In our last study, beginning the second chapter of Hebrews, we learned that the word of salvation, “which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord,” has been committed to men. Whosoever hears the message is commissioned to give it to others, telling what he has seen and heard with the Lord. This work, although committed to man, is God’s work, “for he whom God hath sent, speaks the words of God;” and therefore God bears them witness, or, rather, God bears witness with them, “both with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will.”
But why is this work committed to men, instead of to the angels, those messengers of God, whom He sends with the speed of the lightnings and the strength of the mighty winds? —The scripture before us in our present lesson gives us the answer: —
“For unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that Thou visitest him? Thou made him a little lower (or, “for a little while lower”) than the angels; Thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands; Thou best hut all things in subjection under his feet. For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him.” Hebrews 2.5-8
“The World to Come.”—What is “the world to come, whereof we speak?” and where has the writer of this Epistle spoken of it? —The answer to the first question is found in 2 Peter 3.13: “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and anew earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” And again: “I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.” “And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” “He that over cometh shall inherit all things.” Revelation 21.1, 5, 7. The world to come is the new earth, and we have already found a reference to it in Hebrews 1.10-12, where we read that the heavens and the earth shall wax old as doth a garment, and like a vesture shall be folded up and changed, that is, replaced by new. Thus we see that “the world to come, whereof we speak,” is the new heaven and the new earth, wherein the righteous shall dwell.
To Whom Made Subject?—“Unto the angels hath He not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.” But has God put the world to come in subjection to anyone?—If not, there would be no significance in specifying the angels, as those to whom it has not been made subject. Notice, however, the connection: The apostle is talking about the preaching of the Gospel, the word of salvation; it at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and is committed to those who heard Him, that is to men, because unto the angels He hath not put in subjection the world to come. Thus we see it clearly indicated that the reason why the preaching of the Gospel is committed to men is that unto men the world to come has been put in subjection. But we are not left to draw conclusions about this matter, for we are told, even