10 – Hebrews 2:10—13: Christ Greater Than Saints

Hebrews 2:10-13

“For it was appropriate that He (for whom and by whom the universe exists), in guiding many children to glory, make the Captain of their salvation fully qualified and mature through His sufferings. For both the Sanctifier and the ones sanctified all originate in One. For this reason He is unashamed to recognize them as brothers; saying, “I will talk to My brothers about God My Father: in the midst of the congregation I will sing Thy praise”. And again, “My confident hope will be centered in Him”. And again, “Here am I and the children God has given to Me.”   (paraphrased)

v. 10
The author proceeds to show how much human beings have benefited from Christ’s sacrifice. God is seen as the Father of a family comprised of those who receive His Son as Savior.

Salvation flows from the character of God. Salvation “becomes” Christ, for it is a definitive aspect of His plan for mankind. The universe was designed by God, created by God and exists for God. It suited the divine nature that He who sustains all things would implement a strategy to redeem fallen mankind and that He will receive the glory for this. It is consistent with His character, His love, His wisdom, His righteousness, and His mercy to bring many sons to glory. It is in harmony with His Father’s will to allow the suffering of His Son to connect sinners with God through Christ. God makes reconciliation with those who accept His Son’s vicarious atonement (II Cor. 5:19).

“Captain” is archegos and is exactly the same word as “author” found later in the epistle, where Jesus is depicted as the Author and finisher of our faith (12:2). The word means “originator, founder, pioneer, predecessor, leader, prince, chief or ruler.” In military terminology, an archegos never simply gives orders to his troops, he leads the charge himself. Peter uses the term Archegos when referring to Jesus as “the Prince of life” (Acts 3:15). It can refer to one who heads a family or blazes a trail for others to walk in safety. Christ suffered, leaving us an example to follow in His steps (I Pet .2:21). Our Archegos leads us into a new and glorious life. Heaven is our inheritance and God’s children share in it.

That Christ was “perfected” (teleios) does not imply He had flaws. The word means “to equip; to fulfill a purpose; to be made completely ready for the work someone was designed for.” It was essential that the Captain of our salvation be fully equipped by His sufferings to redeem sinners. Teleios also is used to describe an unblemished animal, fit to be offered as a sacrifice. The sufferings of Jesus prepared and completed Him as the Captain of our salvation. His death on the cross was the method He used to bring many sons to share in His glory.

Jesus understands human life because He lived a human life. He incarnated in order to reveal Himself as the leader in the redemptive process. He has returned triumphant to the glory He knew before His incarnation because of His obedience to the Father. We are fellow heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17), but sharing in His glory involves partaking of His suffering. Only those who take up His cross daily are deemed worthy to be His disciples (Lk. 14:27).   

v. 11
The author states Jesus is not ashamed to regard Believers as siblings and then proceeds to quote three Old Testament passages to prove it. Both the Sanctifier and those He sanctifies have one common origin. Those who enter into His sufferings He calls brothers. “You have only one Master and you are all brothers” (Mt. 23:8). Because we suffer with Him, we share in His victory over death, hell and the grave. “As the sufferings of Christ abound in our lives, so our consolation also abounds in Christ” (II Cor. 1:5). “If we suffer with Him, we will also reign with Him” (II Tim. 2:12). His death became the means of producing sanctified individuals.

The verb “sanctify” (hagiazo) means “to consecrate something; to set it apart for a godly purpose.” In the Old Testament, the term is primarily used to refer to objects reserved for God’s service. In the New Testament, the word is almost exclusively used in reference to human beings who are separated from evil. It is from this term the word “saint” is derived. Although the author’s use of hagiazo concerns our position in Christ, Believers are expected to grow and mature in holy living. The Holy Spirit is God’s agent in this continuous process. Only sanctified people are members of the family of God. The writer later states that, “without holiness, no man will see the Lord” (12:14).

He is not ashamed to regard as kinfolk those He sanctifies. On the basis of redemption and sanctification we become rightly related to Him. We are not Christ’s brothers because of a common human nature, but because of a common spiritual nature. A holy life is required of everyone who belongs to this brotherhood. Sanctification is the path to glorification. We are brothers and sisters because we all have the same Father. After His resurrection, a new relationship was established. Jesus told Mary Magdalene to “go and tell my brothers I will soon ascend to My Father” (Jn. 20:17). We are privileged to be part of God’s family by adoption (Gal. 4:5). Since He is not ashamed of us, we must never be ashamed of Him (Mk. 8:38).

v. 12
Jesus quotes the first verse of Psalm 22 from the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?” (Mk. 15:34). The portion of this Psalm concerning the soldiers gambling for Jesus’ clothing is fulfilled in John 19:24. But here the writer borrows a verbatim messianic phrase regarding our relationship to Christ as brothers and sisters (Ps. 22:22). The Lord Jesus is pictured as singing alongside His brethren. This is a further verification of His identification with His saints. He joins us in joyful thanksgiving, singing praises to God.

v. 13
Christ’s brothers and sisters are seen as being presented to the Father by Jesus. The writer quotes a familiar phrase found in numerous Old Testament passages concerning putting trust in God. He cites Isaiah to depict how God has blessed Christ’s obedience with an abundance of followers (Isa. 8:18). The children of God belong to both the Father and the Son. When Jesus prays to the Father, He makes reference to those God gave Him that have come out of the world and have kept His word (Jn.17:6).

QUESTIONS: CHRIST GREATER THAN SAINTS

Hebrews 2:10-13

1. From II Corinthians 5:19, define reconciliation.

2. What does Paul call the Believers living in Achaia?  (II Corinthians 1:1)

3. By what title can Believers address God?

4. From our study in Hebrews 2:10, we discover that the term “Captain” can refer to “one who blazes a trail.” What is Christ called in Hebrews 6:20?

5. Although we will one day reign with Jesus, what can we expect today? (II Timothy 2:12) 

6. In Exodus 29:44, what was sanctified?

7. In Leviticus 20:7, what needed to be sanctified?

8. According to Ephesians 5:25-26, what did Jesus sanctify?

9. According to Romans 15:16, who is directly involved in the process of sanctification?

10. Who does Jesus say are his brothers and sisters in Mark 3:35?

11. List ways in which a man should treat his wife as a sister.

12. List ways in which a woman should treat her husband as a brother.

 

Maxim of the Moment

He who speaks ill of his wife dishonors himself.