JESUS SHARED OUR HUMANITY
Key verse: 2
NIV
14 Since the children have flesh and blood,(A) he too shared in their humanity(B) so that by his death he might break the power(C) of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil(D)— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear(E) of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.(F) 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[a](G) fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful(H) and faithful high priest(I) in service to God,(J) and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.(K) 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.(L)
Footnotes
- Hebrews 2:17 Or like his brothers
Cross references
- Hebrews 2:14 : 1Co 15:50; Eph 6:12
- Hebrews 2:14 : S Jn 1:14
- Hebrews 2:14 : Ge 3:15; 1Co 15:54-57; 2Ti 1:10
- Hebrews 2:14 : 1Jn 3:8
- Hebrews 2:15 : S 2Ti 1:7
- Hebrews 2:16 : S Lk 3:8
- Hebrews 2:17 : ver 14; S Php 2:7
- Hebrews 2:17 : Heb 5:2
- Hebrews 2:17 : Heb 3:1; 4:14, 15; 5:5, 10; 7:26, 28; 8:1, 3; 9:11
- Hebrews 2:17 : Heb 5:1
- Hebrews 2:17 : S Ro 3:25
- Hebrews 2:18 : Heb 4:15
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise (A)partook of the same things, that (B)through death he might (C)destroy (D)the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who (E)through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he (F)helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had (G)to be made like his brothers in every respect, (H)so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest (I)in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered (J)when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Read full chapterCross references
- Hebrews 2:14 : See John 1:14
- Hebrews 2:14 : See 1 Cor. 15:54-56
- Hebrews 2:14 : [Col. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1:10]
- Hebrews 2:14 : 1 John 3:8; [John 16:11]
- Hebrews 2:15 : See Rom. 8:15
- Hebrews 2:16 : Isa. 41:8, 9; [ch. 8:9]
- Hebrews 2:17 : Phil. 2:7
- Hebrews 2:17 : ch. 4:15, 16; [ch. 5:2, 7, 8]
- Hebrews 2:17 : ch. 5:1; Rom. 15:17
- Hebrews 2:18 : ch. 4:15; Luke 22:28
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Jesus sets us free from slavery to fear (14-15)
God did not send Jesus as an angel, but as a vulnerable man to share our humanity and to destroy the devil. The devil holds the power of death and he enslaves us by fear. Jesus crushed the head of the devil by his death and resurrection. He sets free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death (Lk 1:74,75).
2. A merciful high priest (16-18)
Jesus did not come as an angel to help angels; he came as a man to help Abraham's descendants. Abraham's true descendants are all those who have faith like his. Jesus shares our humanity in every way, so he suffered when he was tempted. He struggled to serve and obey God. He was obedient to death and so made atonement for our sins. He thus became our merciful and faithful high priest. He understands our weaknesses and he is able to help us when we are tempted.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for destroying the devil who has the power of death, and setting me free to serve you. Thank you for being my merciful high priest.
One Word: Jesus destroys the devil
