The writer of Hebrews says that the old covenant given to the Jews was:
- Communicated to Israel through angels
- “Binding” - bebaios, a legal term that meant it was unchangeable and was used as
word for a legal guarantee.
- Violations were punished justly
- Disobedience was punished justly
Then, he reasons logically that if that were the case with this first inferior covenant that was
replaced with the superior New Covenant that was promised by Jeremiah (in Jer. 31:31) and
finally communicated to Jews and put into effect by the Son of God, then how much trouble
will the readers be in if they neglect this New Covenant. The writer asks his readers:
“How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation.”
Hebrews 2:2 says, “We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard,
so that we do not drift away.” The word “drift” comes from the Greek pararyomai which is used
in other places to refer to a ring slipping from someone’s finger unknowingly. Because pararyomai meant “slip,” “drift” or “drift away” it provides a perfect image for the writer of Hebrews who is
warning his readers to “pay…attention…to what we have heard,” or pay attention to the message of the
Word of Truth. The Greek word prosecho, which is translated into English with “pay…attention,”
was a technical term referring to the skill of the captain of a ship bringing his vessel into dock
at shore without crashing into the dock or moving too slow which would allow the current
or
the winds to move him off course. |
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