Sermons on Hebrews 2:17-18
The various sermons below converge on the essential truth that Christ’s full humanity is indispensable for his role as our high priest and mediator. They emphasize that Jesus was made like us “in every respect” (apart from sin) so that he could truly sympathize with human weakness, endure real and intense temptation, and provide a fitting, compassionate intercession on our behalf. This shared humanity enables him to restore not only our legal standing before God but also our relational status as sons and daughters, highlighting salvation as both a forensic and familial reality. Several sermons use vivid analogies—such as Jesus as a “greater man” succeeding where Adam failed, or an angel learning to swim to teach a human—to underscore the necessity of Christ’s genuine identification with our condition. The Greek terms “propitiation,” “merciful,” and “behooved” are unpacked to deepen understanding of the atonement’s satisfaction of divine justice and the active, eager compassion of Christ’s priestly ministry. The theme of Christ’s ongoing, eternal priesthood is also prominent, with some sermons stressing that his humanity is not a temporary state but a perpetual reality that sustains his intercession and leadership of the redeemed.
While all the sermons affirm the hypostatic union and the necessity of Christ’s dual nature, they differ in theological emphasis and pastoral application. Some focus heavily on the legal and forensic dimensions of atonement, drawing on classical Anselmian thought to stress that Christ’s sacrifice satisfies God’s justice, while others highlight the relational and merciful aspects of his priesthood, portraying his compassion as active and ongoing rather than merely emotive. A few sermons employ military or financial metaphors to illustrate the intensity of Jesus’ temptation and the infinite value of his atonement, whereas others lean into experiential and pastoral encouragement, emphasizing the believer’s need to trust in Christ’s full identification to overcome temptation and find rest. The treatment of Christ’s humanity ranges from a focus on its necessity for temptation and sympathy to a broader Christological framework that carefully navigates early church heresies and the mystery of the union of natures. Some sermons underscore the danger of unbelief in this doctrine as a root of spiritual defeat, while others explore the eternal significance of Christ’s God-man identity as a present and active worship leader and mediator.
Hebrews 2:17-18 Interpretation:
Remembering Our Great Salvation: A Call to Faith (Purcellville Baptist Church) interprets Hebrews 2:17-18 as a declaration of the necessity of Jesus’ full humanity, emphasizing that Jesus had to be made like us in every respect to become a “greater man” who could restore humanity to its intended relationship with God. The sermon uses the analogy of Jesus as the “greater man” who succeeds where Adam failed, and it highlights the Greek term “propitiation” (hilaskomai) to stress that Jesus’ sacrifice fully satisfied God’s righteous demands. The preacher also draws a distinction between being saved “from” sin and death and being saved “to” a restored, abundant life as sons and daughters of God, using the C.S. Lewis quote, “The Son of God became a man so that men could become sons of God,” to encapsulate this idea.
Jesus' Temptation: Humanity, Divinity, and Obedience (Alistair Begg) offers a unique metaphor, likening humanity to people trapped in a pit, unable to escape, while Jesus enters the pit with us—fully sharing our condition—yet, unlike us, he is still connected to heaven and able to lift us out. The sermon stresses that Jesus’ temptations were real and intense, not diminished by his divinity, and that only a sinless person can experience the full force of temptation because the sinful “fall over like a pack of cards.” The preacher also uses military imagery to explain that, unlike us, Jesus faced the “unmitigated onslaught of hell” without any internal weakness, making his victory over temptation all the more profound.
The Mystery and Majesty of the God-Man (Ligonier Ministries) interprets Hebrews 2:17-18 as a profound answer to the question “Why the God-Man?” (Cur Deus Homo), focusing on the necessity of Christ’s full humanity for atonement and restoration. The sermon draws on Anselm’s classic work to emphasize that the atonement is first about satisfying God, not just saving man. The preacher highlights the “incarnate mystery” that Jesus had to be “like his brothers in every respect” to be a true high priest and to make propitiation, and he explores the ongoing, eternal significance of Christ’s humanity, noting that Jesus remains the God-Man forever, not just during his earthly ministry. The analogy of Christ as the “worship leader” (leitourgos) who leads the redeemed in worship before the Father is also a distinctive interpretive angle.
Embracing Christ's Humanity: Overcoming Temptation and Finding Rest (SermonIndex.net) provides a vivid analogy to interpret Hebrews 2:17-18: the preacher compares Jesus to an angel trying to teach a human to swim. If the angel simply flies across the river, the human cannot follow; but if the angel takes on a human body and learns to swim, then he can truly teach and lead. This analogy is used to stress that Jesus' humanity was not partial or superficial—he was made like us in every way (except sin), so he could be a real example and helper in temptation. The preacher insists that Jesus' experience of temptation was genuine, and that his victory over it is the "secret of godliness," making him a model for believers to follow. The sermon also highlights the importance of believing in this full identification, warning that an "evil, unbelieving heart" is one that cannot accept that Jesus became like us.
The Mystery of Christ's Dual Nature and Mediation (Beulah Baptist Church) interprets Hebrews 2:17-18 within a broader Christological framework, emphasizing the union of Christ's two natures—divine and human—in one person. The sermon uniquely explores the implications of this union for atonement and sympathy: because Christ is fully human, he can make atonement for humanity and sympathize with human weakness; because he is fully divine, his atonement has infinite value. The preacher draws on the linguistic distinction between "nature" (essence) and "person" (agency), and references early church heresies (Eutychianism, Nestorianism) to clarify that Christ's natures are united "without confusion or separation." The sermon also notes that attributes of both natures are ascribed to the one person of Christ, so that his suffering and temptation are truly experienced by the God-man, not just by a human shell. This interpretation is further illustrated by the analogy of financial debt: just as someone might pay off another's debt, Christ pays the infinite debt of sin, but with the added dimension of his divine capacity to cover all.
"Embracing Jesus' Humanity: A Path to Victory" (SermonIndex.net) closely parallels "Embracing Christ's Humanity: Overcoming Temptation and Finding Rest," using the same analogy of the angel and the swimmer to interpret Hebrews 2:17-18. The sermon again stresses that Jesus' humanity was exactly like ours (apart from sin), and that his experience of temptation enables him to help us. The preacher's personal testimony about the transformative power of this doctrine adds a unique, experiential dimension to the interpretation, emphasizing that believing in Christ's full identification with us is the key to victory over sin.
Hebrews 2:17-18 Theological Themes:
Remembering Our Great Salvation: A Call to Faith (Purcellville Baptist Church) introduces the theme that Jesus’ incarnation was not only to save us from sin and death but to restore us to the original purpose of humanity—intimate, familial relationship with God as sons and daughters. The sermon also explores the idea that Jesus’ atonement is not just a legal transaction but a relational restoration, and that neglecting this “great salvation” is a subtle but grave danger for believers.
Jesus' Temptation: Humanity, Divinity, and Obedience (Alistair Begg) presents the theme that Jesus’ temptations were not less real because of his divinity; rather, his sinlessness meant he endured the full, unfiltered force of temptation, making him uniquely qualified to help us. The sermon also explores the paradox that Jesus’ obedience in temptation is the very means by which he can lift us out of our “pit,” and that his ongoing sympathy as high priest is rooted in this shared experience.
The Mystery and Majesty of the God-Man (Ligonier Ministries) develops the theme that the atonement is fundamentally about satisfying God’s justice and restoring creation to its intended order, not merely about individual salvation. The preacher also emphasizes the ongoing, present ministry of Christ as the God-Man, who continues to intercede and lead believers, and the idea that Christ’s humanity is not a temporary expedient but an eternal reality, ensuring his perpetual solidarity with redeemed humanity.
Embracing the Mercy of Our High Priest (SermonIndex.net) introduces the theme of Christ's priesthood as an active, ongoing ministry of mercy, not just a historical event. The preacher develops the idea that Christ's mercy is "hot," passionate, and eager, and that his priesthood is characterized by a continual, compassionate intercession for believers. The sermon also draws a sharp distinction between Old Testament and New Testament priesthood, arguing that all believers are now priests, but Christ alone is the high priest, and that his ministry is both toward God (on our behalf) and toward us (from God). The preacher further explores the idea that Christ's suffering and temptation were necessary to make him a "fitting" high priest, and that his ongoing intercession is grounded in his once-for-all sacrifice.
Embracing Christ's Humanity: Overcoming Temptation and Finding Rest (SermonIndex.net) and "Embracing Jesus' Humanity: A Path to Victory" (SermonIndex.net) both develop the theme that Christ's full humanity and experience of temptation are essential for his role as high priest and as an example for believers. The sermons argue that the "secret of godliness" is found in recognizing that Jesus was made like us in every way, and that this identification enables believers to overcome temptation and enter into a "rest"—a life of victory over sin. The preacher warns that unbelief in this truth leads to spiritual defeat, and that daily encouragement and exhortation are necessary to maintain faith in Christ's example and help.
The Mystery of Christ's Dual Nature and Mediation (Beulah Baptist Church) presents the theme of the hypostatic union (the union of two natures in one person) as foundational for understanding atonement and mediation. The sermon uniquely emphasizes that Christ's atonement is of infinite value because of his divinity, and that his sympathy is genuine because of his humanity. The preacher also explores the idea that the union of natures is a mystery beyond human analogy, and that faith in the scriptural testimony is required. The sermon further develops the theme of Christ as the perfect mediator who assumes our nature, duties, and liabilities, enabling our adoption as children of God.
Hebrews 2:17-18 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Remembering Our Great Salvation: A Call to Faith (Purcellville Baptist Church) provides historical context by referencing the original creation mandate in Genesis, the dominion given to Adam, and how Hebrews 2 recalls this lost status and its restoration in Christ. The sermon also notes the cultural context of the early church’s struggle with neglect and forgetfulness, paralleling it with modern distractions and the risk of “neglecting such a great salvation.”
The Mystery and Majesty of the God-Man (Ligonier Ministries) offers detailed historical and theological context by referencing the development of the doctrine of the atonement, especially through Anselm’s Cur Deus Homo, and by situating Hebrews within the broader context of Jewish expectations about angels, priesthood, and the restoration of creation. The preacher also explains the ancient understanding of Psalm 8 and Genesis 1 as foundational to the author of Hebrews’ argument about humanity’s lost and restored vocation.
Embracing the Mercy of Our High Priest (SermonIndex.net) provides extensive historical context about the Old Testament high priesthood, explaining that only one high priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement, and that the entire spiritual state of the nation depended on this one man. The preacher describes the rituals (bells on the garment, rope tied to the ankle) and the unique role of the high priest as mediator, intercessor, and sacrificer. The sermon also explains the transition from the Old Testament priesthood to the New Testament priesthood of all believers, with Christ as the sole high priest, and notes the loss of the Jewish priesthood after AD 70.
The Mystery of Christ's Dual Nature and Mediation (Beulah Baptist Church) offers historical insights into early church debates about Christ's nature, referencing the Council of Nicaea (325) and the Chalcedonian Creed (451) as key moments in defining orthodox Christology. The sermon discusses heresies such as Eutychianism (mixing of natures) and Nestorianism (separation of persons), and explains how these controversies shaped the church's understanding of Christ's person. The preacher also situates Christ's priesthood within the context of Jewish law and sacrificial system, referencing Galatians 4 and the role of the law in Israel's history.
Hebrews 2:17-18 Cross-References in the Bible:
Remembering Our Great Salvation: A Call to Faith (Purcellville Baptist Church) references Genesis 1 and 2 (creation and dominion), Psalm 8 (quoted in Hebrews 2), 1 Corinthians 15 (the last enemy is death and Christ’s victory), John 10 (Jesus as the giver of abundant life), Matthew 1 (Jesus’ birth), Mark 15 (Jesus’ death), and John 20 (the resurrection and Thomas’ encounter). These passages are used to show the continuity of the biblical story from creation, through the fall, to redemption and restoration in Christ, and to reinforce the reality of Jesus’ humanity and resurrection.
Jesus' Temptation: Humanity, Divinity, and Obedience (Alistair Begg) cross-references Hebrews 4:15 (Jesus as sympathetic high priest), Genesis (Adam’s temptation and fall), 1 Corinthians 10:13 (God’s filtration of temptation for believers), Ephesians 2 and 6, 1 John 5:19, John 12:31 (the devil’s limited authority), Matthew 6 (Jesus’ teaching on worry), and the temptation narratives in Matthew and Mark. These references are used to support the reality and intensity of Jesus’ temptations, his identification with humanity, and his victory over the devil.
The Mystery and Majesty of the God-Man (Ligonier Ministries) references Genesis 1:26-28 (creation mandate), Psalm 8 (humanity’s vocation), 1 Corinthians 15 (Christ as the last Adam and the restoration of all things), John 1 (the Word’s deity and incarnation), 2 Corinthians 5:17 (new creation in Christ), and Romans 16, Ephesians 1, Colossians 2, Revelation 12 and 20 (Christ’s victory and cosmic restoration). These passages are woven together to show the biblical logic of Christ’s incarnation, atonement, and ongoing ministry.
Embracing the Mercy of Our High Priest (SermonIndex.net) references several passages to expand on Hebrews 2:17-18: Hebrews 4:14-16 is used to emphasize Christ's ongoing ministry as high priest and the believer's access to the throne of grace; 1 Peter 2:5, 2:9 is cited to support the priesthood of all believers; Psalm 51:1, Psalm 40:11, and Psalm 145:9 are used to illustrate God's tender mercies; Matthew 5:7 is referenced to connect Christ's mercy with the believer's call to be merciful; Hebrews 9:12, 10:11, 7:27, and 5:7-9 are used to explain the necessity and sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice and intercession; Romans 6:14 is mentioned in the context of entering into rest and victory over sin.
Embracing Christ's Humanity: Overcoming Temptation and Finding Rest (SermonIndex.net) and "Embracing Jesus' Humanity: A Path to Victory" (SermonIndex.net) both reference Revelation 3:21 ("I overcame, you also overcome") to connect Christ's victory with the believer's calling; James 4 is cited to emphasize the uncertainty of life and the need for daily encouragement; Exodus 3, 15, and the wilderness narratives are used as typological parallels to the Christian journey; Romans 6:14 is referenced as the promise of victory over sin; and the Sabbath rest in Genesis is used as a metaphor for the believer's rest in Christ.
The Mystery of Christ's Dual Nature and Mediation (Beulah Baptist Church) references Colossians 2:9 to affirm the fullness of deity in Christ; 1 Peter 1:20 to highlight Christ's foreordination; Matthew 1:20-23 to discuss the incarnation; Malachi 3:6 and Hebrews 13:8 to assert Christ's immutability; Philippians 2:5-7 to address the "emptying" (kenosis); Acts 20:28 and Romans 9:5 to illustrate the ascription of divine and human attributes to Christ; Psalm 40:8 and John 17 to show inter-Trinitarian dialogue; Galatians 4:4-5 to explain Christ's assumption of human nature and duties; 1 Timothy 3:16 to underscore the mystery of godliness; and Hebrews 1 to affirm Christ's role in atonement and mediation.
Hebrews 2:17-18 Christian References outside the Bible:
Remembering Our Great Salvation: A Call to Faith (Purcellville Baptist Church) explicitly references C.S. Lewis, quoting, “The Son of God became a man so that men could become sons of God,” to encapsulate the purpose of the incarnation. The sermon also mentions Christian rappers Lecrae and KB to illustrate the impact of Christ’s victory over death and the importance of responding to the gospel.
The Mystery and Majesty of the God-Man (Ligonier Ministries) explicitly references Anselm’s Cur Deus Homo as a foundational theological work on the atonement, explaining its focus on the satisfaction of God and the necessity of the God-Man. The preacher also cites B.B. Warfield and R.W. Dale on the pervasive New Testament witness to Christ’s deity, and Athanasius on the logic of the Trinity. The sermon further references Alexander Whyte and the hymn “Loved with Everlasting Love” to illustrate the experiential impact of Christ’s incarnation and atonement.
Hebrews 2:17-18 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Remembering Our Great Salvation: A Call to Faith (Purcellville Baptist Church) uses the analogy of the memory game “Simon Says” to illustrate the importance of remembering and not neglecting salvation, comparing the risk of spiritual forgetfulness to the costliness of forgetting important things in everyday life. The preacher also references Jacob Fugger, a historical figure considered one of the richest people ever, to demonstrate the emptiness of worldly wealth compared to the abundant life offered by Christ.
Jesus' Temptation: Humanity, Divinity, and Obedience (Alistair Begg) employs the metaphor of people trapped in a pit to describe humanity’s helplessness and Jesus’ solidarity with us, as well as military imagery to explain the nature of temptation and spiritual battle. The preacher also humorously references the game show “Jeopardy” to illustrate the confusion that can arise when interpreting difficult biblical passages.
Overcoming Temptation: Strength in Christ's Faithfulness (St. Paul Lutheran Church Harlingen, Texas) recommends the “Pause” app, a secular mindfulness and prayer app, as a practical tool for cultivating stillness and attentiveness to God in the midst of a busy, noisy world. The preacher explains how the app prompts users to pause for a minute or more during the day to reflect, pray, and remember God’s presence, connecting this practice to resisting temptation and seeking God’s will.
Embracing Christ's Humanity: Overcoming Temptation and Finding Rest (SermonIndex.net) and "Embracing Jesus' Humanity: A Path to Victory" (SermonIndex.net) both use the vivid analogy of an angel trying to teach a human to swim. The preacher imagines an angel flying across a river and telling a human to follow, but the human cannot, because he cannot fly. Only if the angel takes on a human body, subject to gravity, and learns to swim, can he truly teach and lead the human. This analogy is used to illustrate the necessity of Christ's full humanity and real experience of temptation, making him a relatable and effective example for believers. The preacher further extends the analogy by describing the "law of gravity" as a metaphor for the pull of sin, emphasizing that Jesus felt this pull and overcame it, thus qualifying him to help us in our struggles.