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Hebrews 2:2-4
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; …

Hebrews 1:1,2
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, …

Hebrews 12:25,26
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much moreshall not weescape, if we turn away from him thatspeaketh from heaven: …

the more.

Deuteronomy 4:9,23
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; …

Deuteronomy 32:46,47
And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law…

Joshua 23:11,12
Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God…

we should.

Hebrews 12:5
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

Matthew 16:9
Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

Mark 8:18
Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

let them slip.

Habakkuk 1:6
For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans,that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplacesthat are not theirs.

Habakkuk 2:16
Thou art filled with shame for glory: drink thou also, and let thy foreskin be uncovered: the cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned unto thee, and shameful spewingshall be on thy glory.

therefore,
The word "therefore" connects this verse to the preceding chapter, where the supremacy of Christ is established. It serves as a logical conclusion drawn from the argument that Jesus is greater than the angels and has delivered a message of salvation. This connection highlights the importance of the message of Christ, as it is the culmination of God's revelation to humanity.

to what we have heard,
This refers to the gospel message that the early Christians received. The phrase suggests an oral tradition, as the early church relied heavily on the spoken word before the New Testament was fully compiled. The message they heard was about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which was preached by the apostles. This aligns withRomans 10:17, which states that faith comes from hearing the message of Christ.

so that we do not drift away.
The imagery of drifting suggests a gradual and almost imperceptible movement away from the truth. This nautical metaphor would have been familiar to the original audience, many of whom lived in a maritime culture. Drifting implies a lack of anchor or direction, warning believers of the danger of neglecting their faith. This concept is echoed in other scriptures, such as1 Timothy 1:19, where Paul warns against shipwrecking one's faith. The warning is clear: without careful attention, believers risk losing their spiritual moorings.

• The exhortation is urgent. “We” includes every believer and even the author himself, underlining our shared responsibility.

• “Pay closer attention” means actively setting our minds and hearts on the truth, not treating it casually.Proverbs 4:20-22 echoes this call: “My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.”

• Jesus voiced the same priority: “Pay careful attention to how you listen” (Luke 8:18). Careful listening is the first step to faithful living.

• Practical steps:

– Schedule regular, unhurried time in Scripture.

– Turn off distractions and read aloud to engage ears and eyes.

– Take notes, underline, and rehearse key truths throughout the day.

• “Therefore” connects toHebrews 1, where the Son is shown to be higher than angels, Creator, Sustainer, and enthroned King. Because His word is infinitely superior, our obligation to heed it is also intensified.

•Hebrews 1:2-3 reminds us: “In these last days He has spoken to us by His Son… sustaining all things by His powerful word.” If the Speaker is supreme, ignoring His word is perilous.

• The pattern appears elsewhere: after displaying Christ’s majesty, the apostles press believers toward obedience (seeColossians 3:1-5). Revelation always calls for response.

• The focus is the gospel message “first spoken by the Lord” and “confirmed to us by those who heard Him” (Hebrews 2:3).

• Hearing is central to saving faith: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

• John, an eyewitness, wrote so that “you also may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

• Guard against adding or subtracting from what has been heard. Scripture, inspired and sufficient, must remain the final authority.

• These two words show purpose. Careful attention is not an end in itself; it protects us from the danger that follows.

• Similar warnings appear inColossians 1:23: “if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel.”

• God’s design is clear: consistent focus on His word preserves spiritual stability.

• “Drift” pictures a boat slowly sliding past its mooring. No violent storm is necessary; simple neglect is enough.

•Hebrews 3:12 broadens the warning: “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.”

•Ephesians 4:14 adds, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching.”

• Anchoring practices:

– Stay in fellowship where brothers and sisters can speak truth in love (Hebrews 10:24-25).

– Memorize and meditate on Scripture; God’s word is the sure anchor (Hebrews 6:19).

– Respond immediately to conviction; delayed obedience opens the door to drift.

Hebrews 2:1 calls believers to an attentive, earnest engagement with the gospel message. Because the Son who speaks is glorious beyond measure, we must listen carefully, continually rehearse what we have heard, and let it govern our lives. This deliberate attentiveness guards us from the quiet but deadly danger of spiritual drift. Staying moored to the unchanging Word keeps us steadfast, fruitful, and ready for the day we meet the Lord face-to-face.

(1-4) These verses must be closely joined with the first chapter. Before advancing to the next step in his argument, the writer pauses to enforce the duty which results from what has been already established. But (as inHebrews 4:14-16) the exhortation does not interrupt the thought, but rather serves as a connecting link. (See Note onHebrews 2:5.)

(1) Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard.--Better,to the things heard; for this expression contains the complement of the thought ofHebrews 1:1. Both "speak" and "hear" are words which carry weighty emphasis in this Epistle. (SeeHebrews 1:1;Hebrews 2:2;Hebrews 12:25;Hebrews 3:5;Hebrews 3:7;Hebrews 4:2,et al.) Because of the supreme dignity of Him in whom at the last God speaks, men are bound to give the more earnest heed to the words spoken, whether heard by them from the Lord Himself or (as in this case,Hebrews 2:3) from His servants. . . .