4-1-07 Hebrews 2:17

Hebrews 2:17 (NAS)
Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 2:17 (NIVUS)
For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 2:17 (Philips)
It was imperative that he should be made like his brothers in every respect, if he were to become a High Priest both compassionate and faithful in the things of God, and at the same time able to make atonement for the sins of the people.

Yes, God did so love the world that He sent His only begotten Son to be our Savior. Because of His very nature, which is love itself, the Father could do no less. He and His Son were in complete agreement over this decision. In fact, they almost owed mankind this opportunity; they took on our salvation as a personal obligation. However, they looked upon it as something to their advantage and profit.

Jehovah (Jesus), in deciding this, knew that the only way He could save man, was to become man. He had to resemble and be like man in every way, except for man's fallen nature. The sacrifice for Him was great, but He knew that through it, He would redeem many back to the Father and, in that action, be able to call them "brethren."

By becoming a man, He was able to experience every thing that any human being experiences through out a lifetime. Through this He is able to empathize with our suffering. However, empathy is not where He stopped. His understanding of our nature allows Him to be even more merciful to us. He desires to help and be kind to all who will come to Him. Any who are miserable, afflicted and wretched can find aid at His throne, without fear of punishment. Yeshua (Jesus) is faithful; we can rely on and trust in Him totally. He has extended His favor to us and we in turn strive to please Him through obedience to His word.

He became our High Priest. Through His own blood, shed freely, He has made atonement once and for all for our sin, by which we violated God's laws. After He sacrificed Himself, He took that same blood and sprinkled it on the eternal mercy seat, so that it everlastingly calls out salvation for those who will trust in it. Yeshua's blood has appeased the wrath of God. Now we are consecrated to God and are His very own precious possessions