God Has Spoken by His Son

1 Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, ² 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) 3} 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) 4} 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

⁵ For to which of the angels did God^[d] ever say,

Or again,

⁶ And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,^[a] full of grace and truth.^{(A) 15} (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”) ¹⁶ From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.^{[b](B) 17} The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.^{(C) 18} No one has ever seen God. It is the only Son, himself God, who^[c] is close to the Father’s heart,^[d] who has made him known.^(D)

³ what we have seen and heard we also declare to you so that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.^{(A) 4} We are writing these things so that our^[a] joy may be complete.

² looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of^[a] the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.^(A)

²³ Furthermore, the former priests were many in number because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, ²⁴ but he holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever. ²⁵ Consequently, he is able for all time to save^[a] those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.^(A)

²⁶ For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.^(B)

Moses a Servant, Christ a Son

3 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,^{(A) 2} who was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses also “was faithful in all^[a] God’s^[b] house.” ³ Yet Jesus^[c] is worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.^{(B) 4} (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)^{(C) 5} Now Moses was faithful in all God’s^[d] house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken later.^{(D) 6} Christ, however, was faithful over God’s^[e] house as a son, and we are his house if we hold firm^[f] the boldness and the pride inspired by hope.^(E)

Jesus the True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. ² He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes^[a] to make it bear more fruit. ³ You have already been cleansed^[b] by the word that I have spoken to you.^{(A) 4} Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.^{(B) 5} I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.^{(C) 8} My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become^[c] my disciples.^(D)