4 Minute Read

Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Jeremiah 38-40
Hebrews 2:5-3:6

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Hebrews 2:10 (CSB): “For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

The book of Hebrews has one primary point: to build an overwhelming case that Jesus is greater and better than everything else. As the book progresses, the writer says that Jesus is greater than angels, Moses, Joshua, the Levitical priesthood, the Old Testament covenant and rituals, and so much more.

So, the book of Hebrews highlights Jesus’ primacy over everything!

But we have hardly begun the book when we arrive at Hebrews 2:10 — the verse I have chosen for today. In that verse, we read that Jesus was made perfect, suggesting that He wasn’t perfect beforehand.

Hebrews 2:10 (CSB): “For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”

How are we to understand this? We believe that the Bible is clear about Jesus’ divinity. It teaches us that He IS God (John 1:1,14; 10:30; John 20:28; Colossians 2:9; Philipians 2:5-6; Hebrews 1:3; Titus 2:13; etc.). And we understand that the Bible is clear that God is infinite in His perfections. It is impossible for Him to be any more perfect than He is now, ever has been, or ever will be.

So, how could Jesus be made perfect?

This is where some good Bible study tools come in handy, particularly one that explains the meanings of the original Greek New Testament words.

The word translated “perfect” in our English translations is the Greek “teleioō” (τελειόω). That word can mean perfection, but primarily in the sense of achieving completion, reaching the end, or finishing. It doesn’t speak of moral perfection. Instead, it addresses a scenario in which something has crossed a finish line.

So, when we apply this meaning to Hebrews 2:10, we understand that the writer was essentially saying this:

In order for God to save people who will one day reside in His glorious presence in Heaven, it was appropriate for God to take Jesus, who would be the Captain of their salvation, through suffering, since those He led would also suffer. It would enable Jesus, who knows all things, to actually experience what it is like to suffer as a human being. In this way, Jesus became the leader that we needed, one who could relate to us.

So, Jesus was no less perfect before He was “perfected.” Instead, Hebrews 2:10 means that Jesus experienced suffering so that He could reach the finish line as the Leader that we needed.

It’s not saying that Jesus finally reached perfection. It is saying that He crossed the finish line by experiencing what we will experience so that He could relate to us not merely as an All-Knowing God but as a Leader who experientially understands what it’s like to live for Him here on earth.

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to enable you to better understand just how much Jesus went through to demonstrate His love for you and to redeem you. Then thank Him from the bottom of your heart.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into the meaning of perfection in Hebrews 2:10, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“What is the meaning of perfection in the Bible?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of White Hall Baptist Church in Richmond, Kentucky (whitehallbaptistchurch.org)