Near to the Heart of GodNear to the Heart of GodA Study of the Book of HebrewsA Study of the Book of Hebrews

Lesson 4Hebrews 2:1-4

Words of Warning and Exhortation

I.I. IntroductionIntroductionA. A comment from a seminary professor, and a bridge

that gave wayB. Where we are in Hebrews:

God has spoken through His Son Who is higher

than the angels (1:1-14)

Exhortation: Listen well! (2:1-4)

The Son became “lower than the angels” to save

sinners (2:5-18)

C. This is the first “warning text” in Hebrews

II.II. Hebrews 2:1 Hebrews 2:1 Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

A. Therefore” looks back to chapter 1B. “We” – here is our first challenge

1. Does this refer to Jewish unbelievers (Mac Arthur)?2. Does this refer to believers?3. Does this refer to the church, composed primarily of

believers?4. What does Hebrews tell us?

II.II. Hebrews 2:1 and the meaning of “we”Hebrews 2:1 and the meaning of “we”

1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, take note of Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess, 2 who is faithful to the one who appointed him, as Moses was also in God’s house (Hebrews 3:1-2).

12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God. 13 But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may become hardened by sin’s deception. 14 For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial confidence firm until the end (Hebrews 3:12-14).

9 But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we are convinced of better things relating to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints. 11 But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:9-12).

32 But remember the former days when you endured a harsh conflict of suffering after you were enlightened. 33 At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and afflictions, and at other times you came to share with others who were treated in that way. 34 For in fact you shared the sufferings of those in prison, and you accepted the confiscation of your belongings with joy, because you knew that you certainly had a better and lasting possession. 35 So do not throw away your confidence, because it has great reward. 36 For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised (Hebrews 10:32-36).

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, 2 keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up. 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed in your struggle against sin. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you. 6 “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he accepts” (Hebrews 12:1-6).

• Let love of brethren continue (13:1)• Don’t neglect hospitality (13:2)• Remember the prisoners (13:3)• Be sexually pure (13:4)• Be free from the love of money (13:5-6)• Remember your leaders (13:7)• Don’t be carried away with strange teachings (13:9)• In Christ, offer up a sacrifice of praise (13:15)• Obey your leaders (13:17)

20 Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen. 22 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly (Hebrews 13:20-22).

II.II. Hebrews 2:1Hebrews 2:1

Therefore we must pay closer attention to what wehave heard, so that we do not drift away.

A. “Therefore” looks back.B. “We must” = necessity of corrective actionC. The reason for attentiveness: because God has

spoken fully and finally in His Son, who is “higher than the angels.”

D. Some attention has been paid, but not enough.E. Closer attention is required because there has

been “neglect” (v. 3) of the Word.

Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

A. “From it” (NASB, ESV) is supplied.B. What does it mean to “drift away”?

1. To “slip away” 2. To go in the wrong direction3. *To drift (as a ship that is carried off by the

current)

(Guthrie, p. 84)

“That church’s experience 2,000 years ago intersects our lives in this way: drifting is the besetting sin of our day. And as the metaphor suggests, it is not so much intentional as from unconcern. Christians neglect their anchor – Christ – and begin to quietly drift away. There is no friction, no dramatic sense of departure. But when the winds of trouble come, the things of Christ are left far behind, even out of sight. The writer of Revelation uses different language, but refers to the same thing when he says to the ostensibly healthy Ephesian church, ‘Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love’ (Revelation 2:4).”

R. Kent Hughes, p. 48.

“C. S. Lewis sagely remarked: ‘And as a matter of fact, if you examined a hundred people who had lost their faith in Christianity, I wonder how many of them would turn out to have been reasoned out of it by honest argument? Do not most people simply drift away?’” C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Macmillan, 1976, p. 124), as cited by Hughes, p. 48.

III.III. Hebrews 2:2-3aHebrews 2:2-3a2 For if the message spoken through angels proved tobe so firm that every violation or disobediencereceived its just penalty, 3 how will we escape if weneglect such a great salvation?

A. Spoken through angels1. Deuteronomy 33:2 (LXX)2. Acts 7:38, 533. Galatians 3:19

He said: The Lord came from Sinai and revealed himself to Israel from Seir. He appeared in splendor from Mount Paran, and came forth with ten thousand holy ones. With his right hand he gave a fiery law to them [ LXX: on his right hand were his angels with him] (Deuteronomy 33:2).

This is the man who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors, and he received living oracles to give to you (Acts 7:38).

You received the law by decrees given by angels, but you did not obey it (Acts 7:53).

Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the descendant to whom the promise had been made. It was administered through angels by an intermediary (Galatians 3:19).

2 For if the message spoken through angelsproved to be so firm that every violation ordisobedience received its just penalty, 3 how willwe escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

B. “Such a great salvation”?1. The Old Testament law could not save, it could

only condemn (Romans 3).2. Neglecting the law brought punishment.3. Neglecting the New Testament (the gospel)

disregards our great salvation.

2 For if the message spoken through angelsproved to be so firm that every violation ordisobedience received its just penalty, 3 how willwe escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

C. Escape what?1. Disobedience to the law brought punishment

on believers (like David).2. Neglecting the New Testament also brings

punishment (1 Corinthians 5, 11).3. Thus, we will not escape “divine discipline.”

IV.IV. Hebrews 3b-4Hebrews 3b-4It was first communicated through the Lord and wasconfirmed to us by those who heard him, 4 whileGod confirmed their witness with signs and wondersand various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spiritdistributed according to his will.

A. Question: How do we know it is reliable communication?B. It was first spoken by the Lord.C. It was confirmed to the author and his

generation by those who heard it directly.D. God confirmed their witness.

V.V. Conclusion and ApplicationConclusion and ApplicationA. The danger of drifting

“The transcending concern of this warning text is for those who have heard. Even more, the concern is not for those who reject the gospel, but for those who ‘ignore’ it. The concern is for one’s attitude – the one who has let the greatness of Christ slip away – the one who no longer marvels at the atonement – the one who no longer has a desire for the Word – the one who really does not pray in his spirit – the one who is drifting back to where he came from and has little concern about his drifting.” Hughes, p. 52.

B. I am drifting when . . .1. My sense of wonder wanes2. Nearness to God is ancient history3. My love and desire for God’s Word falls short of what I

see in Psalm 1194. The realities of heaven and hell fade into the

background5. I am unaware of the ever present “pull” of the world,

the flesh, and the devil6. Prayer, Bible study, witnessing, and going to church

are a duty, not a delight7. The Lord’s Table is dull and preaching is boring8. My theology is in the fiction section of the library9. I lack joy and gratitude to God10. I’m looking for something “more” outside Scripture,

and outside of Christ

C. How to be an “Expositional Listener”1. Meditate on the sermon passage during your quiet

time.2. Invest in a good set of commentaries.3. Talk and pray with friends about the sermon after

church.4. Listen to and act on the sermon throughout the week.5. Develop the habit of addressing any questions about

the text itself.6. Cultivate humility.

Thabati M. Anyabwile, What is a Healthy Church Member? Pages 22-25

D. To those who have never “dropped anchor”

24 “Exert every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, ‘Lord, let us in!’ But he will answer you, ‘I don’t know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will reply, ‘I don’t know where you come from! Go away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves thrown out. 29 Then people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:24-29).

Copyright © 2008 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. This is the edited PowerPointpresentation of Lesson 4 in the series, Near to the Heart of God, A Study ofthe Book of Hebrews prepared by Robert L. Deffinbaugh for August 3, 2008.Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with orwithout credit.