Journal: Southern Baptist Journal of Theology
Volume: SBJT 24:1 (Spring 2020)
Article: Leading Many To Glory: An Exposition Of Hebrews 2:5–3:3
Author: Jonathan I. Griffiths

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Leading Many To Glory: An Exposition Of Hebrews 2:5–3:31

Jonathan I. Griffiths

Jonathan I. Griffiths is Lead Pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Ottawa, Canada, having formerly served on the staff of the Proclamation Trust in London, England. He studied theology at the University of Oxford and completed his PhD on Hebrews at the University of Cambridge. Among other published works, he is author of Living by Faith in Turbulent Times (H&E, 2020), Preaching in the New Testament: An Exegetical and Biblical-Theological Study (IVP, 2017), Hebrews and Divine Speech (Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2014), Teaching 2 Timothy (Christian Focus, 2014), and is editor of The Perfect Saviour: Key themes in Hebrews (IVP, 2012.)

Some time ago the international media came alight with the news that members of Britain’s royal family had eschewed the private jet and flown on a commercial airline for their summer getaway. Fellow passengers on the budget flight could hardly believe that the royals had come so low, sharing their flight and traveling alongside them. When people of noble birth or celebrity fame are found walking among us, we are often fascinated and surprised. At the heart of the Bible’s message is the startling news the news that the eternal Son of God was born in a stable, lived among us, and gave his life on a Roman cross. The second chapter of Hebrews invites us to give careful thought to that stunning reality.

The prologue and main opening section of Hebrews (1:1–2:4) address the dignity of Jesus Christ and the degree of his exaltation.2 Comparing Jesus to the angels (as respective agents of divine revelation), chapter 1 demonstrates that Jesus is not only the promised King of Israel, but the King who is truly and ontologically the Son of God. As the true Son of God, he is the

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most exalted person in the entire universe. Therefore, Hebrews reasons, we need to listen carefully to the salvation message he brings (2:1–4). The first readers of Hebrews (who were likely believers from a Jewish background) needed to hear that message. They were evidently coming under pressure to treat the Old Testament (OT) Law as the final and complete body of divine revelation, and in so doing to set aside the gospel revealed by Jesus and return once more to the rites and rituals of the OT Law. They needed to see that the promised Messiah would not simply be called God’s “son” as a somewhat h...