Overview of Hebrews 1:5–2:18

The prologue’s concluding affirmation that the Son surpasses the angels leads to an extended discussion of the relationship of the Son to the angels. First, a series of seven OT quotations shows the Son’s superiority to angels in terms of his title (1:5), their obligation to worship him (1:6), their servant role (1:7), his divine reign (1:8–9) and immutability (1:10–12), and, finally, his enthronement at God’s right hand (1:13). A concluding comment on the angels reaffirms their role as servants to those who will inherit salvation through the Son (1:14). Second, the core exhortation of this section (2:1–4) shows the preacher’s purpose in contrasting the Son to the angels: God’s word came through both—the law through angels at Sinai, and the word of salvation through the Lord (the Son) in his incarnation. Third (2:5–9), at his incarnation the Son assumed human nature, becoming for a little while lower than angels, fitting the description of humanity in Psalm 8:5–7. The purpose of the Son’s voluntary condescension was to “[bring] many sons to glory” (Heb. 2:10) by destroying the one who enslaves his human “brothers” (2:11–16), making propitiation for their sins, and providing aid as their merciful and faithful High Priest (2:17–18).