Hebrews 2:10

It became. Gr. prepo, “to suit,” “to be fitting,” “to be becoming.”

Him. That is, the Father, as the remainder of the verse clearly indicates.

For whom. Or, “because of whom.” “All things” exist because God willed that they exist (cf. on 1 Cor. 8:6).

By whom. Or, “through whom.” God is the one by whom “all things” came into existence. Compare Rom. 11:36. The Scriptures also present Christ as the one through whom all things were created (Col. 1:16; cf. Heb. 1:2). It was the Father “who created all things by Jesus Christ” (Eph. 3:9).

Bringing many sons unto glory. As Christ, following His humiliation, was glorified (see John 17:5), so His sacrificial death was to result in many being glorified. For the meaning of glorification see on Rom. 8:30. For the significance of the title “sons” see on Rom. 8:14. The title is chosen designedly to show the relationship between Christ, the Son, and the redeemed, who are His brethren (see Heb. 2:11-18).

Captain. Gr. archegos, “leader,” “chief,” “founder,” “prince.” The word archegos occurs four times in the NT and is twice translated “Prince” (Acts 3:15; 5:31), once “author” (Heb. 12:2), and once “captain” (Heb. 2:10).

In classical Greek archegos is used for the head or progenitor of a Greek clan, also of heroes, and even as a divine name for Apollo. In the present text in Hebrews some suggest the meaning “pioneer,” a not unsuitable meaning, for it was Christ’s incarnation and death that made it possible for the members of the human race to be brought to glory. He pioneered the way. But the expression is inadequate in that Christ is more than a pioneer. He is the Saviour. Those who follow Him are the redeemed.

Perfect. Gr. teleiod, “to complete,” “to make perfect,” “to bring to consummation.”

For the adjective teleios see on Matt. 5:48. The author does not mean that Christ was not previously perfect. Christ was perfect as God. In His incarnation He was perfect as man. But by His sufferings He became perfect as Saviour (see Acts 5:31). The thought here in teleiod is that of reaching a predetermined goal, of finishing a race, of completing a prescribed course. Before Christ came to earth, the path He must tread was plain before Him; every step was clear. To reach the goal He must go all the way. He could not stop short of His ultimate destination; He must persevere to the end. It is the finishing of this course that is involved in the text before us, not any moral perfecting.

Sufferings. Christ reached His exalted state through the pathway of suffering. It was His “suffering of death” (v. 9) that constituted Him a savior and enabled Him to be the captain leading many sons to glory. The sufferings of temptation enabled Him to be “a merciful and faithful high priest,” “able to succour them that are tempted” (see on vs. 17, 18). Had Christ come to this world and spent His allotted time in peace and contentment, guarded by heavenly angels and protected from the hazards and temptations common to man, He would not have been perfected for His office. He would have had no opportunity to demonstrate what He would do under pressure. Had He not been tempted in all points, men would have wondered what He would do if He were really hungry, tired out, sick; what He would do if men should revile Him, curse Him, spit upon Him, scourge Him, and at last hang Him on a cross. Would He still retain His composure and pray for His enemies? If those whom He trusted should forsake Him, deny Him, betray Him, and desert Him in His supreme hour, would He, undiscouraged, commit Himself to God? If, as a climax, God Himself should appear to forsake Him, and the horror of darkness envelop Him and nearly crush Him, would He still drink the cup or would He draw back? Such questions men would ask if He had been shielded from temptations and suffering.