For the sins of the people !
Heb 2:17
17 Wherefore in all things
it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,
to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
The word reconciliation here is the greek word
hilaskomai:
- to render one's self, to appease, conciliate to one's self
- to become propitious, be placated or appeased
- to be propitious, be gracious, be merciful, to expiate, make propitiation for,"
- to expiate, make propitiation for
The word is in the same family of words whereby we get propitiation in 1 Jn 2:2
hilasmos
2 And he is
the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Now whose our sins ? Hebrews 2:17 tells us,
for the sins of the people ! Not the whole World, or everyone without exception
The People in the original has the definite article meaning
a specific people
So its the same definite people in 1 Jn 2:2. The difference is,
the definite people are not confined or restricted to one nationality of people, the ethnic jews, but the definite people is scattered out throughout the whole entire world.
But the main point is, its a definite people, a specific people !