Heb 2:1-3 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Heb 2:1-4: 2:1-4 The author makes an argument from lesser to greater: If, in the lesser situation of the Old Testament era, people who rejected God’s word as delivered by angels were severely punished, how much greater the punishment will be for those who now reject the word of salvation that has been delivered by the Son himself and confirmed by the Holy Spirit. 2:1 The truth we have heard is the message of salvation delivered through Christ (2:3 ). • Drift away pictures a ship getting off course. Here it speaks of getting off track spiritually due to not listening very carefully to the Good News.

Summary for Heb 2:1-4: 2:1-4 ^a The author makes an argument from lesser to greater: If, in the lesser situation of the Old Testament era, people who rejected God’s word as delivered by angels were severely punished, how much greater the punishment will be for those who now reject the word of salvation that has been delivered by the Son himself and confirmed by the Holy Spirit. 2:1 ^b The truth we have heard is the message of salvation delivered through Christ (2:3 ^c).

• Drift away pictures a ship getting off course. Here it speaks of getting off track spiritually due to not listening very carefully to the Good News.
2:2 ^d According to Jewish tradition, the message God delivered, the law given on Mount Sinai (see Acts 7:38 ^e; Gal 3:19 ^f), was delivered through angels.

• Violation of the law was punished (see Exod 22:19 ^g; Lev 20:10 ^h; Num 35:16-21 ⁱ), and punishment was inescapable (Prov 1:24-31 ^j; Jer 11:11 ^k).
2:3 ^l So what makes us think we can escape? Here the author presses the full force of the danger of turning away from Christ and his salvation. There is no escape from punishment for those who walk away, and the punishment will be of the greatest severity (cp. 6:4-12 ^m; 10:26-31 ⁿ; 12:29 ^o; Rom 2:5 ^p; 1 Thes 2:16 ^q).

• Salvation refers to God’s acts on behalf of his people. For example, God saved his people through the exodus from Egypt (Deut 26:5-9 ^r). In the New Testament, salvation primarily refers to Christ’s work of rescuing people from the penalty of sin and giving them new life by his sacrificial death on the cross (Heb 5:9-10 ^s). This salvation was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself (e.g., Matt 4:17 ^t; 9:35 ^u; Mark 1:15 ^v; Luke 13:1-5 ^w). He then delivered (or validated) the message through those who heard him speak (e.g., Mark 6:12 ^x; Acts 2:38 ^y; 3:19-20 ^z).