Apr 4, 2021
Originally Presented: October 23, 2016
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 2:1-4
To this point in Hebrews there has been no command. The author did not tell his readers to do anything in the first chapter. It was all declaration, wonderful declaration, about the glorious supremacy of Jesus. He is the radiance of the glory of God. Now comes some implications which issue from what is being said in chapter one about Jesus. There is a command in these four verses and there is a very sober warning in these four verses.
The command is to pay close attention to "what we have heard" which, in this context, is the gospel of Christ. There is the possibility for some readers of this book to "drift away" from the truth and "neglect such a great salvation." The command is for readers to give themselves, mind and heart, to the truths about Christ, who has been shown in the first chapter to be supreme.
The warning here is that people who neglect Christ will not escape the great judgment to come. There is no escape from God's righteous bar of justice. He will mete out His justice, just as His holy character requires.
For those who are Christians, this sober warning is a reminder to us of the supreme value of Christ. We are encouraged here to plumb the depths of the value and beauty and wonder of Jesus and His salvation. There is certainly a strong application to Christians in the words "we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard" (Heb 2:1). Such diligent study of our Savior and His salvation deepens our faith and reverence and joy and thankfulness.