected, and now not yet do we see the all things subjected to him, |
All things ... under his feet – Man was designed to have dominion over all the earth.
But now ... not yet – Paul is reminding us of the obvious, i.e., that even though this was God's purpose for man, man has not yet attained to that purpose. |
| 9 and him who was made some little less than messengers we see Jesus because of the suffering of the death, with glory and honour having been crowned, that by the grace of God for every one he might taste of death. |
But we see – In vs 8 he tells us that we do "not yet" see man having fulfilled God's purpose for him. But what do we see?
Jesus – "The author and finisher of our faith."
Made a little lower than the angels – Exactly the same description given of Adam. In other words, 'We see Jesus made a perfect human being.'
For the suffering of death – This was His purpose in taking such a lowly position (in comparison to His position as the Archangel.)
Crowned with glory and honour – The glory and honor of the perfect human nature. Exactly the same description given of Adam in vss. 6,7.
Grace of God – Amen!
Taste death for every man – Not just for the true believers but for every man. |
| 10 For it was becoming to Him, because of whom [are] the all things, and through whom [are] the all things, many sons to glory bringing, the author of their salvation through sufferings to make perfect, |
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| 11 for both he who is sanctifying and those sanctified [are] all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, |
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| 12 saying, 'I will declare Thy name to my brethren, in the midst of an assembly I will sing praise to Thee;' and again, 'I will be trusting on Him;' |
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| 13 and again, 'Behold I and the children that God did give to me.' |
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| 14 Seeing, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself also in like manner did take part of the same, that through death he might destroy him having the power of death that is, the devil |
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| 15 and might deliver those, whoever, with fear of death, throughout all their life, were subjects of bondage, |
Fear of death – Of the sacrificial death. This has reference to the Great Company.
All their lifetime – The implication here might be that the decision to relegate one to the Great Company may not be made until about the time of their death. If so, this becomes a precious promise to any who have had prior doubts but are now running a good race and not at all under the 'Fear of death.' [* As near as can be determined, this is NOT Pastor Russell's view of the Great Company's attitude. His thought seems to be expressed in Q24:3.] |
| 16 for, doubtless, of messengers it doth not lay hold, but of seed of Abraham it layeth hold, |
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| 17 wherefore it did behove him in all things to be made like to the brethren, that he might become a kind and stedfast chief-priest in the things with God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people, |
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| 18 for in that he suffered, himself being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted. |
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