Hebrews 2:3-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 2:1-4

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,... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 2:1-4

2:1-4 We must, therefore, with very special intensity pay attention to the things that we have heard. For, if the word which was spoken through the medium of the angels proved itself to be certified as valid, and if every transgression and disobedience of it received its just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, a salvation of such a kind that it had its origin in the words of the Lord, and was then guaranteed to us by those who had heard it from his lips, while... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 2:3

How shall we escape ,.... The righteous judgment of God, and eternal punishment: if we neglect so great salvation ? as the Gospel is, which is called salvation; in opposition to the law, which is the ministration of condemnation; and because it is a declaration of salvation by Christ; and is the means of bringing it near, and of the application of it in conversion, and so is the power of God unto it: and it is a "great" salvation; the Gospel which reveals it is great, for the author of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 2:4

God also bearing them witness ,.... The apostles of Christ; God testifying to their mission and commission, and the truth of the doctrine they preached: both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles ; such as taking up serpents without hurt, healing the sick, causing the lame to walk, and raising the dead, and casting out devils, and the like; all which were for the confirmation of the Gospel preached by them: a sign, wonder, or miracle, for these signify the same thing, is a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:3

How shall we escape - If they who had fewer privileges than we have, to whom God spoke in divers manners by angels and prophets, fell under the displeasure of their Maker, and were often punished with a sore destruction; how shall we escape wrath to the uttermost if we neglect the salvation provided for us, and proclaimed to us by the Son of God? Their offense was high; ours, indescribably higher. The salvation mentioned here is the whole system of Christianity, with all the privileges it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:4

God also bearing them witness - He did not leave the confirmation of these great truths to the testimony of men; he bore his own testimony to them by signs, wonders, various miracles, and distributions of the Holy Ghost, Πνευματος ' Αγιου μερισμοις . And all these were proved to come from himself; for no man could do those miracles at his own pleasure, but the power to work them was given according to God's own will; or rather, God himself wrought them, in order to accredit the ministry... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:3

Verse 3 3.If we neglect so great a salvation, etc. Not only the rejection of the Gospel, but also its neglect, deserves the heaviest punishment, and that on account of the greatness of the grace which it offers; hence he says, so great a salvation. God would indeed leave his gifts valued by us according to their worth. Then the more precious they are, the baser is our ingratitude when we do not value them. In a word, in proportion to the greatness of Christ will be the severity of God’s... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 2:4

Verse 4 4.God also bearing them witness, etc. In addition to the fact, that the Apostles had what they preached from the Son of God, the Lord also proved his approbation of their preaching by miracles, as by a solemn subscription. Then they who do not reverently receive the Gospel recommended by such testimonies, disregard not only the word of God, but also his works. He designates miracles, for the sake of amplifying their importance, by three names. They are called signs because they rouse... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 2:1-4

A solemn parenthetical warning. Out of solicitude for the spiritual well-being of his readers, the writer pauses here for a moment, to enforce upon them the necessity of' holding fast the New Testament salvation. He does so in words which are burning with urgency. I. THE DUTY . How prone men are to "neglect the great salvation" ( Hebrews 2:3 )! All classes of sinners do so—the blasphemer, the infidel, the self-righteous mart, the respectable worldling, the procrastinator.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 2:1-4

The superior privileges of Christians. "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to," etc. The "therefore" connects this chapter with the preceding. Because the Son of God is immeasurably greater than the angels, "we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard," etc. Our text presents to us a view of the superior privileges and the more solemn responsibilities of Christians as compared with those who lived in the earlier dispensation. We shall confine... read more

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