Let’s read through the book of Hebrews one verse at a time in 2023. Every day explore a single verse and its cross references. AI-generated text draws the passages together. RSS feed.
For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.
The cross references for Hebrews 2:16 demonstrate the importance of God's promise to Abraham and his descendants. They emphasize the idea of faith and obedience to God's will, as well as the fact that Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise. They also emphasize the idea of God's discipline and how it leads to holiness. Finally, they demonstrate that God has always been aware of His plan for the world and that He has made it manifest in the last times.
| Passage | How It’s Related (AI-Generated) |
|---|---|
| Genesis 22:18: and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” | Both passages refer to the promise of God to bless all the nations of the earth through the offspring of Abraham. Hebrews 2:16 explains that God fulfills this promise not through angels, but through the descendants of Abraham. Genesis 22:18 is the original promise of God to Abraham that all nations will be blessed through his offspring. |
| Matthew 1:1-17: The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, | Both passages refer to the ancestry of Jesus Christ, with Hebrews 2:16 emphasizing that Jesus was a descendant of Abraham and Matthew 1:1–17 providing a detailed genealogy of Jesus' lineage. Hebrews 2:16 highlights the importance of Jesus' heritage in relation to the Abrahamic covenant, while Matthew 1:1–17 provides a comprehensive account of Jesus' lineage through Abraham. |
| Romans 2:25: For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. | Both passages discuss the importance of obeying God's law. Hebrews 2:16 explains that God helps those who obey His law, specifically the descendants of Abraham. Romans 2:25 states that circumcision is only of value if one follows the law, and if one breaks the law, the circumcision is meaningless. |
| Romans 4:16-25: That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, | Both passages discuss the promise of God to Abraham and his offspring. Hebrews 2:16 speaks of how God helps the offspring of Abraham, while Romans 4:16–25 talks about how the promise of God to Abraham rests on grace and is guaranteed to all his offspring, regardless of whether they adhere to the law or share the faith of Abraham. In Romans 4, Paul describes Abraham's unwavering faith in God's promise even in the face of his old age and Sarah's barrenness. |
| Galatians 3:16: Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. | Both passages emphasize the special relationship between God and Abraham's offspring. In Hebrews 2:16, God is helping Abraham's offspring, which is a sign of his grace and mercy. In Galatians 3:16, the promise made to Abraham is revealed to be fulfilled in Christ, who is the ultimate descendant of Abraham. This passage reveals that God's promise to Abraham is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, and thus serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness. |
| Galatians 3:29: And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. | Both passages discuss the relationship between Abraham and those who follow Christ. Hebrews 2:16 explains that God helps those who are Abraham's offspring, and Galatians 3:29 states that those who follow Christ are heirs of Abraham and thus receive God's help. This establishes a connection between faith in Christ and being a descendant of Abraham, as those who believe in Christ are considered Abraham's offspring. |
| Hebrews 6:16: For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. | Both passages refer to the importance of oaths and promises in the life of faith. Hebrews 2:16 emphasizes the importance of God's promises to the descendants of Abraham, and how those promises are the foundation of our faith. Hebrews 6:16 further emphasizes the importance of oaths and promises, noting that they serve as a confirmation in all disputes. |
| Hebrews 12:10: For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. | Both passages demonstrate the ways in which God cares for his people. Hebrews 2:16 speaks of how God helps the descendants of Abraham, showing his special care for them. Hebrews 12:10, meanwhile, speaks of how God disciplines us for our own good, so that we can become closer to him and share in his holiness. |
| 1 Peter 1:20: He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you | Both passages refer to Jesus' role as a savior. Hebrews 2:16 explains that Jesus came to provide help to the descendants of Abraham, which is a reference to the Jews. 1 Peter 1:20 explains that Jesus was foreknown before the world was created, and that he was made manifest in the last times to provide salvation to all people, not just the Jews. |
Dear Lord,
We thank You for Your promise to Abraham and his offspring. We thank You for the faith Abraham had in You, and for his willingness to obey Your voice. We thank You for Jesus, the offspring of Abraham, and for the hope we have in Him. We thank You for Your grace and mercy, and for Your loving discipline.
Help us to have faith like Abraham, and to trust in Your promises. Help us to obey Your voice and to live in a way that is honoring to You. Help us to be blessed by You and to be a blessing to others.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
This reading plan reads through a single verse each day, six days a week, paired with the most-popular cross references for the verse. AI-generated (and human-reviewed) text provides an opening thought and concluding prayer along with an explanation for how each cross reference relates to the verse. In 2023, this reading plan works through Hebrews one verse at a time. Every seventh day is a catchup day. Want more info? Try this blog post.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.