Hebrews 2

Warning to Pay Attention

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.^a For since the message spoken^b through angels^c was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,^d how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?^e This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord,^f was confirmed to us by those who heard him.^g God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles,^h and by gifts of the Holy Spiritⁱ distributed according to his will.^j

Jesus Made Like His Brothers and Sisters

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone^a has testified:

“What are mere mortals that you are mindful of them,

human beings that you care for them?^b

You made them a little lower than the angels;

you crowned them with glory and honor

and put everything under their feet.”^c

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor^d because he suffered death,^e so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.^f

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists,^g should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.^h Both the one who makes people holyⁱ and those who are made holy^j are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.^k He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters;

in the assembly I will sing your praises.”^l

And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”^m

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”ⁿ

Since the children have flesh and blood,^o he too shared in their humanity^p so that by his death he might break the power^q of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil^r— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear^s of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.^t For this reason he had to be made like his brothers and sisters^u in every way, in order that he might become a merciful^v and faithful high priest^w in service to God,^x and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.^y Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.^z