Heb. 2:5-10, Christ Made Lower Than the Angels

To this point we have seen that Christ “has become” better than the angels (1:4), exalted to the right hand of the Majesty on high (1:3,13).  Since Christ is God, in what sense did He “become” better than the angels?  As the One who “made the worlds” He created the angels; He simply IS better than the angels.

Here is the answer.  He “has become” better than the angels because He was “made” a little lower than the angels.  God the Son became man, fully and completely.  Man is lower than the angels in power and nearness to God.  There are two things we must understand about this: what is man; and why did the Son of God become man?  We see the answers to these questions as we study Heb. 2.

·       To whom did God subject the world to come (2:6-8a; Psa. 8:4-6)?  It was not to angels (v5) but to man.  The proof of this is found in a well-known Psalm from which the writer quotes.  When you first read Ps. 8:4-6, and see that man was “crowned … with glory and honor” you might think of Genesis 1.  In Creation God gave man dominion over everything else that was created. 

·       How is this plan going so far (2:8b)? “But now we do not see all things put under him.”  Adam was disobedient to the Creator and sought to take His place.  Every man since Adam has failed to exercise this dominion faithfully.

·       What do we see that might be promising (2:9)?  We see Jesus!  What is it about Jesus that is so promising?  First, we see Jesus in His humanity.  What man is, the Man Jesus became: “a little lower than the angels.”  In other words, Jesus fits perfectly the description of the one who was given dominion over Creation, as Psalm 8 put it.  Jesus is true Man.  Second, we see Jesus in His exaltation: “crowned with glory and honor.”  God has sent His Son to be the Man “appointed heir of all things” (Hb. 1:2). 

·       Why was He, the One superior to the angels, made lower than the angels?  Why did the Son of God have to become Man (2:9)? He became Man so that He could die.  The eternal God cannot die.  So, out of His great love, God became Man.   Thus, not only could He die; He could “taste death for everyone.” 

·       Why did this require death, the suffering of death, the tasting of death (2:10)?  Because it is fitting; it makes sense.  First, it fits who Christ is, as the heir of all things (“for whom are all things”) and the creator of all things (“by whom are all things”).  His death is the way those who are ashamed, who failed to exercise dominion over God’s Creation, can be crowned with glory.  Through His death He brings “many sons to glory.”  Furthermore, His humanity and suffering is the means by which His sacrifice will be acceptable.  He becomes the perfected “captain of their salvation.”

There is much more to say about this.  But already we are seeing in Hebrews a magnificent picture of a magnificent Lord and Savior!  Christ is the true God/Man!