HEBREWS 2:16

“For clearly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendants of Abraham.”

Some people just don’t need your help, do they? You could offer all the help in the world, and they would decline it because they don’t see themselves as needing anything. I find that is true especially among the lost. And if they are affluent, they sure don’t think they need any help at all. I hate to bear it to them, but we all need help.

Today’s verse is a little puzzling at first read. Was the writer saying that Jesus didn’t help the angels but instead helped mankind? That is part of it, for sure, but that is not all of it. One scholar says, “the meaning is, that He did not seize the nature of angels, or take it to Himself with reference to rendering ‘them’ aid, but He assumed the nature of man – in order to aid ‘him.’ He undertook the work of human redemption, and consequently it was necessary for Him to be man.” (Barnes’ Notes on the Bible)

ASK QUESTIONS (Command to Obey, Promise to claim, Sin to avoid, Application to make, Something new about God)

Let’s call this verse Something new about God. God could have sent Jesus to earth in His heavenly form, and millions would have immediately fallen at His feet in fear. He could have appeared with the heavenly host in Bethlehem announcing God’s wrath upon all men unless they bowed to Him. But instead of taking that form, He chose the form of man. He came as a baby.

Philippians 2:5-8 spells this out very clearly, “5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.”

Aren’t you glad He chose to come like us? He not only appeared in human form, but He also came as a helpless baby born in a manger. God could have sent Him into Herod’s palace, but He chose to place His seed in a young virgin Jewish girl betrothed to a carpenter. God followed the lineage proclaimed throughout Scripture and not a Hollywood script that would have made a “bigger” story. Never underestimate the lowliness of our Savior. It was a chosen position for a specific purpose – so He could relate to everyone.

Lord, Your plans are always perfect and for that I praise You.