v1-4: The first of six 'asides'; sections dealing with 'six perils'; they expose attitudes which 'religious' people may maintain, but which truly spiritual people should not.

• 2.1-4; the peril of neglect;
• 3.7-14; the peril of unbelief;
• 4.11-13; the peril of disobedience;
• 5.11-6.12; the peril of immaturity;
• 10.19-31; the peril of rejection;
• 12.25-27; the peril of refusal.

v1: Either we give the more careful attention to the things of Christ, or we drift away. Many hear of Christ, even tasting of the heavenly gift (6.4) and the powers of the age to come (6.5); there may be spiritual experience but not salvation; tasting but not trusting. We are commanded to make our calling sure, Phil 2.12; 2 Pet 1.10.

The danger of neglect is that by not making a decision, we actually do make a decision. And that decision is to drift. In contrast Daniel 'resolved' (Dan 1.8). Paul expressed real commitment (Phil 3.10, 14). to know Christ.

v2: The message previously declared by angels had full God-given authority; this refers us back to the O.T. law. When men and women broke the law, they received a just punishment. From Ps 68.17, we understand that angels were present when God first gave the Tan Commandments. It seems clear that first century Jews accepted that angels had declared the Law of God, emphasizing its authority. See also Acts 7.35,53 and Gal 3.19.

v3: This "great salvation" was announced by the Lord Himself. This is something great, something worth having, and enjoying, and experiencing; it is foolish in the extreme to neglect something so wonderful. If we allow the enemy to snatch away the seed, we will be held responsible for our unbelief.

The salvation, first announced by the Lord, was then declared by the apostles, those who heard Him.

v4: God's own testimony to, and approval of, the message of salvation, see Mark 16.20; Acts 4.29-30. God gave signs to accompany the word.

Signs point to something, and provide a specific reason for the miracle.

Wonders are something wonderful; to amaze the witnesses, and cause them to give praise to God.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit, a proof of real life, part of God's seal upon the message; this is true for the individual and for the church.

All these things are given according to the will of God the Holy Spirit. They underline the miraculous nature of our faith. They is debate over whether such things belonged solely to the apostolic age, the first few decades of the church, or whether they should always characterise the work of Christ through the church.

‘Miracles were illustrations of the character of the new religion. They were sermons in act. They set forth in unmistakable terms two of its fundamental doctrines, the doctrine of charity and the doctrine of salvation, of release from bondage of sin and the power of the devil.’ (Roland Allen, Missionary Methods)

Since the 'peril' of neglect remains, and the reality of human religion instead of faith, the glory of salvation is Christ also remains, we may draw the conclusion that our faith remains miraculous, and therefore we should expect to see the miraculous, witnessing to that faith.

v5-8: The writer returns to the matter of angels. The prophecy, from Psalm 8, refers initially to man, and the honour given to mankind by God, but also to Christ, who became a man. It is to Him that the world to come will be subject.  The phrase 'the world to come' refers to the time between Pentecost and Christ's return. We see the future world breaking into our present world.

Such authority will not be given to angels, see also 1 Cor 6.3. In creation, man was to have dominion over all things; this was lost through Adam, but is restored in Christ.

Ultimately, all things will be put under Christ, but this has not yet happened, since there is still rebellion against Christ. 1 Cor 15.24-28 also refers to Christ's future reign.

v9: Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of the Psalm. For a little while, He was made lower than the angels. The purpose was the suffering of death, that He might taste death for everyone. Christ was born as a man, lived as a man, that He might die as a man.

He was crowned with glory and honour, His Name was exalted above every other name.

He tasted death for everyone "by the grace of God", for there was no outer compulsion that drove Him to die for us. Christ gave Himself for those who did not deserve salvation.

v10: The sufferings of Christ were planned by God, and were absolutely necessary. It was "fitting", necessary, right that Christ had to suffer (Luke 24.25).

"For whom and through whom"; He is the all sufficient One; the One in whom all things will be united.

To save people, Christ had to become as we are, and suffer like us, as well as for us. He learned the cost of obedience (5.8) through suffering; this refers to all the trials and persecutions and hardships of His life.'Jesus Christ is unique not because He stands apart from us but because no one has identified so profoundly with the human predicament as he has, in order to transform it.' (Kwame Bediako, Jesus and the Gospel in Africa).

He has brought "many sons to glory," and our response is to glorify Him.

v11: The unity of Christ and His people; "of the same family", or 'all of one'; this unity is here described in terms of being set apart by Him and for Him.

We are sanctified, to become like Him. We are brothers and sisters, united with Him. We will share His suffering as well as His glory.

v12: The Lord Jesus sings with His people, the song of redemption from God; see 1 Chr 25.2-6 where families joined together to sing praises to God. The quotation here is from Ps 22.22, where Christ is leading the singing amongst His people. He leads us in praise to God.

v13: The Lord Jesus rejoices in His family. His sacrifice of Himself has brought forth fruit.

v14: Christ's incarnation was both an identification with those who would become His children, and was the plan for victory. He shared in human life, in "flesh and blood". Before the incarnation, He had no human experience. Angels never shared "flesh and blood".

Through His death and resurrection He gained victory over devil; the resurrection is the proof of that victory.

v15: The strong man, the devil , was defeated, his goods are spoiled, mankind is released from the fear of death, and a lifetime of bondage.

v16: Jesus Christ came to save His people from their sins, for "Abraham's descendants", those who have faith, Gal 3.6-7.

v17: Eternal priesthood demanded the life of the Son of Man; eternal redemption demanded the blood of the Son of God (see 9.11-15). The priest had to maintain man's relationship with God; Christ continues to make atonement for us.

He was made like his brothers, see Ex 28.1; for Christ this was true in His birth, childhood, baptism, suffering, death; He is thus qualified to be high priest for us.

As a merciful high priest, He understands and cares. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, see 4.15.

As a faithful high priest He continues, see 7.23, 25. He always intercedes for us; He always brings our needs, accurately to the throne. He forgets none, and neglects none.

v18: In particular, since He suffered when He was tempted, He enables us to resist also; we can enjoy victory over temptation, for He gives us strength.