Text:
Hebrews 2:5-9:
5 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
7 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:
8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
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.
Theme:
What is a MAN?
Introduction:
- A good friend of mine, Rosie Pearson, presented the core of this study to me. I met her through Toastmasters, and she has become a true sister in Christ. She invited me to speak at a Youth engagement at her church. I thank her for her encouragement and for her support!
- The Book of Hebrews has been debated as to its authorship with the resulting conclusion that the Apostle Paul is the author. However, regardless of the actual author it is agreed upon that it is definitely a Pauline epistle due to its writing style and content.
- Written to the Hebrew nation
- Written in the context of those who were raised under the Jewish law and traditions
- Within the context of this second chapter we find the author in an explication of the hierarchy of human and divine existence
- At the top there’s God
- Then there are the angels
- Then comes Jesus, the “divine human” one, who was made just a little lower than the angels to die for our sins
- Then comes man à The lowest on the spiritual “food chain”
- This is what brings about the discourse between God and the angels where the angels ask the question, “What is man?”
- Why have you “bothered” with man?
- Do we ever as that of ourselves, “Lord, why did you even bother creating me?”
- That is the question that we first address in this study – WHAT IS MAN?
- Job 7:17 says, “What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?”
- Man is given a special place in the eyes and heart of God!
- Created by God
- Genesis 1:26-27, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
- Cherished by God
- Luke 20:36, “Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.”
- Job 15:14 says, “What is man, that he should be clean? and he which is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?”
- Man, although imperfect, is perfected by God!
- Psalms 119:9, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
- Psalms 8:4 says, “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?”
- God blesses man with His Favor and His Presence!
- Luke 1:68, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,”
- Psalms 144:3 says, “LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him!”
- God knows His own à maintains a spiritually intimate relationship with His own
- 2 Timothy 2:19, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
- Job 7:17 says, “What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?”
- Now that we have the biblical answer to the question of “What is Man?”, the average person still feels at a loss.
- Although the question “What is Man?” has been answered, we still want to know “WHAT IS A MAN?”
- The adolescent male slowly approaching manhood wants to know WHAT IS A MAN?
- The adult male who has been rejected and dejected throughout life and has his self-esteem reduced to nothing wants to know WHAT IS A MAN?
- The woman who has made mistake after mistake in relationships thinking that she has a good man and realizing later that she has a liability wants to know WHAT IS A MAN?
- A society starving for the strength, leadership and, most importantly, godliness of God’s creation wants to know WHAT IS A MAN?
- God wants MEN!
- Isaiah 46:8, “Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.”
- Job 38:3, “Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.”
- “WHAT IS A MAN?”
- Although the question “What is Man?” has been answered, we still want to know “WHAT IS A MAN?”
Body:
- Being a MAN is indicative of Spiritual Maturity
- Spiritual maturity is synonymous for the “new man” that Jesus calls us into being.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
- Ephesians 4:24, “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
- Spiritual maturity calls for a radical change in the individual’s life.
- 1 Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
- A MAN is a NEW MAN in Christ who is SPIRITUALLY MATURE!
- Spiritual maturity is synonymous for the “new man” that Jesus calls us into being.
- God has specific requirements or expectations of a MAN
- Micah 6:8, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
- Deuteronomy 10:12, “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,”
- In a practical sense, the understanding of what a man is best realized by the word itself:
- M – Prerequisite – MEEK (humble) è Our action (humble thyself before God)
- Psalms 149:4, “For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.”
- Isaiah 29:19, “The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.”
- Zephaniah 2:3, “Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.”
- A – Foundation – ANOINTED (connected to God) è God action (Holy Spirit anoints to equip/empower)
- Exodus 29:7, “Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.”
- Psalms 23:5, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”
- Hebrews 1:9, “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
- N – Application – NURTURING (loving and caring) è God’s action through us (confirmation/seal/ordination)
- Ephesians 6:4, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
- The best example is the father of the prodigal son:
- Luke 15:21-24, “And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
- M – Prerequisite – MEEK (humble) è Our action (humble thyself before God)
Conclusion:
- Where is an example of a MAN?
- Can anyone stand as the ICON of MANhood for a generation in need of a standard?
- Everywhere there are flaws, shortcomings, inconsistencies, weaknesses…
- “But we see Jesus” à Verse 9 of our text gives us our help!
- “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”
- Psalms 121:1-2, “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”
- “But we see Jesus”
- He first teaches us how to live
- Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
- Then he teaches us how to live more abundantly
- Romans 6:4, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
- He first teaches us how to live
- “But we see Jesus”
- He was MEEK
- Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
- He was ANOINTED
- Isaiah 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek…”
- Matthew 3:16, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:”
- He was NURTURING
- John 11:35, “Jesus wept.”
- Luke 19:10, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
- He was MEEK
- “But we see Jesus”
- Jesus was a MAN
- It is in HIS steps that we as men should walk!
- It is in HIS steps that we as people must walk!!
- “But we see Jesus”
- We should see Him
- In our walk
- In our talk
- In our work
- In our shout
- We should see Him
- “But we see Jesus” – That is a MAN!!!!
#254
