The writer wants his readers to feel the weight of what they have heard. He reasons from the lesser to the greater. The word spoken by angels, which Barnes and Gill take to be the law, was "stedfast," and every disobedience under it "received a just recompence of reward" (Hebrews 2:2). If that word carried such weight, what about a salvation spoken by the Lord Himself? Barnes paraphrases the question: "What way is there of being saved from punishment, if we suffer the great salvation to be neglected?" He stresses that the danger is not only open rebellion: "It is not merely if we commit great sins." The danger is simple neglect. The writer says "we," counting himself among those who must take care.

The writer does not spell out the answer; the question itself makes it plain that there is no escape for those who neglect this salvation. Instead he goes on to show how sure the message is. It "began to be spoken by the Lord," was "confirmed unto us by them that heard him" (Hebrews 2:3), and God Himself bore "them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost" (Hebrews 2:4). The question mark in the KJV comes at the end of Hebrews 2:4, so the whole sentence is one long question. Gill states the implied answer: "it is not possible that they should escape divine vengeance."

The Greek word for "neglect" is ameleo, to be careless of. It does not describe open hatred but indifference. The writer sets this salvation beside "the word spoken by angels" (Hebrews 2:2), an earlier word from God that he calls "stedfast." The readers had not heard Jesus in person. They heard the gospel from those who did, and Barnes explains, "They who heard him preach, that is, the apostles, were witnesses of what he said, and certified us of its truth." Barnes also notes that while "John prepared the way," the Lord Jesus "was properly the first preacher of the gospel."

This question shows how seriously God takes His own word. Under the old covenant every transgression met a just reward (Hebrews 2:2). The gospel is not a smaller word than the law but a greater one, because it comes through the Son, whom God "hath appointed heir of all things" (Hebrews 1:2). Barnes lists why the salvation is great, and puts first that "Its author is great."

The question also shows God's patience in how He confirms His word. He did not leave the message to rest on a single report. The Lord spoke it, eyewitnesses confirmed it, and God bore witness with signs and gifts "according to his own will" (Hebrews 2:4). Matthew Henry says it was God's will "that we should have sure ground for our faith." The warning is real, but so is the care God has taken to make the message trustworthy.