Hebrews 2:10-18New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
10 It was fitting that God,[a] for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.[b] For this reason Jesus[c] is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,[d] 12 saying,
I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,[e]
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.
13 And again,
I will put my trust in him.
And again,
Here am I and the children whom God has given me.
14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters[f] in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Recap: Paul has told the Hebrews about God speaking to them through His prophets and through miracles and signs and wonders in the past and now in the last days God has spoken to us through His Son. Paul has told of the nature of the Son and how he's Superior to the angels. Then he goes on to tell the Hebrews to pay attention to what he has told them regarding what Jesus did for them. There was nothing said and/or implied about the Hebrews returning to Judaism. Paul quotes many OT scriptures to prove the deity of Jesus. He affirms that not accepting Jesus as Messiah is detrimental to their well being.
Paul tells them how the world is not for the angels to rule but it's mans. That is why Jesus had to do what He did. The promise is not completed yet because it's not the time...however, God will keep His promise. Jesus tasted death, for a short time the Son was made less than the angels so that by the grace of God all who accepted Him would be saved.
2:10 It was fitting that God,[a] for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. It was fitting that God should allow Jesus to suffer so that many sons could be brought into glory. What does it mean though about his suffering made him perfect?
The One New Man version says it this way: For indeed it was fitting for Him, by Whom all things were made and through Whom all things are, when He led many sons into glory, the Prince of their salvation was perfected through suffering.
Was Christ imperfect in any part of His being? The suggestion that He was is repulsive to those who know the scriptural teaching regarding our blessed Lord. No! He was in no wise imperfect. Being God, He was perfection itself on the divine side of His nature; on the human side, He likewise was perfect. There was nothing the matter with His human nature. It was doubtless as perfect as was Adam's before he fell through transgression and disobedience. It is quite possible that even His human nature was in a more perfect state of condition than was that of Adam. On this point, one cannot be dogmatic since the evidence which we have is so very slight; but regardless of all considerations we are positively right in saying that Christ was absolutely perfect in both His human and divine natures. Notwithstanding this fact, He was made perfect through suffering. In ordinary usage the correlative to perfection is imperfection; but the idea that there was something lacking in our Lord's nature is contrary to the facts. Thus when Christ was made perfect, no imperfections were removed. He must have been made perfect in a sense different from that with which we are acquainted. We must conclude that the perfection of Christ here noted was His advancing to a higher state or condition. But since He was God, it was impossible for Him to advance to a higher plane as to His Deity; this development must therefore be connoted of His fleshly nature. A simple little illustration might set forth the truth that is asserted in this verse. The soot that is deposited on the chimney of an oil lamp when it is turned too high is of the same essential nature as the diamond. The chemists tell us that this precious gem is pure carbon. There is positively no difference, chemically speaking, in the two substances. Nevertheless there is a vast difference in their appearances: Carbon becomes a diamond when it has been subjected to intense heat and very great pressure. The atoms are thus forced together and appear as if they were a different substance. In the terms of the illustration, I would say that Christ's body and human nature were in the carbon state when He was upon the earth prior to the crucifixion. He was subjected to the fiery trials of sufferings and death. Thus the pressure of the sin of the world was laid upon Him. He passed through this ordeal and rose from the dead with a glorified, immortalized body, which we may compare to the diamond. Thus by His death, burial, and resurrection He passed out of the carbon state of His human existence into the diamond state of His glorification. Christ therefore reached the state of perfection, from the standpoint of His human nature, by the suffering which He underwent for our redemption. ~David L Cooper~
2:11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, 12 saying,I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you. (PS 22:22)
13 And again,
I will put my trust in him. (IS 8:17)
And again,
Here am I and the children whom God has given me. (IS 8:18)
Christ who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are one....that is of one nature. He was referring to the human nature of our Lord and asserted that we are one. We are not to think that Jesus had sin in the flesh because he did not. He knew no sin. He was apart from sin. He committed no sin. Being God He could not sin. From the human standpoint though, He and we are of one nature.
When PS 22:22 is studied in it's context it can be seen that David was speaking of Christ acknowledging his brothers, the redeemed, in the millennial kingdom, when the nations are gathered together to worship the Lord of Hosts, the great King.
2:14-18 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Since our Lord partook of a human nature, he is a perfect High Priest who can understand the feelings of our infirmities. He is most qualified to be our High Priest in things pertaining to God in order to make atonement for our sins. He was approached by satan from every angle possible. His temptation was from without and not from within. Jesus was triumphant against every attack of satan. Having fought and won He is able to help all those who are tempted.