Our Salvation Is Great

2 So we must be more careful to follow what we were taught. Then we will not stray away from the truth. 2 The teaching God spoke through angels was shown to be true, and anyone who did not follow it or obey it received the punishment that was earned. 3 So surely we also will be punished if we ignore this great salvation. The Lord himself first told about this salvation, and those who heard him testified it was true. 4 God also testified to the truth of the message by using wonders, great signs, many kinds of miracles, and by giving people gifts through the Holy Spirit, just as he wanted.

Christ Became like Humans

5 God did not choose angels to be the rulers of the new world that was coming, which is what we have been talking about. 6 It is written in the Scriptures,

“Why are people even important to you?

Why do you take care of human beings?

7 You made them a little lower than the angels

and crowned them with glory and honor. n

8 You put all things under their control.”

Psalm 8:4–6

When God put everything under their control, there was nothing left that they did not rule. Still, we do not yet see them ruling over everything. 9 But we see Jesus, who for a short time was made lower than the angels. And now he is wearing a crown of glory and honor because he suffered and died. And by God’s grace, he died for everyone.

10 God is the One who made all things, and all things are for his glory. He wanted to have many children share his glory, so he made the One who leads people to salvation perfect through suffering.

11 Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. 12 He says,

“Then, I will tell my brothers and sisters about you;

I will praise you in the public meeting.”

Psalm 22:22

13 He also says,

“I will trust in God.”

Isaiah 8:17

And he also says,

“I am here, and with me are the children God has given me.”

Isaiah 8:18

14 Since these children are people with physical bodies, Jesus himself became like them. He did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death—the devil—15 and free those who were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death. 16 Clearly, it is not angels that Jesus helps, but the people who are from Abraham. n 17 For this reason Jesus had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way so he could be their merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Then Jesus could die in their place to take away their sins. 18 And now he can help those who are tempted, because he himself suffered and was tempted.

Jesus Is Greater than Moses

3 So all of you holy brothers and sisters, who were called by God, think about Jesus, who was sent to us and is the high priest of our faith. 2 Jesus was faithful to God as Moses was in God’s family. 3 Jesus has more honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 Every house is built by someone, but the builder of everything is God himself. 5 Moses was faithful in God’s family as a servant, and he told what God would say in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a Son over God’s house. And we are God’s house if we confidently maintain our hope.

We Must Continue to Follow God

7 So it is as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today listen to what he says.

8  Do not be stubborn as in the past

when you turned against God,

when you tested God in the desert.

9  There your ancestors tried me and tested me

and saw the things I did for forty years.

10  I was angry with them.

I said, ‘They are not loyal to me

and have not understood my ways.’

11  I was angry and made a promise,

‘They will never enter my rest.’ ” n

Psalm 95:7–11

12 So brothers and sisters, be careful that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that will turn you away from the living God. 13 But encourage each other every day while it is “today.” n Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you. 14 We all share in Christ if we keep till the end the sure faith we had in the beginning. 15 This is what the Scripture says:

“Today listen to what he says.

Do not be stubborn as in the past

when you turned against God.”

Psalm 95:7–8

16 Who heard God’s voice and was against him? It was all those people Moses led out of Egypt. 17 And with whom was God angry for forty years? He was angry with those who sinned, who died in the desert. 18 And to whom was God talking when he promised that they would never enter his rest? He was talking to those who did not obey him. 19 So we see they were not allowed to enter and have God’s rest, because they did not believe.