“For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him” (Hebrews 2:2-3).
There are several portions of Scripture that associate the presence of angelic beings in the administration of the Old Testament Law. Deuteronomy 33:2 offers one such example…
“…The Lord came from Sinai and revealed himself to Israel from Seir. He appeared in splendor from Mount Paran, and came forth with ten thousand holy ones. With his right hand he gave a fiery law to them” (NET).
The New Testament book of Galatians also addresses this subject…
“What, then, was the purpose of the Law? It was added in order to show what wrongdoing is, and it was meant to last until the coming of Abraham’s descendant, to whom the promise was made. The Law was handed down by angels, with a man acting as a go-between” (Galatians 3:19 GNT).
We can find similar references in Acts 7:37-38 and Acts 7:52-53 as well. The idea is that those who received the Law were still held accountable even though it was delivered through these angelic intermediaries. The Biblical book of Romans describes that accountability in Romans 3:19-20…
“Now we know that everything in the Law applies to those who live under the Law, in order to stop all human excuses and bring the whole world under God’s judgment. For no one is put right in God’s sight by doing what the Law requires; what the Law does is to make us know that we have sinned” (GNT).
So those who engaged in the practices that were prohibited by the Law or failed to live up to its standards, “…received an appropriate penalty” (AMP) according to Hebrews 2:2. We can turn to the following comments from one Pastoral author to help us understand and apply these Old Testament realities in a New Testament context…
“The Mosaic Law was steadfast and strict (every transgression and disobedience received a just reward); it demanded to be taken seriously. If we must take the word which came by angels seriously, how much more seriously must we take the word which came by the Son of God – who has been proven to be greater than the angels? A greater word, brought by a greater Person, having greater promises, will bring a greater condemnation if neglected.” (1)
(1) Guzik, Dave, Hebrews 2 – Jesus, Our Elder Brother https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/hebrews-2/