Art Toombs Ministries
Online Bible Commentary
The Superiority of Christ Over Man
Hebrews 2:5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? 7 You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. (NKJV)
The early Eastern Church (Dionysius and Clement, both of Alexandria), from the very beginning, claimed Paul was the writer of Hebrews. The Western Church later agreed.
Luke translated the letter to the Hebrews into Greek, according to Clement in the second century. Luke was with Paul during his second Roman imprisonment and was his amanuensis during Paul’s final days (2 Timothy 4:11). It is logical to assume that Luke was also Paul’s amanuensis for this letter.
The anonymity of the letter could have been on purpose, because of Luke’s (and possibly Timothy’s and Mark’s) contributions. Or, the anonymity may have been because of Paul’s unpopularity among Jews, or because of the persecution of Paul, and other Christians, by Nero in Rome.
My conclusion is that this was Paul’s last writing, written in late 67-early 68 A.D. However, the identity of the writer is not crucial. The author of all Scripture is God, the Holy Spirit.
The subject of the Book of Hebrews is two-fold. The first part, Heb. 1:1-10:18, references the superiority of Christ. The second part, Heb. 10:19-13:25, references exhortations to obedient living.
.Prior to this passage the writer wrote of the superiority of Christ over the prophets and the angels. In this passage he writes of the superiority of Christ over man.
This passage begins by Paul writing “For He has not put the world to come” (v. 5a). “The world to come” is a reference to the second coming of Christ when He will set up His kingdom on earth. This is the thousand-year period that we call the Millennium.
Paul continues with “about which we are speaking” (v. 5b). This phrase refers to the previous passage, specifically the age of Salvation. The Millennium is when the Salvation of Christians comes full circle as their spirits are reunited with their bodies and they return to earth to rule with the Lord.
Verses 6-8a quote Psalm 8: 4-6, a Psalm of David. Paul writes “But one testified in a certain place, saying” (v. 6a), a reference to David.
Next, he quotes "What is man that You are mindful of him” (v. 6b). The word translated “man” is the Hebrew word “enos” which means the mortal, frail, or weak condition of mankind.
Paul continues “Or the son of man that You take care of him?” (v. 6c). In contrast, the word translated “man” in the context of “son of man” is the Hebrew word “adam” which refers to mankind in general.
The Lord is “mindful” of frail man, meaning that He remembers the sin of mankind. Also, the Lord cares for “the son of man”, mankind itself.
Jesus also is referred to as the Son of man, a reference to Him being the second Adam. However, that is not the usage in this verse, as evidenced by the translator’s lack of capitalization.
Paul writes “You have made him a little lower than the angels” (v. 7a). The “son of man”, mankind, was made “a little lower than the angels” by Jesus, meaning that they are lower in rank to angels. This is a reference to the fact that mankind must face death.
Paul continues “You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet." (vv. 7b-8a). Even though mankind was made lower than the angels, God crowned them “with glory and honor”. In other words, mankind was given dominion over all the earth by God in the beginning (Gen. 1:28-30).
Paul continues “For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him.” (v. 8b). Dominion to use the earth was given to mankind, in trust from God.
Paul writes “But now we do not yet see all things put under him” (v 8c). Mankind does not yet have complete dominion, but this phrase leaves open that possibility to a Holy mankind in the Millenium.
Paul continues “But we see Jesus” (v. 9a). Now, “we see Jesus”, the second Adam, having ultimate dominion over all the earth. Also, the human nature that Christ assumed can still be seen in Heaven, He has retained it.
Paul writes “who was made a little lower than the angels” (v. 9b). Jesus was “made a little lower than the angels”, for 33 years, because of having to face death, like mankind.
The incarnate Jesus faced death. Incarnation was the act of Jesus becoming flesh, making Him wholly man and wholly God. On the other hand, the Divine Jesus, unlike mankind, was never lower in rank to angels because of His divinity.
Paul continues by writing “for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor” (v. 9c). Jesus is “crowned with glory and honor” because he suffered death to pay for the sin of man. For Jesus, the cross led to the crown.
Paul completes this passage with “that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone (v. 9d). By the grace of God, Jesus tasted death for everyone.
The meaning of the Greek word translated “taste” is “to experience everything to the full.” Jesus experienced death to the full.
His death was the ultimate death, not only in terms of physical suffering, but also emotional death because he took the weight of the sin of the world upon himself. His death was so excruciating that He thought God the Father had forsaken Him.
Jesus died for the sins of “everyone”, yours and mine. He died to pay the penalty for our sin, so that we do not have to.
The penalty for sin is eternal separation from God, in Hell. When we accept His sin sacrifice, we are seen as righteous in His eyes and are eligible to enter His Holy Heaven.
Christ has made the path for us, but it is up to us to walk down that path, with the help of His Holy Spirit.