Hebrews 2:1-8
It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard… (v. 3b, with “It” being the gospel of salvation). This verse gives us one of the arguments against Paul or one of the apostles being the author of this epistle, in that the writer is not claiming to have been with Jesus when He was alive or that Jesus appeared to him as he did to Paul. In the next verse the writer points to signs and wonders and various miracles as providing witness to the truth of the Gospel as presented by Jesus, Paul, and the apostles. Again the “signs and wonders…” provide the proof that the writer did not see personally.
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? (vv. 1-3a) These verses may be a bit confusing, but my Study Bible helped me. They maintain that the message declared by angels was the Law given at Mt. Sinai. They cite Deuteronomy 33:2, The Lord came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us; He shone forth from Mount Paran; He came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand. So, with that understanding the verse now reads that if the Jews were punished for disobeying the Law, then greater punishment should fall on us if we neglect Jesus’ gospel!
What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet. (vv. 6b-8) These verses are from Psalm 8, one with which I am more familiar (myself not being very familiar with the Psalms in general!), largely because I have been humbled at the extent to which the Psalmist elevates mankind. Verse 8b continues with that theme, creation being subjected to mankind. But then the author, knowing full well that these verses from Psalm 8 are meant for mankind now applies these verses to Jesus: But we see Him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor… (v. 9). That is, in His incarnation Jesus for a time became lower than the angels, but then He would be crowned with glory and honor through His death on the cross. Psalm 8 now means more to me than ever before! Slava Bohu!