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Commentary on Hebrews 2 verses 1–4
The apostle proceeds in the plain profitable method of doctrine, reason, and use, through this epistle. Here we have the application of the truths before asserted and proved; this is brought in by the illative particle therefore, with which this chapter begins, and which shows its connection with the former, where the apostle having proved Christ to be superior to the angels by whose ministry the law was given, and therefore that the gospel dispensation must be more excellent than the legal, he now comes to apply this doctrine both by way of exhortation and argument.
I. By way of exhortation: Therefore we ought to give the more diligent heed to the things which we have heard, Heb 2:1. This is the first way by which we are to show our esteem of Christ and of the gospel. It is the great concern of every one under the gospel to give the most earnest heed to all gospel discoveries and directions, to prize them highly in his judgment as matters of the greatest importance, to hearken to them diligently in all the opportunities he has for that purpose, to read them frequently, to meditate on them closely, and to mix faith with them. We must embrace them in our hearts and affections, retain them in our memories, and finally regulate our words and actions according to them.
II. By way of argument, he adds strong motives to enforce the exhortation.
1.From the great loss we shall sustain if we do not take this earnest heed to the things which we have heard: We shall let them slip. They will leak, and run out of our heads, lips, and lives, and we shall be great losers by our neglect. Learn, (1.) When we have received gospel truths into our minds, we are in danger of letting them slip. Our minds and memories are like a leaky vessel, they do not without much care retain what is poured into them; this proceeds from the corruption of our natures, the enmity and subtlety of Satan (he steals away the word), from the entanglements and snares of the world, the thorns that choke the good seed. (2.) Those meet with an inconceivable loss who let gospel truths, which they had received, slip out of their minds; they have lost a treasure far better than thousands of gold and silver; the seed is lost, their time and pains in hearing lost, and their hopes of a good harvest lost; all is lost, if the gospel be lost. (3.) This consideration should be a strong motive both to our attention to the gospel and our retention of it; and indeed, if we do not well attend, we shall not long retain the word of God; inattentive hearers will soon be forgetful hearers.
2.Another argument is taken from the dreadful punishment we shall incur if we do not do this duty, a more dreadful punishment than those fell under who neglected and disobeyed the law, Heb 2:2, Heb 2:3. Here observe, (1.) How the law is described: it was the word spoken by angels, and declared to be stedfast. It was the word spoken by angels, because given by the ministration of angels, they sounding the trumpet, and perhaps forming the words according to God's direction; and God, as judge, will make use of the angels to sound the trumpet a second time, and gather all to his tribunal, to receive their sentence, as they have conformed or not conformed to the law. And this law is declared to be stedfast; it is like the promise, yea and amen; it is truth and faithfulness, and it will abide and have its force whether men obey it or no; for every transgression and disobedience will receive a just recompence of reward. If men trifle with the law of God, the law will not trifle with them; it has taken hold of the sinners of former ages, and will take hold of sinners in all ages. God, as a righteous governor and judge, when he had given forth the law, would not let the contempt and breach of it go unpunished; but he has from time to time reckoned with the transgressors of it, and recompensed them according to the nature and aggravation of their disobedience. Observe, The severest punishment God ever inflicted upon sinners is no more than what sin deserves: it is a just recompence of reward; punishments are as just, and as much due to sin as rewards are to obedience, yea, more due than rewards are to imperfect obedience. (2.) How the gospel is described. It is salvation, a great salvation; so great salvation that no other salvation can compare with it; so great that none can fully express, no, nor yet conceive, how great it is. It is a great salvation that the gospel discovers, for it discovers a great Saviour, one who has manifested God to be reconciled to our nature, and reconcilable to our persons; it shows how we may be saved from so great sin and so great misery, and be restored to so great holiness and so great happiness. The gospel discovers to us a great sanctifier, to qualify us for salvation and to bring us to the Saviour. The gospel unfolds a great and excellent dispensation of grace, a new covenant; the great charter-deed and instrument is settled and secured to all those who come into the bond of the covenant. (3.) How sinning against the gospel is described: it is declared to be a neglect of this great salvation; it is a contempt put upon the saving grace of God in Christ, making light of it, not caring for it, not thinking it worth their while to acquaint themselves with it, not regarding either the worth of gospel grace or their own want of it and undone state without it; not using their endeavours to discern the truth of it, and assent to it, nor to discern the goodness of it, so as to approve of it, or apply it to themselves. In these things they discover a plain neglect of this great salvation. Let us all take heed that we be not found among those wicked wretched sinners who neglect the grace of the gospel. (4.) How the misery of such sinners is described: it is declared to be unavoidable (Heb 2:3): How shall we escape? This intimates, [1.] That the despisers of this salvation are condemned already, under arrest and in the hands of justice already. So they were by the sin of Adam; and they have strengthened their bonds by their personal transgression. He that believeth not is condemned already, Joh 3:18. [2.] There is no escaping out of this condemned state, but by accepting the great salvation discovered in the gospel; as far those who neglect it, the wrath of God is upon them, and it abides upon them; they cannot disengage themselves, they cannot emerge, they cannot get from under the curse. [3.] That there is a yet more aggravated curse and condemnation waiting for all those who despise the grace of God in Christ, and that this most heavy curse they cannot escape; they cannot conceal their persons at the great day, nor deny the fact, nor bribe the judge, nor break the prison. There is no door of mercy left open for them; there will be no more sacrifice for sin; they are irrecoverably lost. The unavoidableness of the misery of such is here expressed by way of question: How shall we escape? It is an appeal to universal reason, to the consciences of sinners themselves; it is a challenge to all their power and policy, to all their interest and alliances, whether they, or any for them, can find out, or can force out, a way of escape from the vindictive justice and wrath of God. It intimates that the neglecters of this great salvation will be left not only without power, but without plea and excuse, at the judgment-day; if they be asked what they have to say that the sentence should not be executed upon them, they will be speechless, and self-condemned by their own consciences, even to a greater degree of misery than those fell under who neglected the authority of the law, or sinned without the law.
3.Another argument to enforce the exhortation is taken from the dignity and excellency of the person by whom the gospel began to be spoken (Heb 2:3): It began at first to be spoken by the Lord, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is Jehovah, the Lord of Life and glory, Lord of all, and as such possessed of unerring and infallible wisdom, infinite and inexhaustible goodness, unquestionable and unchangeable veracity and faithfulness, absolute sovereignty and authority, and irresistible power. This great Lord of all was the first who began to speak it plainly and clearly, without types and shadows as it was before he came. Now surely it may be expected that all will reverence this Lord, and take heed to a gospel that began to be spoken by one who spoke so as never man spoke.
4.Another argument is taken from the character of those who were witnesses to Christ and the gospel (Heb 2:3, Heb 2:4): It was confirmed to us by those that heard him, God also bearing them witness. Observe, (1.) The promulgation of the gospel was continued and confirmed by those who heard Christ, by the evangelists and apostles, who were eye and ear-witnesses of what Jesus Christ began both to do and to teach, Act 1:1. These witnesses could have no worldly end or interest of their own to serve hereby. Nothing could induce them to give in their evidence but the Redeemer's glory, and their own and others' salvation; they exposed themselves by their testimony to the loss of all that was dear to them in this life, and many of them sealed it with their blood. (2.) God himself bore witness to those who were witnesses for Christ; he testified that they were authorized and sent by him to preach Christ and salvation by him to the world. And how did he bear them witness? Not only by giving them great peace in their own minds, great patience under all their sufferings, and unspeakable courage and joy (though these were witnesses to themselves), but he bore them witness by signs, and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his will. [1.] With signs, signs of his gracious presence with them, and of his power working by them. [2.] Wonders, works quite beyond the power of nature, and out of the course of nature, filling the spectators with wonder and admiration, stirring them up to attend to the doctrine preached, and to enquire into it. [3.] Divers miracles, or mighty works, in which an almighty agency appeared beyond all reasonable controversy. [4.] Gifts of the Holy Ghost, qualifying, enabling, and exciting them to do the work to which they were called - divisions or distributions of the Holy Ghost, diversities of gifts, Co1 12:4, etc. And all this according to God's own will. It was the will of God that we should have sure footing for our faith, and a strong foundation for our hope in receiving the gospel. As at the giving forth of the law there were signs and wonders, by which God testified the authority and excellency of it, so he witnessed to the gospel by more and greater miracles, as to a more excellent and abiding dispensation.
The design of Judas concerning the betrayal of our Lord and Savior did not originate in the wickedness of his mind alone. For Scripture testifies that the "devil had already put it into his heart to betray him." On this account Solomon rightly commanded, saying, "Keep your heart with all diligence." And the apostle Paul warns us: "Therefore we ought to pay closer attention to the things which we have heard, lest by chance we drift away."
“Therefore we must pay the closer attention to what we have heard” from the Son, “lest we drift away” just like the former people. “If,” because of that message declared through the angel in Sodom, those who did not want to listen to it “received the penalty of punishment, then how can we be saved, if we neglect so great a new life?”
Why ought we to "give more earnest heed to the things which we have heard"? were not those former things of God, as well as these? Either then he meaneth "more earnest" than [to] the Law, or "very earnest"; not making comparison, God forbid. For since, on account of the long space of time, they had a great opinion of the Old Covenant, but these things had been despised as yet new, he proves (more than his argument required) that we ought rather to give heed to these. How? By saying in effect, Both these and those are of God, but not in a like manner. And this he shows us afterwards: but for the present he treats it somewhat superficially, but afterwards more clearly, saying "For if that first covenant had been faultless", and many other such things: "for that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." But as yet he ventures not to say any such thing in the beginning of his discourse, nor until he shall have first occupied and possessed his hearer by his fuller [arguments].
Why then ought we "to give more earnest heed"? "Lest at any time," saith he, "we should let them slip" - that is, lest at any time we should perish, lest we should fall away. And here he shows the grievousness of this falling away, in that it is a difficult thing for that which hath fallen away to return again, inasmuch as it hath happened through wilful negligence. And he took this form of speech from the Proverbs. For, saith he, "my son [take heed] lest thou fall away," showing both the easiness of the fall, and the grievousness of the ruin. That is, our disobedience is not without danger. And while by his mode of reasoning he shows that the chastisement is greater, yet again he leaves it in the form of a question, and not in the conclusion. For indeed this is to make one's discourse inoffensive, when one does not in every case of one's self infer the judgment, but leaves it in the power of the hearer himself to give sentence: and this would render them more open to conviction. And both the prophet Nathan doth the same in the Old [Testament], and in Matthew Christ, saying, "What will He do to the husbandmen" of that vineyard? so compelling them to give sentence themselves: for this is the greatest victory.
And having spoken concerning the Son, both what related to the Economy, and what related to the Creation, and to His sovereignty, and having shown His co-equal dignity, and that as absolute Master He ruleth not men only but also the powers above, he next exhorts them, having made out his argument, that we ought to give heed to the things which have been heard. "Wherefore we ought to give more earnest heed" (saith he) "to the things which we have heard." Why "more earnest"? Here he meant "more earnest" than to the Law: but he suppressed the actual expression of it, and yet makes it plain in the course of reasoning, not in the way of counsel, nor of exhortation. For so it was better.
Because, he says, the one who has spoken to us, the Son, is so much greater than the prophets and the angels who served in the Old Testament, we must pay closer attention to what has been spoken by him, rather than as we were inclined to the law.
"Lest at any time we drift away." This is, let us not fall away from what is honorable and from the way that leads to salvation.
"The word spoken through angels." Either Paul speaks of the law as having been given through angels, as he also says in the Epistle to the Galatians: "Ordained through angels," (Gal. 3:19) or administered; or of those things which were said to others by angels: as concerning the Sodomites (Gen. 19:1), as concerning the lamentation in the book of Judges (2:1), when the angel of the Lord came to the Israelites and reproached them for their transgression. "It was necessary," he said, "to remove all these nations from the midst, but you also made treaties with them: therefore the Lord will not destroy the nations that have been left behind." Upon hearing this, they all wept with one heart: therefore, the place was called the Place of Weeping.
But he says, this is of such a nature. For if those things predicted by angels have happened and have come to pass, how much more will those things predicted by the Son of God happen?
“just retribution.” Not that one thing is, and another is not; but every transgression and disobedience received its just retribution, that is, a reward, and nothing remained unpunished. He calls punishment a wage, although normally the term wage is applied to a favorable name; but the apostle does not concern himself with niceties of words.
“how shall we escape” He says, it is this: If what was spoken by angels in the Old Law proved of no effect, and all who sinned received their due, what excuse shall we have, seeing those who received it and yet were careless?
"For if we neglect so great a salvation.” Which does not promise earthly goods like the Old Testament, but the kingdom of heaven and adoption as sons. However, it speaks of salvation which has been demonstrated and revealed by Christ, that is, faith in Him. This, however, it called salvation, showing that what was in the old law was not salvific.
"It was first spoken by the Lord." Paul then shows that it is worthy of faith. For no one else, he says, was a minister of this, as was Moses in the old covenant, but Christ Himself.
"and was delivered to us by those who heard it." They were delivered and believed by those who heard. But who are those who heard? Clearly the divine disciples, the eyewitnesses who became ministers of the word, as Luke also says; for they certainly informed us. (Luke 1:2) Do not take offense; Paul does not say that he himself also heard from Christ, although he did hear.
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SUMMARY
Hebrews 2:1 serves as a profound and urgent exhortation, directly flowing from the preceding chapter's revelation of Christ's unparalleled supremacy. It implores believers to pay exceptionally diligent attention to the message of salvation received through God's Son, emphasizing the critical necessity of holding fast to these truths to prevent a gradual, perilous drift away from the faith. This verse underscores both the immense privilege of such a divine revelation and the grave responsibility that accompanies it, warning against the spiritual complacency that can lead to apostasy.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: The opening "Therefore" (Greek: διὰ τοῦτο, dia touto) in Hebrews 2:1 is a crucial logical connector, tying this urgent warning directly to the monumental theological exposition of Hebrews 1. Chapter 1 masterfully establishes the absolute superiority of Jesus Christ over all creation, particularly over angels, who were instrumental in mediating the Old Covenant Law. The author meticulously demonstrates Christ's divine nature, His role as Creator and Sustainer, and His ultimate heirship, presenting Him as God's final and most glorious revelation. If the Law, delivered by angels, commanded strict obedience and brought judgment for disobedience, the author argues, how much more serious is the responsibility to heed the message delivered by God's own Son? This verse thus marks a pivotal transition from Christological doctrine to practical application, highlighting the immense privilege and grave responsibility of having received such a divine and authoritative revelation.
Historical & Cultural Context: The original recipients of the Epistle to the Hebrews were likely Jewish Christians facing significant persecution and social pressure, possibly contemplating a return to Judaism to escape suffering. This context illuminates the urgency of the warning against "drifting away." The Old Covenant, with its elaborate rituals, temple worship, and ancestral traditions, held a strong pull. The author's detailed comparison of Christ's superiority to angels, Moses, and the Levitical priesthood was designed to solidify their faith in Christ as the fulfillment and ultimate reality of all that the Old Covenant foreshadowed. The danger of "letting slip" was not merely intellectual apathy but a practical temptation to abandon the demanding path of Christian discipleship for the perceived safety and familiarity of their former religious practices. The imagery of a ship drifting without an anchor would have resonated with a maritime culture, symbolizing the peril of losing one's spiritual moorings.
Key Themes: Hebrews 2:1 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Hebrews. Foremost is the Superiority of Christ's Revelation, underscoring that because the message came through Christ, it demands greater and more urgent attention than any previous revelation, including the Law given through angels (as seen in Hebrews 1:1-3). This leads directly to the theme of the Danger of Spiritual Drifting, which is the core warning—not a sudden, dramatic fall, but a gradual, imperceptible slipping away from the foundational truths of the gospel. The phrase "we ought to give the more earnest heed" emphasizes Personal Responsibility, placing the onus on the believer to actively engage with and hold fast to the gospel, echoing the call for diligence found in passages like Hebrews 4:11. Implicit in this is the theme of Perseverance in Faith, calling for sustained attention and unwavering commitment to the foundational truths of Christianity to avoid falling away from salvation, a theme powerfully developed throughout the book, particularly in warnings like Hebrews 3:12-13.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The author of Hebrews employs several powerful literary devices in Hebrews 2:1 to convey the urgency and gravity of the warning. The most prominent is Metaphor. The phrase "let them slip" (Greek: pararrhyéō) is a vivid nautical metaphor, likening the spiritual state of believers to a ship that drifts away from its moorings. This imagery suggests a gradual, often unnoticed, movement away from a secure position, rather than a sudden, deliberate departure. It emphasizes the insidious nature of spiritual apathy and neglect. Furthermore, the use of Logical Conjunction ("Therefore") creates a strong sense of Cause and Effect, linking the profound theological truths of Christ's supremacy in Hebrews 1 directly to the ethical imperative of diligent attention in Hebrews 2:1. This logical progression heightens the stakes, implying that to neglect such a great salvation, delivered by such a great Son, is an act of profound spiritual folly. The Intensifier "more earnest" (Greek: perissotérōs) also serves as a rhetorical device, emphasizing the extraordinary degree of attention required, thereby highlighting the unparalleled value and authority of the message received.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 2:1 stands as a crucial theological pivot, transforming the profound Christological declarations of Hebrews 1 into a compelling call for practical spiritual vigilance. The core theological implication is that the greater the revelation, the greater the responsibility. Because God has spoken definitively and supremely through His Son—a revelation far surpassing any prior communication, including that delivered by angels—the consequences of neglecting this ultimate word are commensurately severe. This verse underscores the active role of the believer in maintaining their spiritual footing, emphasizing that salvation, while sovereignly given, requires diligent heed and perseverance. It highlights the real danger of spiritual apathy and the insidious nature of drifting, which can lead to a loss of conviction and ultimately, a falling away from the living God. The warning is not against a single, dramatic sin, but a gradual, passive neglect of the profound truths that anchor the soul.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hebrews 2:1 serves as a timeless and urgent warning for all believers across generations. In a world saturated with distractions, competing ideologies, and the relentless pressures of daily life, it is remarkably easy to become complacent, allowing the profound and life-altering truths of the gospel to recede into the background of our consciousness. This verse is a clarion call to active engagement, not passive reception. It challenges us to move beyond merely hearing the Word of God to diligently studying it, meditating on its truths, and intentionally applying its principles to every facet of our lives. The danger of "letting slip" is not always a dramatic rejection of faith, but often a subtle, unnoticed erosion of conviction, a slow drift from the spiritual moorings that keep us anchored in Christ. Therefore, we are exhorted to cultivate a spirit of vigilance against spiritual lethargy, indifference, or a lack of earnestness. Recognizing the supreme value and divine authority of the message delivered by Jesus Christ, we are called to give it our utmost attention, reverence, and unwavering commitment. This requires regularly revisiting foundational truths, actively pursuing spiritual growth, and intentionally remaining anchored in Christ through prayer, community, and consistent engagement with His Word, lest we lose the profound benefits and assurance of our salvation.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "let them slip" mean in the context of Hebrews 2:1?
Answer: The phrase "let them slip" translates the Greek word pararrhyéō, which literally means "to flow past" or "to drift away." It conveys the idea of a ship drifting from its moorings or a stream flowing past its banks. In the context of Hebrews 2:1, it signifies a gradual, often unintentional, spiritual neglect or apathy that leads to a slow, imperceptible movement away from the truths of the gospel. It's not necessarily a conscious rejection or dramatic fall, but a passive inattention that can result in a loss of spiritual conviction and direction. This drifting is contrasted with the active, diligent attention ("earnest heed") that believers are called to maintain.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hebrews 2:1 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not merely as a warning, but as an urgent call rooted in the unparalleled person and work of Jesus Christ Himself. The "therefore" points directly back to Hebrews 1, which establishes Christ as the Son of God, the radiance of God's glory, the exact imprint of His nature, and the one who upholds the universe by the word of His power. He is superior to angels, prophets, and all creation. Because the message of salvation has been delivered by such an infinitely glorious and authoritative figure, the Son who is God's final and complete revelation (Hebrews 1:1-3), the responsibility to heed it is commensurately immense. To "let slip" such a message is to disregard the very voice of God, spoken through His Son, who is both the messenger and the message itself. Christ is not only the one who delivers the "things which we have heard" but He is the very content of those things – the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), the High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15), and the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Thus, the warning to "give the more earnest heed" is ultimately a call to anchor our lives firmly in Christ, recognizing that He alone is the secure mooring in a world prone to spiritual drift, and His finished work on the cross is the foundational truth upon which all our hope and perseverance depend (Colossians 2:6-7).