Why would the Son, whom Hebrews 1 describes as greater than the angels, become lower than the angels for a little while?
5. WHY DID GOD BECOME MAN?
Hebrews 2:5–18 — Why Jesus Shared Our Humanity
TEXT B4 TRADITION — READ FIRST. CONCLUDE LATER.
If Jesus is greater than the prophets...
And greater than the angels...
Why did He become a man?
Why would the One through whom God made the universe enter the world as a human being?
Why would He experience suffering, temptation, and death?
Hebrews gives us one of Scripture's clearest explanations.
Jesus became human so that He could accomplish what humanity could not accomplish for itself.
But let's examine the writer's argument before drawing our conclusions.
1. It Was Part of God's Plan — Hebrews 2:5
The writer begins:
“For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.” (KJV)
Remember what Hebrews has already established.
In chapter 1, Jesus is greater than the angels.
In Hebrews 2:1–4, the writer warns his readers not to neglect the salvation announced through Christ.
Now he returns to the subject of angels.
But his concern is no longer simply who is greater.
He is explaining God's purpose for humanity and how that purpose is fulfilled through Jesus.
What is “the world to come”?
The Greek expression refers to the coming inhabited world or order.
Some understand it primarily as the future world after Christ's return.
Others understand it as the new order inaugurated through Christ's exaltation, whose full blessings are still future.
Hebrews itself speaks of believers tasting “the powers of the world to come” (Hebrews 6:5), while also looking forward to a heavenly homeland and a lasting city (Hebrews 11:16; 13:14).
We should therefore recognize both the present reality of Christ's reign and the future completion of God's purposes.
The writer's immediate point is clear:
God has not placed the coming world under the authority of angels.
He is about to explain why that matters.
2. What Was God's Original Purpose for Humanity? — Hebrews 2:6–8
The writer quotes Psalm 8:4–6:
“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?”
“Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands.”
Psalm 8 originally celebrates the remarkable place God gave human beings within His creation.
David looks at the heavens and wonders why the Creator would pay attention to mankind.
Yet God made human beings in His image and entrusted them with responsibility over the earth (Genesis 1:26–28).
Is Psalm 8 originally about Jesus?
This is an important question.
In its original setting, Psalm 8 speaks about humanity.
The Hebrew expression translated “son of man” means a human being.
It does not necessarily function there as a special title for the Messiah.
But Hebrews sees the purpose described in Psalm 8 reaching its fulfillment in Jesus.
The writer begins with God's purpose for humanity and then shows how Jesus accomplishes that purpose.
This is an example of how a New Testament writer uses an Old Testament passage in light of Christ.
What does “lower than the angels” mean?
The Greek wording used in Hebrews can mean either lower in rank or lower for a little while.
In Hebrews 2:9, the temporary sense fits the writer's explanation of Jesus' humiliation and subsequent exaltation.
The quotation follows the Greek Old Testament's reference to angels, while the Hebrew of Psalm 8:5 uses elohim, which can be understood as God or heavenly beings.
That difference is worth recognizing.
It does not change the main argument.
Humanity was given a remarkable place in God's creation.
But something is wrong.
3. We Do Not Yet See Everything Subject to Humanity — Hebrews 2:8
After quoting Psalm 8, the writer observes:
“But now we see not yet all things put under him.” (KJV)
God intended humanity to exercise dominion under His authority.
But look at the world.
Human beings experience suffering, disorder, weakness, and death.
We do not see everything functioning under humanity's rightful rule.
The writer does not stop here to explain every consequence of Adam's sin.
Other passages, such as Romans 5:12–21, develop that subject more directly.
His point is simpler:
God's purpose for humanity has not yet reached its full realization.
But then comes one of the most important statements in Hebrews.
4. “But We See Jesus” — Hebrews 2:9
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” (KJV)
Notice the contrast.
We do not yet see everything subjected to humanity.
But we see Jesus.
The writer directs our attention from humanity's unfinished purpose to the One through whom that purpose will be fulfilled.
Why was Jesus made lower than the angels?
The writer connects His lower position with suffering and death.
Jesus truly shared human life.
He experienced the weakness and mortality of humanity.
He did not cease to be divine.
Rather, the eternal Son took on human nature.
Hebrews 1 has already described Him as the One through whom God made the ages and as the One who bears the divine glory.
Hebrews 2 now describes His genuine humanity.
Both truths belong together.
What does “taste death” mean?
It means to experience death.
Jesus did not merely appear to die.
He actually died.
The expression “for everyone” emphasizes the broad scope of His saving work.
This does not mean Hebrews teaches that everyone will automatically be saved regardless of response.
The letter repeatedly calls its readers to faith, perseverance, and obedience.
But Christ's death was not a minor event benefiting only a privileged few.
By God's grace, He experienced death on behalf of humanity.
What does “crowned with glory and honor” mean?
Jesus' suffering was followed by exaltation.
The One who experienced humiliation is now crowned with glory.
This agrees with Hebrews 1:3, where the Son sits at God's right hand.
The cross did not mark the failure of God's plan. It was part of the path to Christ's exaltation.
5. Why Was Suffering Involved? — Hebrews 2:10
The writer continues:
“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (KJV)
This verse raises an obvious question.
Was Jesus imperfect before He suffered?
No.
Hebrews does not suggest that Jesus was morally sinful and needed correction.
In Hebrews 4:15, the writer explicitly says He was without sin.
What does “made perfect” mean?
The Greek verb teleioō often carries the idea of bringing something to its intended goal or completion.
Jesus was brought to the full accomplishment of His saving mission through suffering.
He became fully qualified, through His lived human experience and obedient suffering, for the saving and priestly work described in Hebrews.
His moral character was not being repaired.
His mission was being completed.
Who is the “captain” of salvation?
The Greek word archēgos can describe a leader, pioneer, founder, or one who goes before others.
Jesus leads the way to glory.
He is not merely someone who tells others where to go.
He accomplishes the saving work that makes their entrance possible.
And notice God's purpose:
“Bringing many sons unto glory.”
The writer is connecting Jesus' suffering with God's intention to bring His people into the glory He has prepared for them.
6. Why Does Jesus Call Believers His Brothers? — Hebrews 2:11–13
The writer says:
“For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren.” (Hebrews 2:11, KJV)
Jesus is the One who sanctifies.
His people are those being sanctified.
The expression “all of one” has been understood in different ways, including shared humanity or a common Father.
The following quotations emphasize Jesus' solidarity with His people.
Three Old Testament connections
The writer quotes Psalm 22:22:
“I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.”
Psalm 22 begins with suffering and moves toward deliverance and praise.
Hebrews applies its language of brotherhood to Jesus.
Then the writer quotes Isaiah 8:17:
“I will put my trust in him.”
And Isaiah 8:18:
“Behold I and the children which God hath given me.”
In Isaiah's original setting, these words concern the prophet and the children associated with God's message.
Hebrews uses them to explain the relationship between Jesus and those God has given Him.
The point is not that Jesus is merely another ordinary human being.
The Son willingly identifies Himself with the people He came to save.
He Became Our Brother
Think about what the writer has just said.
The One through whom God created the universe is not ashamed to call believers His brothers and sisters.
The eternal Son of God identifies Himself with the people He came to save.
He did not remain distant from our human condition.
He entered it.
He became one of us so that we could belong to His family.
This does not mean believers become divine as Jesus is divine.
It means that through Christ we are welcomed into the family of God.
7. Why Did Jesus Share Flesh and Blood? — Hebrews 2:14
Now the writer answers our opening question more directly.
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” (KJV)
This verse gives us two important truths.
First, Jesus genuinely shared our humanity.
Second, He did so in order to accomplish something through death.
He Came to Die
Here is something remarkable.
Hebrews says Jesus shared our flesh and blood so that through death He could defeat the one who held the power of death.
The eternal Son did not become human merely to teach us about God.
He came to accomplish our salvation through His death.
God, in His divine nature, is not subject to death.
But the Son truly became human, and as a human being He could experience death.
That does not mean He stopped being God.
It means the divine Son genuinely shared our humanity, including our mortality.
He became human so that He could die for us.
That is one of the central answers Hebrews gives to our opening question.
He Defeated the Power of Death
The writer says that through death Jesus acted against the devil, who held the power of death.
The Greek verb katargeō, translated “destroy” in the KJV, can mean to render powerless, nullify, or bring to nothing.
It does not require the conclusion that Satan has ceased to exist.
The point is that Christ's death has decisively broken the devil's power in relation to death and those Christ saves.
Satan does not hold the final victory over those who belong to Christ.
The writer will explain the result in the next verse.
8. He Set Us Free from the Fear of Death — Hebrews 2:15
Jesus came to:
“Deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (KJV)
Death has frightened humanity throughout history.
People fear the pain of dying.
They fear losing those they love.
They fear the unknown.
And Scripture connects death with sin and judgment.
But Jesus entered the human condition and passed through death.
His resurrection and exaltation demonstrate that death does not have the final word.
Does this mean Christians never fear dying?
No.
The verse does not promise that believers will never experience anxiety about death.
It speaks of deliverance from slavery to that fear.
There is a difference between feeling afraid and being held in lifelong bondage.
The Christian hope rests in Christ's victory, not in our ability to remain fearless.
Christ gives His people a hope stronger than death.
We can face death knowing that it does not have the final word over those who belong to Him.
9. Whom Did Jesus Come to Help? — Hebrews 2:16
“For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.” (KJV)
This verse needs careful attention.
The traditional wording can sound as though the writer is directly discussing which nature Jesus assumed.
But the Greek verb epilambanomai commonly means to take hold of, grasp, or help.
Many modern translations therefore express the idea that Jesus does not come to the aid of angels but to the aid of Abraham's descendants.
That fits the surrounding argument.
Who are Abraham's descendants?
In the immediate setting, the phrase recalls God's promises to Abraham and his offspring.
Elsewhere, Paul explains that those who belong to Christ are Abraham's offspring and heirs according to the promise (Galatians 3:26–29).
Hebrews itself emphasizes faith as essential to sharing in God's promises.
We should not assume that the writer is limiting Christ's saving concern to ethnic Israelites alone.
His concern is the people whom Christ came to help.
Jesus came to rescue human beings, not to provide redemption for fallen angels.
10. Why Did Jesus Become a Merciful and Faithful High Priest? — Hebrews 2:17
The writer explains:
“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (KJV)
Here we reach another major theme of Hebrews.
Jesus is our High Priest.
The writer will develop this subject in later chapters.
But already we can see why His humanity matters.
A Merciful High Priest
Jesus knows human weakness through experience.
He understands suffering.
He knows what it means to be tested.
His mercy is not based on ignorance of our condition.
A Faithful High Priest
Jesus faithfully accomplished the work given to Him.
He represents His people before God.
And He is faithful in everything concerning God's purpose.
What does “make reconciliation” mean?
The Greek verb hilaskomai refers here to dealing with sin through atonement.
Translations may use expressions such as making atonement or propitiation.
The precise relationship between sacrifice, the removal of sin, and God's wrath requires further study, especially in Hebrews 9–10.
But the immediate point is clear.
Jesus became human so that He could serve as High Priest and deal with the sins of His people.
His humanity was essential to the role He came to fulfill.
He Is Both Priest and Sacrifice
Under the Law of Moses, priests offered sacrifices on behalf of the people.
But the priests themselves were sinners.
And the sacrifices they offered could not permanently remove sin.
Jesus is different.
He is the High Priest who represents His people before God.
And He is also the One who offered Himself.
Hebrews 2 introduces His priesthood and His work of atonement.
Later, Hebrews 7–10 explains more fully how He offered Himself once for all.
Jesus is both the Priest who offers the sacrifice and the Sacrifice that is offered.
This is one of the great themes that will unfold as we continue through Hebrews.
11. Can Jesus Really Help Us When We Are Tempted? — Hebrews 2:18
The passage concludes:
“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” (KJV)
The word “succour” means to help.
Jesus suffered while being tested.
Therefore, He is able to help those who are being tested.
He Experienced Temptation
Was Jesus really tempted?
Yes.
Hebrews 4:15 will say that He was tested in every respect as we are, yet without sin.
His temptations were genuine.
But He did not surrender to sin.
The fact that He never sinned does not make His testing unreal.
He experienced the pressure of temptation while remaining faithful to God.
He Understands Our Struggles
Jesus experienced suffering, rejection, pain, and temptation.
He knows what it means to live in a world where obedience to God can be costly.
He does not understand our struggles merely because He knows everything.
He also experienced genuine human suffering.
When we pray, we are not approaching a Savior who is unfamiliar with the difficulties of human life.
He knows what it means to suffer, and He is able to help those who are being tested.
That is the encouragement Hebrews 2:18 gives us.
He Helps Those Who Are Tempted
Notice the final words of the passage.
“He is able to succour them that are tempted.”
The writer does not simply say Jesus understands.
He says Jesus is able to help.
His suffering and testing are connected to His present ministry on behalf of His people.
The One who represents us before God is not distant from our struggles.
He is our merciful and faithful helper.
12. Putting the Passage Together
Let's return to our opening question.
Why did God become man?
Hebrews 2 gives several connected answers.
Scripture What Jesus accomplished
Hebrews 2:5–9. He fulfills God's purpose for humanity and is crowned with glory
Hebrews 2:9 He experiences death on behalf of others
Hebrews 2:10. He brings many sons and daughters to glory
Hebrews 2:11–13. He identifies Himself with those He sanctifies
Hebrews 2:14. Through death, He breaks the devil's power
Hebrews 2:15. He frees His people from slavery to the fear of death
Hebrews 2:16 He comes to the aid of Abraham's descendants
Hebrews 2:17 He becomes a merciful and faithful High Priest and makes atonement for sins
Hebrews 2:18 He helps those who are being tested
Notice how much of this passage depends upon Jesus' genuine humanity.
He could not suffer human death without sharing human life.
He could not be the representative described here without identifying with those He represents.
He could not experience human testing without entering the human condition.
The writer is not presenting the incarnation as a curious theological puzzle.
He is explaining why the Son's humanity was necessary for His saving work.
13. Was This God's Plan from the Beginning?
Our original question raises another important issue.
Was Jesus' coming an emergency response to something God had not anticipated?
Scripture does not present it that way.
The Old Testament contains promises and patterns that Christians understand as pointing forward to Christ.
God promised blessing through Abraham's offspring (Genesis 12:3).
Isaiah spoke of a servant who would suffer for the sins of others (Isaiah 52:13–53:12).
The sacrificial system taught Israel about holiness, sin, priesthood, and atonement.
And Hebrews will later explain how Christ's sacrifice accomplishes what the earlier sacrifices could not finally accomplish (Hebrews 9–10).
The New Testament also speaks of God's saving purpose in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3–10; 1 Peter 1:18–20).
We should distinguish these broader biblical connections from what Hebrews 2 explicitly says.
But together they support an important conclusion:
The coming of Christ was part of God's saving purpose, not an unexpected change of direction.
14. Why This Matters Today
Every one of us faces temptation.
Every one of us experiences suffering.
Every one of us must eventually face death.
And every one of us needs God's mercy.
Hebrews 2 tells us that Jesus entered our human condition to accomplish our salvation.
He shared our humanity.
He suffered.
He died.
He was crowned with glory.
And now He is able to help those who belong to Him.
The incarnation is not simply a story we remember at Christmas.
It is essential to understanding how God accomplished our salvation through Jesus Christ.
Conclusion — The Heart of Hebrews
The Son who is greater than the prophets and angels became truly human.
He experienced suffering.
He faced temptation.
He died.
But His suffering was not evidence that He was inferior to the angels.
It was part of the work He came to accomplish.
Through His death, He broke the devil's power in relation to death.
He came to free His people from bondage.
He became a merciful and faithful High Priest.
And He is able to help those who are being tested.
Jesus did not become human simply to teach us.
He became human to die for us, to overcome the power of death, and to bring us to God.
The writer's answer is not simply that Jesus came to show us how to live.
He came to accomplish our salvation.
He became like us so that He could save us.
That is the central message of Hebrews 2:5–18.
READ FIRST. CONCLUDE LATER.
Continue Exploring Scripture
Hebrews 1:4–14 — Why Is Jesus Greater Than the Angels?
Review the Old Testament evidence for the Son's superiority to angels.
Hebrews 2:1–4 — Why Must We Pay Closer Attention?
Examine the warning that connects the greatness of Jesus with our responsibility to heed His message.
Next Study: Hebrews 3:1–6 — Why Is Jesus Greater Than Moses?
Discover why the writer compares Jesus with Moses and what it means for Jesus to be faithful over God's house.
Return to the Hebrews page.