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Epiphany Season · Presentation of the Lord · Year C

Hebrews 2:14-18

Jesus Made Like His Brothers

February 2, 2028

The Harrowing of Hell, Kirill Ulanov
The Harrowing of Hell, Kirill Ulanov, 1713State Russian Museum, St Petersburg
Christ in golden robes stands in a white glory over the broken gates of hell and takes Adam and Eve by the hand, with kings, prophets and the righteous crowding in on either side.Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.Kirill UlanovA Russian icon painter who worked in Moscow at the turn of the 1700s, in the refined tradition of the Kremlin Armoury workshops.State Russian Museum, St PetersburgThe State Russian Museum in St Petersburg, which holds one of the largest collections of Russian icons in the world.State Russian Museum, St Petersburg
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 2:22-40Lk 2:22-40 or2:22-32
Second ReadingHeb. 2:14-18Heb 2:14-18
First ReadingMal. 3:1-4Mal 3:1-4
Responsorial PsalmPs. 24:7, 8 ,9, 10Ps 24:7, 8 ,9, 10

Overview & Insights

“He had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest.” (Hebrews 2:17)

Without question the greatest obstacle to the author’s argument about the superiority of the Son is the authentic humanity of the Son, which involved him in both suffering and death. For the first time our author uses the name of the man from Nazareth, Jesus (v. 9). The humanity, the suffering, and the death of Jesus all seem to point with unmistakable clarity to his inferiority in comparison with the angels. The matter obviously demands attention, if the author’s argument is to stand; and rather than shrinking from the problem, he effectively turns it to his advantage.

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Commentary

Commentary on Hebrews 2:14-18Commentary on Heb 2:14-18 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary on Jesus as pioneer and merciful high priest made perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 2:10-18 CommentaryHeb 2:10-18 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on salvation arriving through the frailty of Jesus' real human life.

Hebrews 2 CommentaryHeb 2 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse reading of Jesus sharing flesh and blood to free us from fear of death.

Hebrews 2:14 CommentariesHeb 2:14 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentary on Jesus partaking of flesh and blood to destroy the one who holds the power of death.

Hebrews 2:14-15 CommentaryHeb 2:14-15 Commentary Precept Austin

Deep verse by verse study notes on Christ's incarnation freeing believers from the fear of death.

Hebrews 2 - Barnes' NotesHeb 2 - Barnes' Notes StudyLight

Barnes' Notes verse by verse on the Son's incarnation and priestly ministry of mercy.

Background & Word Study

Hebrews 2:14 InterlinearHeb 2:14 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word by word with parsing for flesh, blood, and the power of death.

The Church Fathers

Hebrews 2 - Catena Bible & CommentariesHeb 2 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comment on the Son's solidarity with human flesh and blood.

Questions preachers ask

Why did the Son share our flesh and blood?

By taking our nature and death, Christ destroyed the one who held the power of death and freed those enslaved by fear, becoming a merciful high priest able to help the tempted.

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