Hebrews 2:16-18
16 For clearly He does not [a]give help to angels, but He gives help to the [b]descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He [c]had to be made like His brothers so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make [d]propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was [e]tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are [f]tempted.
1. Jesus has come to help us
a. The word help means to help take hold of, or grasps
b. The Son of God fully became human to save fallen humanity
c. We are created in His image
d. Angels are not
e. Jesus became flesh and blood to destroy the works of the devil
i. Hebrews 2:14-15 14 Therefore, since the children share in [a]flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
ii. As humanity we are enslaved to the fear of death
f. But through Christ we have forgiveness and freedom
g. The offspring or descendents of Abraham are not merely physical Jews
i. I believe here the writer of Hebrews points to all those who have come to saving faith
ii. Galatians 3:26-29: 26 For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is [a]neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you [b]belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s [c]descendants, heirs according to promise.
h. It is us Jesus has come to help and He has fully become human to take our place
2. Jesus has become our merciful and faithful High priest
a. The high priest was from the line of Aaron
i. He was appointed by Almighty God
ii. He was the only one who could enter the Holy of holies once a year on the day of Atonement
iii. He was the representive between God and the nation of Israel
1. Leviticus 8:6-9 6 Then Moses had Aaron and his sons come near, and he washed them with water. 7 Then he put the tunic on [a]Aaron and wrapped his waist with the sash, and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him; and he wrapped his waist with the artistic band of the ephod, [b]with which he fitted it to him. 8 He then placed the [c]breastpiece on him, and in the [d]breastpiece he put the [e]Urim and the Thummim. 9 He also placed the turban on his head, and on the turban, at its front, he placed the golden plate, the holy crown, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
b. The only way Jesus could become our High priest is by fully becoming man
i. Hebrews tells us he had to be made like his brothers in all things
1. That means He was flesh and bone
2. He had a human mind
3. He in every way fully became human but never stopped being God
4. He is The Son of Man but He is also The Son of God
c. By fully becoming man Jesus is both merciful and faithful
d. Merciful means both merciful and compassionate
i. The only way compassion is developed is to walk in someone’s shoes
ii. We truly don’t understand the hardship and pain someone has to endure unless we have walked in their shoes
iii. During Jesus earthly ministry it was often said He was moved with compassion
iv. During child birth many husbands may comfort their wives through the pain they experience but if they endured the pain themselves they would have a greater level of compassion
e. Jesus is our merciful High Priest
i. In fully becoming human He has walked in our shoes
ii. He has faced temptations as we have
iii. 1 Timothy 2:5 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
iv. It is through Christ alone that we are represented before the Father
f. Jesus is also our faithful High Priest
i. Faithful means trustworthy, faithful; trusting, believing. Describes a person or thing as characterized by trustworthiness or belief.
ii. Jesus will never fail us, abandon us, forsake us
iii. He is unchanging
iv. He is eternal
v. He is Almighty God
vi. He is sinless
vii. We can fully trust Jesus because of what He has done for us at Calvary
viii. He is our faithful High Priest because He is God Almighty who has fully become flesh and blood which means He is eternal, all knowing, and His power is without end
g. Jesus has made propitiation for our sins
i. Propitiation means to show mercy and make atonement
ii. Jesus has placated the wrath of God by taking the wrath we deserve upon Himself
iii. Our sin draws the wrath of God
iv. Romans 5:9-10 9 Much more then, having now been justified [a]by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved [b]by His life.
v. Jesus has reconciled us by taking on the wrath that we deserved
vi. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God
vii. Because of Jesus we are able to draw near to without fear and with boldness
3. Jesus is able to help us who are being tempted
a. During Jesus earthly ministry He faced temptation
b. The greatest temptation was to abandon the cross
c. Matthew 4:8-10 8 Again, the devil *took Him along to a very high mountain and *showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; 9 and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and [a]worship me.” 10 Then Jesus *said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and [b]serve Him only.’”
i. During Jesus time in the wilderness He was tempted by the devil to bow down
ii. Satan said he would give him the kingdoms of the world
iii. It was a temptation to avoid the cross
d. In the garden Jesus prayed three times if this cup can pass from me, but not my will but your will be done
i. Jesus walked in perfect obedience to The Father and His will
e. Today we are tempted by the devil to abandon our walk with Christ
i. To return to the world and fulfill the lust of the flesh
ii. Galatians 5:16-18 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
iii. Paul calls us to walk in the Spirit
f. The desires of our sinful nature will pull us away from the Lord and His plans for us
g. But our ability to overcome temptation is found in Jesus
i. Abiding in Christ
ii. Relying on His strength, power, and grace
Jesus is our merciful and faithful High Priest
This is something the author of Hebrews will begin to dive into over the next part of the book
As human beings we have failed God and we have sinned
Even after coming to Christ there are times when we have sinned and fallen short
Jesus understands our humanity
He understands our weakness
He understands all that we face
As we turn to Him and abide in Him
His very character and nature will be produced within us and the very things the enemy attacks us with will be used by God to shape and mold us