Danger of Ignoring Christ’s Salvation

September 23rd, 2025
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 2:2-3a If the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

The Law, summarized in the Commandments (Exod. 20:1-17) given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai circa 1446 BC, was mediated and ordained by angels. Though not stated in Exodus 20, Psalm 68:17 speaks of chariots manned by angels: “The chariots of God are myriads… the Lord is among them as at Sinai, in holiness.” Moses himself wrote: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, and He came from the midst of ten thousand holy ones; at His right hand there was flashing lightning for them” (Deut. 33:2).

The Apostle Paul affirms that the Law was mediated through angels, saying, “…the Law then…was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator…” (Gal. 3:19, italics mine). Likewise, the first Christian martyr, Stephen, refers to at least one angel who accompanied Moses at Sinai: “This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mt. Sinai, and who was with our fathers… the Law as ordained by angels” (Acts 7:38, 53).

All of this matters because the author of Hebrews is employing a Hebrew argument style called qal wahomer—arguing from the minor (qal) to the major (homer). If something is true in a minor issue, then it is all-the-more true in a major issue. The Hebrews author is saying, “So, if God ordained His Law through angels, and the breaking of God’s Law can result in death, then how can anyone escape the wrath of God if they neglect the great salvation Jesus grants?”

Under the old covenant of the Law, if a Jew committed adultery, murdered, or even cursed God, he was to be put to death (Lev. 24:14-16). Equally, if one worked on the Sabbath, after being informed not to work on the Sabbath, he was to be put to death (Num. 15:30-36) for such blatant disobedience. In v. 2, the Hebrews author makes it clear that “Every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution” under the OT covenant mediated by angels. So if the Law that angels mediated was disobeyed and just retribution was given as a result of disobedience, then to drift away from Jesus and the salvation He provides was far worse!

The point is, these commands of God, though mediated by angels, were “unalterable”—so much so that “every transgression” (blatant violation) and “disobedience” (refusal to hear and obey) “received a just penalty.” Sometimes the penalty came directly from God as when in one day 23,000 died (1 Cor. 10:5-10; cf. Num. 25:9). At other times the just punishment from God came through legal processes—like the death penalty for blatant disregard of the Sabbath (Num. 15:32-36). On thing is for certain in the Law as mediated by angels: “Every violation and disobedience received a just penalty”—the qal, or minor, side of the argument.

The homer, or major, side of the argument is “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?” The “we” is for all, not just first century readers. Since God has spoken through His Son, who is greater than angels (1:4-14), all should give heed. There is no “escape” to “neglect,” or ignore, such a warning. No wonder the warning is to “pay closer attention to what we have heard” (v. 1). Neglecting Christ’s offer of salvation entails eternal doom!

Food For Thought
God loves us! He, like a parent or a coach who loves his children or players, urgently warns them to stay the course, keep from drifting, and hold firm to the faith. How many souls reside in hell today who drifted past the harbor of salvation, who were oh-so-close to it but who chose to ignore and snub God’s warnings? God shows His love through His timeless Word of calling us to repentance. Let us not take Him lightly; let us pay more careful attention to our Lord Jesus.