Charles Ellicott Commentary Hebrews 2:10

"For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings." — Hebrews 2:10 (ASV)

For.—What seemed incredible to the Jews, that the Christ should die, was ordained “by the grace of God.” For in this way to make sufferings the path to His kingdom was worthy of God, for whose glory and through whose power all things exist; who as Creator commands all agencies, and who cannot help but do that which will serve His glory. If the means at which people wondered were chosen by God, no one may doubt their supreme fitness for the end. The following words partially explain in what this fitness consisted.

In bringing.—It is debatable whether the Greek word should not be translated as having brought. With this translation, we must certainly explain the words on the same principle as the past tenses of Hebrews 2:7-8. Just as in the divine counsels all things were subjected to man, so equally appropriately it may be said that God had brought many sons to glory when the Saviour suffered and died.

Many sons.—The new thought introduced here is of great importance in the argument. The divine purpose is to bring many sons to glory—the glory already spoken of as reserved for man—through His Son, who has Himself received this glory so that He may make it theirs.

Captain.—This word occurs in three other places. In Acts 5:31 it bears its original meaning, “Leader” (“a Leader and a Saviour”); in Hebrews 12:2 and Acts 3:15 the idea of “leading the way” has evolved into that of origination. In the present case, also, Author is the best translation; but in a context that so distinctly presents our Lord as taking on Himself the human condition, and thereby passing into the glory He wins for humanity, the primary thought of leading must not be entirely set aside.

It is as the Author of salvation that He is made perfect through sufferings. Three aspects of this truth are presented in the Epistle. By His suffering to death He bare the sins of many (Hebrews 2:9, Hebrews 9:28); He offered the sacrifice of a perfect obedience (Hebrews 5:8); He was enabled to be a perfect representative of humanity. This last thought pervades the remaining verses of the chapter.