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God Has Spoken by His Son

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son,[a] whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.(A) He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains[b] all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for[c] sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,(B) having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.(C)

The Son Is Superior to Angels

For to which of the angels did God[d] ever say,

“You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you”?

Or again,

“I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son”?(D)

And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

Of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels winds
    and his servants flames of fire.”(E)

But of the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, is[e] forever and ever,
    and the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your[f] kingdom.(F)
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;[g]
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
    with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”(G)

10 And,

“In the beginning, Lord, you founded the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands;(H)
11 they will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like clothing;(I)
12 like a cloak you will roll them up,
    and like clothing[h] they will be changed.
But you are the same,
    and your years will never end.”

13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,

“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?(J)

14 Are not all angels[i] spirits in the divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?(K)

Warning to Pay Attention

Therefore we must pay greater attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message declared through angels proved valid, and every transgression or disobedience received a just penalty,(L) how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was confirmed for us by those who heard him,(M) while God added his testimony by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to his will.(N)

Exaltation through Abasement

Now God[j] did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels.(O) But someone has testified somewhere,

“What are humans that you are mindful of them[k]
    or mortals that you care for them?[l](P)
You have made them for a little while lower[m] than the angels;
    you have crowned them with glory and honor,[n]
    subjecting all things under their feet.”

Now in subjecting all things to them, God[o] left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them,(Q) but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower[p] than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God[q] he might taste death for everyone.(R)

10 It was fitting that God,[r] for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.(S) 11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father.[s] For this reason Jesus[t] is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,(T) 12 saying,

“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”(U)

13 And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again,

“Here am I and the children whom God has given me.”(V)

14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,(W) 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.(X) 16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels but the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.(Y) 18 Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.(Z)

Moses a Servant, Christ a Son

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,(AA) who was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses also “was faithful in all[u] God’s[v] house.” Yet Jesus[w] is worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.(AB) (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)(AC) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s[x] house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken later.(AD) Christ, however, was faithful over God’s[y] house as a son, and we are his house if we hold firm[z] the boldness and the pride inspired by hope.(AE)

Warning against Unbelief

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice,(AF)
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
    as on the day of testing in the wilderness,
where your ancestors put me to the test,[aa]
though they had seen my works 10     for forty years.
Therefore I was angry with that generation,
and I said, ‘They always go astray in their hearts,
    and they have not known my ways.’
11 As in my anger I swore,
    ‘They will not enter my rest.’ ”

12 Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”(AG)

16 Now who were they who heard and rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt under the leadership of Moses?(AH) 17 And with whom was he angry forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?(AI) 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who were disobedient?(AJ) 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.(AK)

The Rest That God Promised

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it.(AL) For indeed the good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them because they were not united by faith with those who listened.[ab](AM) For we who have believed are entering that rest, just as God[ac] has said,

“As in my anger I swore,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ”

though his works were finished since the foundation of the world. For somewhere it speaks about the seventh day as follows, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”(AN) And again in this place it says, “They shall not enter my rest.” Since therefore it remains open for some to enter it and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he sets a certain day—“today”—saying through David much later, in the words already quoted,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”(AO)

For if Joshua had given them rest, God[ad] would not speak later about another day. So then, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God, 10 for those who enter God’s[ae] rest also rest from their labors as God did from his. 11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.

12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.(AP) 13 And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.(AQ)

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.(AR) 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested[af] as we are, yet without sin.(AS) 16 Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness,(AT) and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honor but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.(AU)

So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest but was appointed by[ag] the one who said to him,

“You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you”;(AV)

as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
    according to the order of Melchizedek.”(AW)

In the days of his flesh, Jesus[ah] offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.(AX) Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered,(AY) and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,(AZ) 10 having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Warning against Falling Away

11 About this[ai] we have much to say that is hard to explain, since you have become sluggish in hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic elements of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,(BA) 13 for everyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is unskilled in the word of righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.(BB)

Footnotes

  1. 1.2 Or the Son
  2. 1.3 Or bears along
  3. 1.3 Other ancient authorities add our
  4. 1.5 Greek he
  5. 1.8 Or God is your throne
  6. 1.8 Other ancient authorities read his
  7. 1.9 Other ancient authorities read wickedness
  8. 1.12 Other ancient authorities lack like clothing
  9. 1.14 Gk all of them
  10. 2.5 Gk he
  11. 2.6 Gk What is man that you are mindful of him?
  12. 2.6 Gk or the son of man that you care for him? In the Hebrew of Psalm 8.4–6 both man and son of man refer to all humankind
  13. 2.7 Or them only a little lower
  14. 2.7 Other ancient authorities add and set them over the works of your hands
  15. 2.8 Gk he
  16. 2.9 Or who was made a little lower
  17. 2.9 Other ancient authorities read apart from God
  18. 2.10 Gk he
  19. 2.11 Gk are all of one
  20. 2.11 Gk he
  21. 3.2 Other ancient authorities lack all
  22. 3.2 Gk his
  23. 3.3 Gk this one
  24. 3.5 Gk his
  25. 3.6 Gk his
  26. 3.6 Other ancient authorities add to the end
  27. 3.9 Other ancient authorities read tempted me, tested me
  28. 4.2 Other ancient authorities read it did not meet with faith in those who listened
  29. 4.3 Gk he
  30. 4.8 Gk he
  31. 4.10 Gk his
  32. 4.15 Or tempted
  33. 5.5 Gk lacks was appointed by
  34. 5.7 Gk he
  35. 5.11 Or him

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.

But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?

Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

13 And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

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.

18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.

For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.

And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.