(Vs. 1) "Therefore" (since God has spoken to us by the Son Himself; since we have a full revelation of His mercy and righteousness in Christ; since Christ, Who is infinitely above all angels, prophets, and priests, has preached to us the gospel of redemption), "we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard from Him."
(Vs. 1-4) Paul gives several reasons why we ought to give the more earnest heed to what Christ has said.
1. Christ is the Messiah, Himself, of Whom all the others spoke; and He is the last messenger (John 3:36; I Peter 1:18-20).
2. (Vs. 1) "Lest we let them slip away." We can let them slip away by not receiving them when they are preached, by being taken up with other things and neglecting them, by removing ourselves from where they are preached, and by hardness of heart, we lose them through the judgment of God (Israel did).
3. (Vs. 2&3) If the message given through angels (that is, the law spoken by them to Moses) was authentic and disobedience to that law and ceremony received a Just penalty, how shall we escape severe penalty if we refuse to receive SO GREAT SALVATION DECLARED BY THE LORD HIMSELF?
4. (Vs. 4) This gospel was spoken by our Lord Himself. It was confirmed by the apostles. It was established and endorsed by the Father, Who gave these apostles great gifts and marvelous manifestations of the Holy Spirit as credentials that they spoke for God and spoke the truth. They spoke in other languages, healed the sick, even raised the dead, and cast out demons (Mark 16: 17-18).
In the light of all this, how shall we escape the judgment and wrath of God if we are indifferent to this gospel?
(Vs. 5) It is not the angels, but Christ Who has been given a name above every name, Who is head and King of the new heaven and new earth, and to Whom is committed all judgment (Phil. 2:9-11; John 5:22). Angels are powerful, numerous, ministering spirits, ABOUT the throne but NOT ON THE THRONE. Christ is the King! All things are delivered unto Him of the Father (Matt. 11:27).
(Vs. 6-9) This is a quotation from David's Psalm 8:3-8 and may set forth man's position on the earth before he fell. But the Apostle Paul appropriates them to man as represented by the Lord Jesus Christ. One can read these verses along with Gen. 1:26-28 and ascribe this to man in his original creation. But take it along with Verse 9 and see how that Christ, our Lord, for a while was made flesh and through suffering and death experienced death for every one of His people.
Mr. Spurgeon wrote a beautiful word on this Psalm, emphasizing Verse 4, "What is man that Thou art mindful of him?" "The least grain of sand is not so small to the whole earth as man is to heaven. When I think of the heavens –the sun, the moon, and the stars –O God, what is man? Man, in the pride of his heart, sees no wonder in God's being mindful of him; but a humble soul is astonished. Will the Lord have respect to such a vile worm as I? Will the Lord acquaint Himself with such a sinful wretch, enough to die for me? Will the Lord open His heart to me? 'What is man that Thou are mindful of Him' or carest for Him?"