The epistle to the Hebrews is, by its writer's own description, primarily a "word of exhortation." He was eager to stir his readers to a complete response toward Christ and the gospel.
The first chapter presents the author's evidence that God's Son is superior to the prophets as a spokesman for God and is superior to angels in the way that a Son is superior to a servant. The first part of chapter two emphasizes the resulting obligation to pay close attention to what the Son has said (Hebrews 2:1-4). This is evidently a reference to the gospel originally spoken by Christ (Hebrews 2:3) and repeated by the apostles and prophets.
The need to pay close attention is illustrated by the mention of the "word spoken through angels", which is a reference to the Old Testament revelation. The writer uses the term "word" to describe that message instead of "law" in order to characterize it as a gracious manifestation of the divine will. The fact that angels were connected with the giving of that revelation is indicated by Stephen in Acts 7:53 and by Paul in Galatians 3:19. Even that message mediated by angels proved certain.
When it was violated the law brought upon the violators exactly the penalties which it threatened. Think of the punishment given to Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-7), to Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Numbers 16), to Achan and his family (Joshua 7), and also, by predicted historical judgments, the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah. No transgression and no disobedience when unaccounted for.
Building on the truth of the authority of the Old Testament, the writer asks, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" The word "we" is emphatic: we to whom God has spoken through His Son. The gospel message does not, as some think, lessen our responsibilities. The word spoken through the Son is a word to which we simply must pay heed. We cannot afford to neglect it, that is to lose interest in and decline from doing what one knows. It is not rejecting but treating the word carelessly. It is neglecting to give the great salvation the supremacy which it claims. It is this attitude which renders escape impossible.
The salvation which may be neglected is called great because it was first spoken by the Lord, not by angels. The message of salvation is not made up of guessings and gropings after God, but it is made clear by God Himself speaking through Jesus Christ, His Son. The salvation is great because the One who first spoke it is so great. He is greater than angels, than Moses, than Joshua, than the Levitical priesthood. He mediates a better covenant and serves in a better tabernacle than the one the Old Testament priests knew.
The great salvation was confirmed to the readers by people who heard the Lord as He spoke. The point here is to emphasize the accuracy and trustworthiness with which the salvation message has been handed on from generation to generation. God also bore witness to the truthfulness of the message by attesting signs, wonders and miracles.
The danger of neglecting this great salvation today as real as it was in the first century. It is extremely important, then, how one treats this word spoken by Jesus Christ. That word can be identified essentially as the New Testament (John 16:13). The New Testament can be accepted as a reliable and accurate record of Jesus' teaching.
This small volume tells us of the birth of God's promised Son to a virgin named Mary. It tells of His life, with special emphasis on the last three years, in which He was being tempted in all possible ways but not sinning. He was killed by being hung on a cross, but instead of putting an end to Him, He was raised from the dead on the third day and became the source of salvation to those who have a genuine, obedient faith (Hebrews 11:6; 5:9). He was taken into heaven and seated at God's right hand and made head over all things to the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). That means that He tells how to enter the church, how to worship in the church and h0w to live as members of the church. Anyone neglecting, or rejecting, His word is in serious danger.
The writer of Hebrews shows this danger by recounting the failure of Israel to enter the Promised Land because they did not believe or obey God (Heb. 3:18ff). Let us learn from their failure. Let us give diligence to enter that rest God has prepared for us by giving proper heed to the word of Christ (John 12:44-50).
Gospel Advocate - July 18, 1985