Hebrews chapter one is distinguishing Jesus from the angels by demonstrating how God's only son is superior to and worshiped by the angels.
"Therefore, we need to pay close attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. The message declared by the angels proved to be reliable." Hebrews 2:1-2
What was the message that we heard from the angels? God's law. (Acts 7:53, Galatians 3:19)
God used to speak through prophets and angels, but now He speaks to us through Jesus. (Hebrews 1:1-2)
Jesus is God's Word. (John 1:1)
We need to focus on what God is telling us, so we don't get distracted and forget it.
If the message declared by the angels was proven to be reliable, and if Jesus is superior to the angels, then how much more reliable is Jesus?
How was the angels' message proven to be reliable?
Many people have accepted the existence of angels, given them honor and respect, while some have even worshiped them. We are warned not to worship the angels, and to worship God. Angels are commanded by God, and they are God's messengers.
"Every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution" Hebrews 2:2.
transgress (verb) to sin, to break a law, to go past a boundary
disobey (verb) to refuse or neglect to obey
Sin is sin, and it doesn't matter if we do or don't do it willfully, unconsciously, or even by accident, it's still sin. If we have broken one law, we may as well have broken them all. (James 2:10)
"But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you" Deuteronomy 28:15.
"Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip, for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly. For the Lord will vindicate his people" Deuteronomy 32:35-36.
Was being kicked out of the Garden of Eden a "just retribution" for eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil? (Genesis 3)
Were the ten plagues a "just retribution" for Pharoah's disobedience not letting God's people go free? (Exodus 7-12)
Was being swallowed by a whale a "just retribution" for Jonah's disobedience for not going to Ninevah? (Jonah 1:17)
"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience" Ephesians 5:6.
The angels' message was proven reliable because of physical blessings for obedience and/or physical consequences for disobedience.
Therefore, we must focus on God's Word, so we don't sin. We have heard terrible consequences happen when people disobeyed God's law.
"How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?" Hebrews 2:3
Reliable (adjective) able to be trusted and believed, credible, true
The credibility of our salvation is established:
- It was declared at first by the Lord (Matthew 3:16-17)
- It was attested to us by those who heard (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John)
- God bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will (The New Testament)
