CHAPTER 2
Yeshua's Descent Before His Ascent
In chapter two of the Letters to the Hebrews, we see an expansion of the ascension concepts that we saw in chapter one. Before Yeshua can ascend to be like God His Father, He must go through a descent phase. In Isaiah’s theology, we see this pattern of descend before an ascent.
Descent before Ascent, Ascent before Descent, Avraham Gileadi, PhD
According to Isaiah’s theology—which he develops systematically in his seven-part literary structure—every ascent to a higher spiritual level is preceded by a temporary descent. That descent phase consists of God’s trial of a person’s faith equal to the level of that person’s ascent. In other words, the higher one ascends, the greater the temporary descent that precedes it. Ruin may occur cyclically before rebirth to a higher spiritual level, as may suffering before salvation, humiliation before exaltation, and so forth—intensifying each time a person ascends. Even Messiah descends below all before he is exalted above all to sit on his Father’s throne.
(This descent into trials and suffering, the New Testament calls a Baptism of Fire - 1 Peter 4:12)
Yeshua is Made Lower than the Angels
We saw in chapter one that Yeshua was in the beginning with God His Father and made the physical world. We could say that Yeshua was Higher than the Angels because of His elevated status prior to Him becoming flesh.
Here in chapter two, we see Yeshua being Made a Little Lower than the Angels v.7,9 and all things are not subject to Him v.8. Angels are not subject to death v.5,16 but Yeshua is subject to death.
Also in chapter one, we saw that Yeshua was Made Much Better than the Angels – verse 4; and, we also see here in chapter two that Yeshua is crowned with glory and honor v.7,9 and appointed him over the works of God hands v.7, all things become subject to Him v.8,10 becoming like God His Father.
This sequence of Yeshua’s descent before His ascent graphically looks like this.
Descent before Ascent, Ascent before Descent, Avraham Gileadi, PhD
According to Isaiah’s theology—which he develops systematically in his seven-part literary structure—every ascent to a higher spiritual level is preceded by a temporary descent. That descent phase consists of God’s trial of a person’s faith equal to the level of that person’s ascent. In other words, the higher one ascends, the greater the temporary descent that precedes it. Ruin may occur cyclically before rebirth to a higher spiritual level, as may suffering before salvation, humiliation before exaltation, and so forth—intensifying each time a person ascends. Even Messiah descends below all before he is exalted above all to sit on his Father’s throne.
(This descent into trials and suffering, the New Testament calls a Baptism of Fire - 1 Peter 4:12)
Yeshua is Made Lower than the Angels
We saw in chapter one that Yeshua was in the beginning with God His Father and made the physical world. We could say that Yeshua was Higher than the Angels because of His elevated status prior to Him becoming flesh.
Here in chapter two, we see Yeshua being Made a Little Lower than the Angels v.7,9 and all things are not subject to Him v.8. Angels are not subject to death v.5,16 but Yeshua is subject to death.
Also in chapter one, we saw that Yeshua was Made Much Better than the Angels – verse 4; and, we also see here in chapter two that Yeshua is crowned with glory and honor v.7,9 and appointed him over the works of God hands v.7, all things become subject to Him v.8,10 becoming like God His Father.
This sequence of Yeshua’s descent before His ascent graphically looks like this.
Hebrews |
Hebrew Bible References |
2:7,8,9,10 |
Psalms 8:4-6 |
Yeshua Descends Into Mortality Becoming Flesh
We see Yeshua taking on mortality becoming flesh. He was subjected to all things v.8, suffered death v.9, partook of flesh and blood v.14, is made like his brethren v.17, and was tempted v.18. We see here again like in chapter one that Yeshua as a priest v.17 had to descend into mortality and suffering to execute the function of being a proxy savior.
We see Yeshua taking on mortality becoming flesh. He was subjected to all things v.8, suffered death v.9, partook of flesh and blood v.14, is made like his brethren v.17, and was tempted v.18. We see here again like in chapter one that Yeshua as a priest v.17 had to descend into mortality and suffering to execute the function of being a proxy savior.
Hebrews |
Hebrew Bible References |
2:8,9,14,17,18 |
Isaiah 53:4,5 |
Yeshua Redeems Humanity
We see in chapter two that Yeshua is our salvation v.3, God testifies of Yeshua’s divinity with signs and wonders v.4, suffers death for everyone v.9, perfects the author of our salvation v.10, has power over death v.14, and frees us from death v.15.
We see in chapter two that Yeshua is our salvation v.3, God testifies of Yeshua’s divinity with signs and wonders v.4, suffers death for everyone v.9, perfects the author of our salvation v.10, has power over death v.14, and frees us from death v.15.
Hebrews |
Hebrew Bible References |
2:2-4,9,10,14,15 |
Isaiah 53:5,12 |
When Adam and Eve partook of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they became subject to eternal physical death. They also suffered spiritual death by being shut out of God’s presence.
Universal Sin and Physical Salvation
Universal sin is the sin of Adam and Eve that brought eternal physical death into the world. Man would be eternally dead unless God provided a redeemer from physical death. We see this promise of a redeemer at Genesis 3:15 –
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel."
God will put enmity or a Messiah/Redeemer between Satan and the woman and her seed.
This Messiah/Redeemer will come from the seed of the woman.
This Messiah/Redeemer will bruise or crush Satan on the head by overcoming death – Romans 16:20 but this Messiah/Redeemer will be bruised on the heel or die for Adam's sin but He will come back to life – 1 Corinthians 15:22.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ/Messiah all will be made alive - through His resurrection.
Until modern times, Jewish commentators saw a prophecy of the coming Messiah in this verse Genesis 3:15. Consider this comment from Bereshit Rabba 23, a rabbinic commentary on Genesis: “Eve had respect to that seed which is coming from another place. And who is this? This is Messiah the King.”
We qualify for redemption from physical death – resurrection - when we accept Yeshua as our savior, take upon us His name and live the seven basic laws for all humanity – Noahide Laws.
Through Yeshua's Atonement, He suffered for all of the injustices of humanity.
Personal Sin and Spiritual Salvation
Spiritual death occurs when we are shut out of the presence of God. To qualify to be in the presence of God, we must overcome personal sin. We overcome personal sin when we live the Law in the fullness of Messiah/Christ – Matthew 5:17.
"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to make it full (fulfill).” (The Greek work here for fulfill is pleroo meaning "to make full or complete" but not to replace the Law)
We can live the Law in the fullness of Messiah when we are “Born Again” - John 3:3-5 - or transformed into a new creation of the Ruach Hakodesh, are Born of God and overcome Personal Sin – 1 John 3:9.
No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed (Messiah/Spirit/Ruach -John 16) abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
A person must be "Born Again"/Born of God to enter into God's Kingdom - John 3:3
New Heart and New Spirit
Yeshua’s teaching on being “Born Again” is the fulfillment of Ezekiel 36:26,27 where we can receive a new heart and a new spirit receiving the Holy Spirit – Ruach Hakodesh - and live the Law without breaking it not being subject to its judgements.
Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances/judgements.
Those who have not yet been "Born Again" can still be reconciled with God by repenting until they are "Born Again" as provided in Yeshua's Atonement. Continually sinning and repenting is not the destination, it is overcoming personal sin!
Those who are living the Law in the fulness of Messiah qualify for Physical Salvation by accepting Yeshua as their Savior and who take upon them His name.
Temporal Salvation
Another promise that we see in the Law is temporal salvation or salvation during time/mortality – Deuteronomy 30:15,16.
“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity/good, and death and adversity/evil; in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you my live and multiply, and the LORD your God may bless you in the land where your are entering to possess it.
Inherited Sin and Perfection
Overcoming dysfunctional behaviors caused by trauma completes the the circuit for achieving perfection. We are not responsible for these "Inherited Sins" but must overcome their dysfunctional effects.
We Should Trust in Yeshua as Our Redeemer
We can see this counsel to trust in Yeshua as our Redeemer by not drifting away v.1, we are his brethren v.11,12,13, gives help to the descendants of Abraham v.16, he was made like his brethren v.17,18.
We can see this counsel to trust in Yeshua as our Redeemer by not drifting away v.1, we are his brethren v.11,12,13, gives help to the descendants of Abraham v.16, he was made like his brethren v.17,18.
Hebrews |
Hebrew Bible References |
2:1,11,12,13,16,17,18 |
Psalms 22:22 Isaiah 8:17,18 |