verse 16: "For of course He is not giving help to angels but He is giving help to the offspring of Abraham."
Here again we have a statement of reason. It is a negative and a positive statement. Negatively, He is not taking an interest in angels. But is the word of contrast, positively, He is taking an interest in the seed of Abraham.
We learn from this verse there is no salvation for fallen angels. "He is giving help to the offspring of Abraham." Believers, both Jews and Gentiles, are of the seed of Abraham.
verse 17: "Therefore, He was obligated to be made like His brethren in all things, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people."
Since then the children have shared blood and flesh, "He was obligated to be made like His brethren in all things."
This is the first mention in the book of Hebrews of the priesthood of Jesus Christ.
"To make propitiation" is in the present tense.
1 John 2:1-2: "My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation [satisfaction] for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world" (NASB).
There are 4 R's that spell out the fabulous work of our great High Priest in making a sacrifice of Himself: (1) rendered powerless Satan; (2) He released from the fear of death; (3) He provided redemption; and (4) He paid the ransom.
He did this in making "propitiation for the sins of the people." He satisfied all the claims against us.
verse 18: "For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are being tempted."
Let's meditate for just a moment on the fact that "He is able." Here the text says "He is able to come to the aid" or run to the cry, to run at a cry for help.
2 Corinthians 9:8: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed" (NASB).
"He is able to come to the aid of those who are being tempted." That is, tempted by suffering tempted to quit, or tempted by sin.
One writer said: "We may face situations beyond our reserves but never beyond God's resources."
It was Amy Carmichael who prayed: "O Lord Jesus, my Beloved, May I be a joy to Thee..."
This beautiful prayer was recorded in Our Daily Bread some time ago: "Dear Lord, take up the tangled strands, Where we have wrought in vain, That by the skill of Thy dear hands Some beauty may remain. (Burroughs)
