Hebrews 2 and 3

Hebrews 2

The Savior took upon himself a mortal body and one of the reasons he did this is so that he would suffer and be tempted in the same way we are. In chapter 3 of Hebrews it tells us that he was tempted in all things as we are. Between his life and atonement, he suffered all things that it is possible for mankind to suffer. In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin taught, “… he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue.” Alma taught, “And he shall [suffer] pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people… and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.”

The Savior knows perfectly how anyone at any time feels because he himself descended below all things. He knows every physical pain, every mental and emotional pain, and suffered it more deeply than it is possible for any person to suffer. And he did this because of the love and mercy he has for each of his children. He is not a detached God who silently observes us from his throne. But he is very much involved in our lives. He cares about what we are suffering and nurses us through it. He does not usually remove it because he would remove one of life’s greatest teachers. But he understands perfectly and cares perfectly and will help us through whatever it is that we enduring.

Hebrews 3

The Jews seem to have spent more time honoring Moses more than God. Paul tries to teach them that Jehovah is Christ and he is the God of the Old Testament and they should honor him more than Moses. In first Corinthians it says that the children of Israel in Moses’ time “did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of the spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” He is the creator of all things. While the Jews venerated Moses, Paul points out that he who built the house, in this case the house of Israel, is greater than the house. Moses was faithful, but was a servant in the house. Later in Hebrews, it says that Moses regarded the reproach of Christ greater than all the riches of Egypt. In verses 7-11, he quotes Christ who says that the children of Israel tempted him, proved him and saw his works for forty years. But they hardened their hearts against him, they were wrong in their hearts and as a result did not know his ways.