1. The Epistle to the Hebrews
Lesson 3
A Savior Made Perfect Through Suffering
Hebrews 2:5-18

2. Man needed help to fulfill the purpose for which God created him (2:8)
This section of Hebrews anticipates the question, “If Christ is so superior, why did He become man?”
Man needed help to fulfill the purpose for which God created him (2:8)
Christ became man…
To taste of death (2:9)
To bring many sons to glory (2:10)
To qualify us as His brethren (2:11)
To destroy the devil and release men from bondage (2:14-15)
To be a merciful High Priest, able to aid those who are tempted (2:17-18)

3. Man Can Regain Through Christ What He Lost by Sin (Hebrews 2:5-8)
The world to come is not in subjection to angels, but to Christ (2:5; Eph. 1:20-23)
God originally put this world in subjection to man (2:6-8; Psalm 8:4-6; Gen. 1:26-28)
Man’s sin displaced him from this position (Genesis 3:16-19; cf. Romans 8:19-22)
Through Christ, man may be restored to what God created him to be (cf. 2:9-10)

4. Christ Became Flesh That He Might Restore Man (Hebrews 2:9-16)
Christ was MADE lower than the angels when He became man (2:9; Philippians 2:5-8)
He was made perfect through human suffering (2:10)
It was “fitting” for the Creator of the world to allow His Son to suffer for the world’s salvation!
He became the perfect captain, author, Prince and trailblazer of our salvation through suffering (12:2; Acts 3:15; 5:31; cf. Heb. 5:8-9)
Thayer’s Definitions: ἀρχηγός “the chief leader, prince…pioneer…the author”

5. Christ Became Flesh That He Might Restore Man (Hebrews 2:9-16)
Through Death He Destroyed the Devil and Delivered Man (2:11-16)
The sanctifier and the sanctified are all of one Father, family and brotherhood. (2:11)
Christ is “not ashamed to call them brethren” provided they are sanctified (2 Cor. 6:17-18)
This intimate relationship between Christ and His family was proclaimed long ago (2:12-13; cf. Psalm 22:22; 18:2; Isaiah 8:18)

6. Christ Became Flesh That He Might Restore Man (Hebrews 2:9-16)
Through Death He Destroyed the Devil and Delivered Man (2:11-16)
Because “the children” were flesh and blood, Christ partook of the same to deliver them from death and the Devil (2:14-15)
Through Jesus’ death, man is freed from Satan’s grip (Romans 8:3-4; Revelation 12:10-11).
Through Jesus’ death, man is released from the fear of death (1 Corinthians 15:53-57)
This help was not provided to angels, but to the seed of Abraham (2:16; Galatians 3:29)

7. Christ is our Merciful and Faithful High Priest (Hebrews 2:17-18)
“THEREFORE,” Christ “had to be made like His brethren” to become a merciful and faithful High Priest (2:17) -- The function of a High Priest demands that He be one of us.
He approaches God to make propitiation (reconciliation, KJV) for the sins of the people.
Because He is like His brethren, He is both merciful and faithful as He performs His priestly duties.
Because He has been tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted (2:18)