Hebrews 1–2

1ST CHAPTER

God Has Spoken to Us Through His Son

¹In the past God spoke to our ancestors at many different times and in many different ways through the prophets. ²In these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. God made his Son responsible for everything. His Son is the one through whom God made the universe. ³His Son is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact likeness of God’s being. He holds everything together through his powerful words. After he had cleansed people from their sins, he now holds the honored position—the one next to the majestic God [the Father] on the heavenly throne. 

God’s Son Is Superior to the Angels

⁴The Son has become greater than the angels since he has been given a name that is superior to theirs. ⁵God never said to any of his angels, 

“You are my Son. 

Today I have become your Father.” 

And God never said to any of his angels, 

“I will be his Father, 

and he will be my Son.” 

⁶When God was about to send his firstborn Son into the world, he said, 

“All of God’s angels must worship him.” 

⁷God said about the angels, 

“He makes his messengers winds. 

He makes his servants flames of fire.” 

⁸But God said about his Son, 

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. 

The scepter in your kingdom is a scepter for justice. 

⁹You have loved what is right and hated what is wrong. 

That is why God, your God, 

anointed you, rather than your companions, with the oil of joy.” 

¹⁰God also said, 

“Lord, in the beginning you laid the foundation of the earth. 

With your own hands you made the heavens. 

¹¹They will come to an end, but you will live forever. 

They will all wear out like clothes. 

¹²They will be taken off like a coat. 

You will change them like clothes. 

But you remain the same, and your life will never end. 

¹³But God never said to any of the angels, 

“Take the honored position—the one next to me on the heavenly throne 

until I put your enemies under your control.” 

¹⁴What are all the angels? They are spirits sent to serve those who are going to receive salvation. 

2ND CHAPTER

Everything Is under Jesus’ Control

¹For this reason we must pay closer attention to what we have heard. Then we won’t drift away ⸤from the truth⸥. ²After all, the message that the angels brought was reliable, and every violation and act of disobedience was properly punished. ³So how will we escape punishment if we reject the important message, the message that God saved us? First, the Lord told this saving message. Then those who heard him confirmed that message. ⁴God verified what they said through miraculous signs, amazing things, other powerful acts, and with other gifts from the Holy Spirit as he wanted. 

⁵He didn’t put the world that will come (about which we are talking) under the angels’ control. ⁶Instead, someone has declared this somewhere in Scripture: 

“What is a mortal that you should remember him, 

or the Son of Man^athat you take care of him? 

⁷You made him a little lower than the angels. 

You crowned him with glory and honor. 

⁸You put everything under his control.” 

When God put everything under his Son’s control, nothing was left out. 

However, at the present time we still don’t see everything under his Son’s control. ⁹Jesus was made a little lower than the angels, but we see him crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death. Through God’s kindness^bhe died on behalf of everyone. ¹⁰God is the one for whom and through whom everything exists. Therefore, while God was bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was the right time to bring Jesus, the source of their salvation, to the end of his work through suffering. 

Jesus Became One of Us to Help Us

¹¹Jesus, who makes people holy, and all those who are made holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus isn’t ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. ¹²He says, 

“I will tell my people about your name. 

I will praise you within the congregation.” 

¹³In addition, Jesus says, 

“I will trust him.” 

And Jesus says, 

“I am here with the sons and daughters God has given me.” 

¹⁴Since all of these sons and daughters have flesh and blood, Jesus took on flesh and blood to be like them. He did this so that by dying he would destroy the one who had power over death (that is, the devil). ¹⁵In this way he would free those who were slaves all their lives because they were afraid of dying. ¹⁶So Jesus helps Abraham’s descendants rather than helping angels. ¹⁷Therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters so that he could be merciful. He became like them so that he could serve as a faithful chief priest in God’s presence and make peace with God for their sins. ¹⁸Because Jesus experienced temptation when he suffered, he is able to help others when they are tempted.