Daily Scripture Reading Hebrews 2:9 - 3:11

Humans have a natural proclivity to be selfish and live for themselves. As part of that, people generally do not want to believe there is a God and that humans have to obey the rules of God.

Today, we will read a passage from the book of Hebrews that teaches the opposite. We were created by God, and we were created for Him. We should live for Him, not ourselves.

In chapter one, the author of Hebrews established that Christ is superior to angels. Therefore, we should pay close attention to the message delivered by Christ and His apostles, because if the message of angels is reliable, then the message of Christ is certainly reliable. In the opening verses of chapter two, the author reminded his readers that while man is lower than angels, man is ruler of the earth, not angels. Furthermore, Christ was temporarily made lower than angels, and at some point in the future all things will be in subjection to Christ.

Heb. 2:9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels—Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

Note that Jesus was made lower than angels so that He could taste death for everyone.

Heb. 2:10 ¶ For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

Notice the phrase “for whom are all things”. All things are for the sake of Christ, meaning you and I exist for the sake of Christ, for His benefit and to serve Him.

This is contrary to how most people view life. The common mentality in our culture is that people exist for themselves. Everything most people do is based on what is good for themselves and leads to their own pleasure and benefit.

As Christians, we must deny ourselves and do everything to benefit and proclaim Jesus.

Heb. 2:11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of One; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brothers,

Heb. 2:12 saying,

“I WILL RECOUNT YOUR NAME TO MY BROTHERS,

IN THE MIDST OF THE ASSEMBLY I WILL SING YOUR PRAISE.”

This is a quote from Psalm 22, which was written by David. David wrote about himself, but his Psalm also applies to Jesus. If accurately foretold the agony of Jesus on the cross. Both David and Jesus recounted God’s name to their brothers and sang God’s praises.

Heb. 2:13 And again,

“I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM.”

And again,

“BEHOLD, I AND THE CHILDREN WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN ME.”

These quotations are from Isaiah 8:17-18. Earlier in Isaiah chapter 8, Yahweh told Isaiah to fear God, not man. Isaiah responded by saying he would put his trust in Yahweh, acknowledging that Yahweh is the One who gave him his children.

Heb. 2:14 ¶ Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

Heb. 2:15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

Heb. 2:16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the seed of Abraham.

Heb. 2:17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brothers in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

In earlier verses the author established that Jesus is brothers to humans. Now he wrote that Jesus had to be like His brothers in order to make propitiation for them.

Heb. 2:18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to help those who are tempted.

Since Jesus became human, He was tempted just as you and I are tempted. When we serve Jesus, we serve a God who understands what it is like to live as a human.

Heb. 3:1 ¶ Therefore, holy brothers, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession—Jesus,

Heb. 3:2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house.

Heb. 3:3 For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, in so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house.

Heb. 3:4 For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.

This verse repeats something that is stated many times throughout the Bible. God is the creator of all things. This means He has power and authority over all things. Since He created us, He has the right to create the rules by which you and I have to live. As we saw in chapter 2 verse 10, all things were created for Him.

Heb. 3:5 Now MOSES WAS FAITHFUL IN ALL HIS HOUSE AS A SERVANT, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later,

Heb. 3:6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope.

Heb. 3:7 ¶ Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,

“TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,

Heb. 3:8 DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME,

AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS,

Heb. 3:9 WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me,

AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS.

Heb. 3:10 THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION,

AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART,

AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’;

Heb. 3:11 AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,

‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’”

Verses 7-11 are a quotation from Psalm 95:7-11. The Psalmist warned the Israelites of his day not to harden their hearts as their ancestors had during the wanderings in the wilderness. The Israelites in the wilderness were punished for their sins.

The author of Hebrews quoted that Psalm to warn people who live after Christ not to harden their hearts and ignore the truths about Jesus. If we harden our hearts, we will suffer the consequences.

Humans are naturally self-centered. We want to do what is good for ourselves. However, we were created by God and for God; therefore, we should live for Him and do what benefits our Creator.

In what ways are you inclined to live for yourself?

What do you need to do differently in your life so that you are known as someone who serves Jesus in everything?

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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”