Hebrews 2:3

How shall we escape? The rhetorical question demands the answer, “We shall not escape.” The pronoun is emphatic in the Greek. The “we” is contrasted with those who in OT times transgressed the Mosaic code (v. 2). They neglected “the word spoken by angels”; those represented by “we” are in danger of neglecting the word spoken by Christ.

Neglect. Gr. ameled, “to be careless of,” “not to care,” “to neglect.” Many of the Jewish Christians clung to the old Judaic system and were inclined to think depreciatingly of the gospel. It was the purpose of the epistle to show that the old system had come to an end and that salvation could be found only in Christ and the gospel.

The warning is applicable in any age. There is no escape for those who are careless of the appeals of the gospel. There may be no outright rejection of Christ but simply a delay and neglect. Such a course is fraught with extreme danger and if persisted in will lead to eternal loss.

So great salvation. Great, in that God is its author. Great, because of its cost, the life of the Son of God. Great in its accomplishment, the renewal of body, soul, and spirit, and the exaltation of mankind to a place in heaven above.

Spoken by the Lord. In contrast with “the word spoken by angels” (v. 2). “God ... hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” (Heb. 1:1,2). The reference is to the message proclaimed by Christ during His earthly ministry. For the significance of the title “Lord” when applied to Christ see on John 13:13; 20:28.

Confirmed. Gr. bebaiod, “to establish,” “to confirm.” The gospel had not simply been proclaimed to them; it had been proclaimed with convicting power.

Unto us. The author here classes himself with those who had the gospel confirmed to them by those who heard it directly from Jesus. This excludes any of the twelve apostles from being the author of Hebrews. Many hold that it also excludes Paul, for he boasts that he did not receive the gospel of man but by revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:12). However, this reasoning is not in itself conclusive, for the author could be including himself in a general way with his readers. Furthermore, there were doubtless many things that were confirmed to Paul by eyewitnesses of Jesus. The mystery of the gospel he, of course, received directly from Jesus Christ. The problem of authorship must be settled on other considerations (see pp. 387-389).