Outline of Hebrews
THE ESSENTIAL SUFFERING
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 2:5-18
"TO MAKE THE CAPTAIN OF THEIR SALVATION PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING"
Captain - Author, beginner, pioneer and trail-blazer
Translated "prince" (Acts 3:15; 5:31)
Translated "author" (Heb. 12:2)
"MADE PERFECT" (basic definition: From Greek "teleios" – "Fully carries out the
purpose for which it was designed")
Put a chain on an old bicycle and it is "perfect" in this sense, irrespective of the condition of the cycle
Christians are "perfect" in this sense also, irrespective of physical faults (2 Tim. 3:16,17; Eccl. 12:13)
"THROUGH SUFFERING"
The heathen idea of God was a god of detachment from men
Christ came to demonstrate that God is Involved in the affairs of men. Read John 10:10, where the word "abundance" (Greek, "perissos") means "above the common"
He was identified with man through his sufferings, yet He was free from sin. He did not experience sin, but He knew the experience of the strength of temptation to sin – and so He can identify (or sympathize) with us
The High Priest in Old Testament times never knew suffering like Jesus and therefore could not easily sympathize (Heb. 4:14-16). Before we can have true sympathy, we must undergo the same trials. For example, those who have never suffered from nerves are impatient with those who do Those who are clever find difficulty being long-suffering with those who are slow in learning Those who have never been bereaved cannot fully appreciate the feelings of one who has
Jesus knew all temptations open to man and is able to help (Heb. 4:15)
"SUCCOUR" (v. 18) means "to run alongside someone and to help them."
