Hebrews 2:1

Hebrews 2:1

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip.

a. NLT: So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

b. NIV: We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

c. YLT: Because of this it behoveth us more abundantly to take heed to the things heard, lest we may glide aside,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Since all this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away.

e. Worrell Translation: For this reason, it is needful that we give the more earnest heed to the things heard, lest at any time we drift past them

1. “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard…”

a. therefore [1223 * dia] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.]

b. therefore [5124 * touto] [Strong: neuter singular nominative or accusative case of 3778; that thing:--here (-unto), it, partly, self(-same), so, that (intent), the same, there(-fore, -unto), this, thus, where(-fore).]

c. we [2248 * hemas] [Strong: accusative case plural of 1473; us:--our, us, we.]

d. ought [1163 * dei] [Zodhiates: Needs, is necessary, has need of…that which must be done from a sense of duty. Spoken of what is right and proper in itself or prescribed by law, duty, custom. It is right or proper, one must, it ought. (must, I Timothy 3:12).] [Strong: 3d person singular active present of 1210; also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is (was, etc.) necessary (as binding):--behoved, be meet, must (needs), (be) need(-ful), ought, should.]

e. to give the more earnest [4056 * perissateros] [Zodhiates: Exceedingly, much more, more frequent, more superabundantly.] [Bullinger: “more abundantly to be holding fast to”.] [Thayer: more abundantly, more in a greater degree, more earnestly, more exceedingly, especially, above others,]

f. heed [4337 * prosecho] To have in addition, to hold the mind or the ear toward someone, to pay attention. As a nautical term, it means to hold a ship in a direction, to sail towards.

1). Jesus instructs us on how we are to give heed to the Word of God. The whole passage is stirring, but particularly verse 24. What time and effort we put into the Word of God is what we will get out.

a). Mark 4:21-25 [Amplified Bible] And He said to them, Is the lamp brought in to be put under a peck measure or under a bed, and not [to be put] on the lampstand?

4:22 Things are hidden temporarily only as a means to revelation.] For there is nothing hidden except to be revealed, nor is anything [temporarily] kept secret except in order that it may be made known.

4:23 If any man has ears to hear, let him be listening and let him perceive and comprehend.

4:24 And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you--and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.

4:25 For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away [by force],

2). This is the attitude that Paul says we must have toward the word of God. Hold fast to God’s word, He is dependable. Praise God! I am reminded of other verses that shout the same.

a). Romans 3:4 “…yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”

b). Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not dot do it? or hath he spoken, and shall not he make it good?

c). Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

3). There is a part of an old hymn that is played at the beginning of J. Vernon McGee’s radio broadcast, Thru the Bible that has been an inspiration to me for years. There are seven stanzas to the hymn but I am only going to quote three of them.

a). “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!What more can He say than to you He hath said, You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, For I am thy God and will still give thee aid; I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand. The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”

4). The words to that hymn says it all, What more can he say?

2. “…lest at any time we should let them slip.”

a. lest at any time [3379 * mepote, or me pote] [Strong: from 3361 and 4218; not ever; also if (or lest) ever (or perhaps):--if peradventure, lest (at any time, haply), not at all, whether or not.]

b. let them slip [3901 * pararreo] To float by or drift past as a ship, or to flow past as a river. Figuratively, to slip away, suggesting a gradual and almost unnoticed movement past a certain point…to swerve or deviate from something, such as the truth, law, precepts. (Sept. Proverbs 3:21; “depart”).]

1). Arthur Pink: Exposition on Hebrews; “There is a difficulty here in making quite sure the Spirit’s precise meaning. The expression, “we should let… slip” is one Greek word and it occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The absence of the pronoun seems to be designed for allowing a double thought: lest we “let slip the things we have heard, and, or, lest we ourselves slip away- apostatize.”

2). Echoing again the previous thought of our attitude toward the word of God, I see in another verse the fruit of “giving the more earnest heed” to it.

a). 1 Samuel 3:19, 20 And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did not let none of his words fall to the ground.

3:20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.

3). Spiritual growth is a definite result of  “giving the more earnest heed”.

a). 1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.