Hebrews 1-6

New American Standard Bible 1995

God’s Final Word in His Son

1 God, after He ^(A)spoke long ago to the fathers in ^(B)the prophets in many portions and ^(C)in many ways, ^2 [a](D)in these last days ^(E)has spoken to us ^[b]in ^(F)His Son, whom He appointed ^(G)heir of all things, ^(H)through whom also He made the ^[c](I)world. ^3 [d]And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact ^(J)representation of His nature, and ^[e](K)upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made ^(L)purification of sins, He ^(M)sat down at the right hand of the ^(N)Majesty on high, ⁴ having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent ^(O)name than they.

⁵ For to which of the angels did He ever say,

And again,

⁶ And ^[f]when He again ^(R)brings the firstborn into ^[g](S)the world, He says,

⁷ And of the angels He says,

⁸ But of the Son He says,

¹⁰ And,

¹³ But to which of the angels has He ever said,

¹⁴ Are they not all ^(AG)ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will ^(AH)inherit ^(AI)salvation?

Give Heed

2 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to ^[i]what we have heard, so that ^(AJ)we do not drift away from it. ² For if the word ^(AK)spoken through ^(AL)angels proved ^[j]unalterable, and ^(AM)every transgression and disobedience received a just ^[k](AN)penalty, ^3 (AO)how will we escape if we neglect so great a ^(AP)salvation? ^[l]After it was at the first ^(AQ)spoken through the Lord, it was ^(AR)confirmed to us by those who heard, ⁴ God also testifying with them, both by ^(AS)signs and wonders and by ^(AT)various ^[m]miracles and by ^[n](AU)gifts of the Holy Spirit ^(AV)according to His own will.

Earth Subject to Man

⁵ For He did not subject to angels ^[o](AW)the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. ⁶ But one has testified ^(AX)somewhere, saying,

For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now ^(BB)we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

Jesus Briefly Humbled

⁹ But we do see Him who was ^(BC)made ^[r]for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, ^(BD)because of the suffering of death ^(BE)crowned with glory and honor, so that ^(BF)by the grace of God He might ^(BG)taste death ^(BH)for everyone.

¹⁰ For ^(BI)it was fitting for Him, ^(BJ)for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to ^(BK)perfect the ^[s](BL)author of their salvation through sufferings. ¹¹ For both He who ^(BM)sanctifies and those who ^(BN)are ^[t]sanctified are all ^(BO)from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them ^(BP)brethren, ¹² saying,

¹³ And again,

And again,

¹⁴ Therefore, since the children share in ^[u](BT)flesh and blood, ^(BU)He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that ^(BV)through death He might render powerless ^(BW)him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and might free those who through ^(BX)fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. ¹⁶ For assuredly He does not ^[v]give help to angels, but He gives help to the ^[w]descendant of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore, He ^[x]had ^(BY)to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might ^(BZ)become a merciful and faithful ^(CA)high priest in ^(CB)things pertaining to God, to ^(CC)make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For since He Himself was ^(CD)tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

Jesus Our High Priest

3 Therefore, ^(CE)holy brethren, partakers of a ^(CF)heavenly calling, consider Jesus, ^(CG)the Apostle and ^(CH)High Priest of our ^(CI)confession; ^2 [y]He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as ^(CJ)Moses also was in all His house. ^3 (CK)For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God. ⁵ Now ^(CL)Moses was faithful in all His house as ^(CM)a servant, ^(CN)for a testimony of those things ^(CO)which were to be spoken later; ⁶ but Christ was faithful as ^(CP)a Son over His house—^(CQ)whose house we are, ^(CR)if we hold fast our ^(CS)confidence and the boast of our ^(CT)hope firm until the end.

⁷ Therefore, just as ^(CU)the Holy Spirit says,

The Peril of Unbelief

^12 (DB)Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart ^[aa]that falls away from ^(DC)the living God. ¹³ But ^(DD)encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the ^(DE)deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴ For we have become partakers of Christ, ^(DF)if we hold fast the beginning of our ^(DG)assurance firm until the end, ¹⁵ while it is said,

¹⁶ For who ^(DI)provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, ^(DJ)did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses? ¹⁷ And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, ^(DK)whose bodies fell in the wilderness? ¹⁸ And to whom did He swear ^(DL)that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were ^(DM)disobedient? ¹⁹ So we see that they were not able to enter because of ^(DN)unbelief.

The Believer’s Rest

4 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have ^(DO)come short of it. ² For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but ^(DP)the word ^[ac]they heard did not profit them, because ^[ad]it was not united by faith in those who heard. ³ For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

although His works were finished ^(DR)from the foundation of the world. ⁴ For He has said ^(DS)somewhere concerning the seventh day: “^(DT)And God ^(DU)rested on the seventh day from all His works”; ⁵ and again in this passage, “^(DV)They shall not enter My rest.” ⁶ Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of ^(DW)disobedience, ⁷ He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying ^[ae]through David after so long a time just ^(DX)as has been said before,

⁸ For ^(DZ)if ^[af]Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. ⁹ So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For the one who has entered His rest has himself also ^(EA)rested from his works, as ^(EB)God did from His. ¹¹ Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same ^(EC)example of ^(ED)disobedience. ¹² For ^(EE)the word of God is ^(EF)living and ^(EG)active and sharper than any two-edged ^(EH)sword, and piercing as far as the division of ^(EI)soul and ^(EJ)spirit, of both joints and marrow, and ^(EK)able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ And ^(EL)there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are ^(EM)open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great ^(EN)high priest who has ^(EO)passed through the heavens, Jesus ^(EP)the Son of God, let us hold fast our ^(EQ)confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have ^(ER)a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been ^(ES)tempted in all things as we are, yet ^(ET)without sin. ¹⁶ Therefore let us ^(EU)draw near with ^(EV)confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The Perfect High Priest

5 For every high priest ^(EW)taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in ^(EX)things pertaining to God, in order to ^(EY)offer both gifts and sacrifices ^(EZ)for sins; ^2 [ag](FA)he can deal gently with the ^(FB)ignorant and ^(FC)misguided, since he himself also is ^[ah](FD)beset with weakness; ³ and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices ^(FE)for sins, ^(FF)as for the people, so also for himself. ⁴ And ^(FG)no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even ^(FH)as Aaron was.

⁵ So also Christ ^(FI)did not glorify Himself so as to become a ^(FJ)high priest, but He who ^(FK)said to Him,

⁶ just as He says also in another passage,

^7 [ai]In the days of His flesh, ^[aj](FO)He offered up both prayers and supplications with ^(FP)loud crying and tears to the One ^(FQ)able to save Him ^[ak]from death, and He ^[al]was heard because of His ^(FR)piety. ⁸ Although He was ^(FS)a Son, He learned ^(FT)obedience from the things which He suffered. ⁹ And having been made ^(FU)perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, ¹⁰ being designated by God as ^(FV)a high priest according to ^(FW)the order of Melchizedek.

¹¹ Concerning ^[am]him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. ¹² For though ^[an]by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you ^(FX)the ^[ao](FY)elementary principles of the ^(FZ)oracles of God, and you have come to need ^(GA)milk and not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an ^(GB)infant. ¹⁴ But solid food is for ^(GC)the mature, who because of practice have their senses ^(GD)trained to ^(GE)discern good and evil.

The Peril of Falling Away

6 Therefore ^(GF)leaving ^(GG)the ^[ap]elementary teaching about the ^[aq]Christ, let us press on to ^[ar](GH)maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from ^(GI)dead works and of faith toward God, ² of ^(GJ)instruction about washings and ^(GK)laying on of hands, and the ^(GL)resurrection of the dead and ^(GM)eternal judgment. ³ And this we will do, ^(GN)if God permits. ⁴ For in the case of those who have once been ^(GO)enlightened and have tasted of ^(GP)the heavenly gift and have been made ^(GQ)partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and ^(GR)have tasted the good ^(GS)word of God and the powers of ^(GT)the age to come, ⁶ and then have fallen away, it is ^(GU)impossible to renew them again to repentance, ^[as](GV)since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. ⁷ For ground that drinks the rain which often ^[at]falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those ^(GW)for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; ⁸ but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and ^(GX)close ^[au]to being cursed, and ^[av]it ends up being burned.

Better Things for You

⁹ But, ^(GY)beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that ^[aw]accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. ¹⁰ For ^(GZ)God is not unjust so as to forget ^(HA)your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ^(HB)ministered and in still ministering to the ^[ax]saints. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence ^[ay]so as to realize the ^(HC)full assurance of ^(HD)hope until the end, ¹² so that you will not be sluggish, but ^(HE)imitators of those who through ^(HF)faith and patience ^(HG)inherit the promises.

¹³ For ^(HH)when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He ^(HI)swore by Himself, ¹⁴ saying, “^(HJ)I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply you.” ¹⁵ And so, ^(HK)having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. ^16 (HL)For men swear by ^[az]one greater than themselves, and with them ^(HM)an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. ^17 [ba]In the same way God, desiring even more to show to ^(HN)the heirs of the promise ^(HO)the unchangeableness of His purpose, ^[bb]interposed with an oath, ¹⁸ so that by two unchangeable things in which ^(HP)it is impossible for God to lie, we who have ^[bc]taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of ^(HQ)the hope set before us. ^19 [bd]This ^(HR)hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which ^(HS)enters ^[be]within the veil, ^20 (HT)where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a ^(HU)high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.