Jesus Shares Human Flesh and Sufferings (Hebrews 2.14-18)

Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth, which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out, because the ruler of this world is judged. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death are free. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as children, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

For it is clear that He did not come to help angels but the descendants of Abraham. But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, My friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off.”

Therefore He had to become like His brothers and sisters in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by His blood, effective through faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over the sins previously committed; He emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of mortals. Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness. So, Christ did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by Him who said to Him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.” In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven. When Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, it was then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation). He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.