Beginning
God Has Spoken To Us Through Not a Prophet, But a Son
1 God, having spoken long-ago in-many-portions and in-many-ways to the fathers by the prophets, 2 spoke to us at the last[a] of these days by a Son[b], Whom He appointed inheritor of all things, through Whom also He made the worlds[c],
The Son Sat Down At God’s Right Hand, Having Become Better Than Angels
3 ...Who— being the radiance[d] of His glory and exact-representation[e] of His essence[f], and upholding all things by the word of [g] His power— having made purification of sins, sat-down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so-much better than the angels by-as-much-as He has inherited a more-excellent name than they.
For God Commands The Angels To Worship His Son
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say “You are my Son. Today I have fathered you”? [Ps 2:7]; and again, “I will be a father to Him, and He will be a son to Me”? [1 Chron 17:13]. 6 And again[h], when He brings the Firstborn into the world He says [in Deut 32:43] “And let all the angels of God give-worship to Him”.
And God Says His Son Will Rule Forever Over What He Created
7 And with regard to the angels He says [in Ps 104:4] “The One making His angels winds and His ministers a flame of [i] fire”. 8 But with regard to the Son He says:
“Your throne, God[j], is forever and ever. And the scepter of [k] straightness[l] is the scepter of Your kingdom. 9 You loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. For this reason God, your God, anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions” [Ps 45:6-7].
10 And, “You[m], Lord, laid-the-foundation-of the earth at the beginnings, and the heavens are works of Your hands. 11 They will perish, but You continue[n]. Indeed they will all become-old like a garment, 12 and You will roll them up as-if a cloak. They will indeed be changed like a garment. But You are the same, and Your years will not end” [Ps 102:25-27].
And God Will Make His Son’s Enemies His Footstool
13 And with regard to which of the angels has He ever said “Be sitting on My right side until I put Your enemies as a footstool of Your feet”? [Ps 110:1]. 14 Are they not all ministering spirits being sent-forth for service for the sake of the ones going to inherit salvation?
Therefore We Must Pay More Attention To What God Said Through His Son
2 For this reason[o], we must pay more attention to the things having been heard, that we may not-ever drift-away. 2 For if the word having been spoken through angels proved-to-be firm, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how shall we escape, having neglected[p] so great a salvation?— which, having begun to be spoken by the Lord, was confirmed to[q] us by the ones having heard, 4 God testifying-with both signs and wonders and various miracles and distributions of the Holy Spirit according to His will.
For The Coming World Is Subject To Jesus, Who Tasted Death For All And Was Crowned
5 For He[r] did not subject to angels the coming world concerning which we are speaking. 6 But one solemnly-testified somewhere saying, “What is man that You remember[s] him, or the son[t] of man that You look-after him? 7 You made him lower[u] than angels for a little[v] while. You crowned him with glory and honor. 8 You subjected all things under his feet” [Ps 8:4-6]. For[w] in the subjecting all things to him, He left nothing not-subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things having been subjected to him. 9 But[x] we see the One having been made lower than angels for a little while— Jesus— having been crowned with glory and honor because-of the suffering of the death, so-that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
For It Was Fitting For God To Perfect The Author of Salvation Through Sufferings
10 For it was fitting[y] for Him[z] for-the-sake-of Whom are all things and through Whom are all things, that in bringing many sons to glory He should perfect[aa] the Author[ab] of their salvation through sufferings. 11 For both the One making-holy and the ones being made holy are all from one Father[ac], for which reason He is not ashamed to be calling them brothers, 12 saying “I will declare Your name to My brothers. I will sing-praise to You in the midst of the congregation” [Ps 22:22]; 13 and again [in Isa 8:17], “I will be trusting[ad] in Him”; and again [in Isa 8:18], “Behold— I and the children whom God gave to Me”.
So The Son Took On Mortal Flesh And Died To Release Us From The Power of Death
14 Therefore, since the children have shared of blood and flesh, He Himself also similarly partook of the same things in order that through death He might do-away-with[ae] the one having the power of death (that is, the devil), 15 and release these: all-who by the fear of death were subject-to[af] slavery through all their living. 16 For He surely does not take-hold-of [ag] angels, but He takes hold of the seed of Abraham.
He Had To Become Like Us In All Things In Order To Become a Merciful High Priest
17 Hence, He had-to become-like His brothers in all things in order that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in the things pertaining to God, so as to make-an-offering-for-satisfaction[ah] [of God’s wrath] as to the sins of the people. 18 For having Himself [ai] been tempted[aj] in what He has suffered, He is able to help the ones being tempted.
So Consider Jesus As Faithful, Like Moses. But He Is Worthy of More Glory Than Moses
3 Hence[ak] holy brothers, partakers[al] of a heavenly calling, consider[am] the Apostle and High Priest of our confession— Jesus— 2 as being faithful[an] to the One having appointed Him, as also was Moses in His[ao] whole house. 3 For this One has been considered-worthy of more glory than Moses— to the degree that the One[ap] having built the house has more honor than the house.
For Moses Was Faithful As a Servant, But Christ Was Faithful As a Son
4 For every house is built by someone, but[aq] the One[ar] having built all things is God. 5 And Moses was faithful in His[as] whole house as a servant[at], for[au] a testimony of the things which will[av] be spoken. 6 But Christ was faithful as a Son over His house, whose house we are, if-indeed we hold-on-to our confidence and our boast of the hope.
Therefore Do Not Harden Your Hearts As Israel Once Did
7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says[aw] [in Ps 95:7-11]: “Today, if you hear His voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion during the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers tested Me with a trial and saw My works 10 for forty years. Therefore I was-angry with this generation and said, ‘They are always going-astray in the heart, and they did not know My ways’. 11 As I swore in My wrath, they will never[ax] enter into My rest”.
Watch Out For an Evil Heart of Unbelief As Long As It Is Called “Today”
12 Be watching-out, brothers, so that there will not-ever be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing[ay] from the living God. 13 But be exhorting yourselves each day, as long as it is called “Today”, in order that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
For We Are Partakers of Christ If We Hold On Until The End
14 For we have become[az] partakers[ba] of Christ if-indeed we hold-on-to the beginning of our assurance[bb] firm until the end— 15 in that it is[bc] said [in Ps 95:7-8]: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion”.
For Israel Did Not Enter God’s Rest Because of Unbelief
16 For who having heard rebelled? But was it not all the ones having come out of Egypt through Moses? 17 And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with the ones having sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they will not enter into His rest, except to the ones having disobeyed? 19 And we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.
Fear Falling Short of Entering God’s Promised Rest
4 Therefore, let us fear that at any time while a promise to enter into His rest is left-remaining [open], any of you should seem to have come-short[bd]— 2 for indeed, we have had-good-news-announced[be], just as those[bf] also.
In Moses’ Day Only Those Who Believed Entered The Promised Physical Rest
But the word[bg] of hearing did not profit those ones, they[bh] not having been united in faith with the ones[bi] having heard. 3 For we, the ones having believed[bj], enter into the rest, just as He has said: “As I swore in My wrath, they shall never enter into My rest” [Ps 95:11].
And Yet God’s Rest Began On The Seventh Day, Not In Moses’ Day
And-yet, His works have been done since the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken somewhere about the seventh day as follows: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works” [Gen 2:2], 5 and in this [Ps 95:11] again: “They shall never enter into My rest”.
And David Still Calls Us To Enter God’s Rest “Today”
6 Since then it remains that some may enter into it, and the ones formerly having had-good-news-announced to them did not enter because of disobedience, 7 He again designates a certain day— “Today”— saying by[bk] David after so much time just as it has been said-before: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” [Ps 95:7-8]. 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not be speaking after these things about another day[bl].
So God’s Spiritual Rest Remains Open For Us To Enter
9 Therefore a Sabbath-rest remains for the people of God. 10 For the one having entered into His rest also himself rested from his works, just as God did from His own.
Be Diligent To Enter His Rest, For God Knows Your Heart
11 Therefore, let us be diligent to enter into that[bm] rest, in order that no one may fall in the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and effective[bn] and sharper than any double-edged sword, and piercing as-far-as the division of soul and spirit, and joints and marrows, and able-to-judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart[bo]. 13 And there is no creation[bp] hidden in His sight, but all things are naked and having been laid-open[bq] to His eyes to Whom the account will be given by us.
Jesus The Son of God Is Our Great High Priest
14 Therefore, having a great High Priest having gone through the heavens[br]— Jesus, the Son of God— let us be holding-on-to the confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest not being able to sympathize-with our weaknesses, but One having been tempted[bs] in all things[bt] in accordance with our likeness, without sin. 16 So let us be approaching the throne of grace with confidence[bu], in order that we may receive mercy and find grace for well-timed[bv] help.
High Priests Are Called By God From Among Men To Offer Sacrifices For Sins
5 For every high priest being taken from-among men is appointed for people in the things pertaining to God, in order that he might offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins— 2 being able to deal-gently with the ones being ignorant and going-astray since he himself is also surrounded with weakness. 3 And because of it[bw], he is obligated to be offering sacrifices for sins— just as for the people, so also for himself. 4 And one does not take the honor to himself, but receives it being called by God, just as also Aaron.
So Also Jesus Was Made High Priest By God
5 So also, Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but the One having said to Him [in Ps 2:7] “You are My Son. Today I have fathered You” did, 6 just as also in another place He says “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” [Ps 110:4],
Although Being a Son, He Learned Obedience From His Sufferings
7 ... Who, in the days of His flesh[bx] having offered both petitions and supplications[by] with a strong outcry and tears to the One being able to save Him from[bz] death[ca], and having been heard because of His reverence[cb], 8 although being a Son[cc], learned obedience from the things which He suffered[cd].
And Jesus Became The Cause of Salvation, As High Priest In The Order of Melchizedek
9 And having been perfected[ce], He became the cause[cf] of eternal salvation to all the ones obeying Him, 10 having been designated[cg] by God as High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek—
This Is Hard To Explain To You
11 ... concerning whom[ch] our message-to-speak is great[ci] and hard-to-interpret[cj] so as to speak, since you have become sluggish[ck] in the hearing.
For You Are Still Immature In The Word
12 For indeed, [although] being obligated to be teachers because of the time, you again have a need that someone be teaching you the elements[cl] of [cm] the beginning[cn] concerning the oracles[co] of God. And you have become ones having a need of milk and not of solid[cp] food. 13 For everyone partaking of milk is inexperienced in the word of [cq] righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But the solid food is for the mature— the ones because of habit[cr] having their faculties[cs] trained for discernment of both good and evil.
So Let Us Move Along Toward Maturity
6 Therefore, having left the message of the beginning[ct] concerning Christ, let us be carried-along to maturity— not again laying-down a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith toward God, 2 of instruction about cleansings[cu] and laying-on of hands, and about the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.
And We Will Do This As God Permits, For It Is Impossible For Us To Help Some
3 And this[cv] we will do if-indeed God permits. 4 For it is impossible to renew[cw] again to repentance the ones having once been enlightened[cx] and having tasted[cy] the heavenly gift, and having been made[cz] partakers[da] of the Holy Spirit, 5 and having tasted the good word of God and the powers[db] of the coming age, 6 and having fallen-away— crucifying-again[dc] for themselves the Son of God, and publicly-disgracing Him. 7 For land having drunk the rain coming often upon it, and producing a plant useful to those for whose sake it is also farmed, receives a blessing from God. 8 But land bringing-forth thorns and thistles is disapproved[dd] and near a curse[de], whose end[df] is for burning.
But As For You, Beloved, Diligently Imitate The Inheritors of The Promises
9 But concerning you, beloved, we are convinced-of better things, and things having salvation— even though we are speaking in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you demonstrated for His name, having served[dg] the saints and [still] serving. 11 But we desire that each of you be demonstrating the same diligence toward the full-assurance of hope until the end, 12 in order that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of the ones inheriting the promises through faith and patience.
For Abraham Waited Patiently And Obtained The Promise
13 For God, having promised to Abraham, swore by Himself— since He had by no one greater to swear— 14 saying [in Gen 22:17]: “Surely while blessing I will bless you, and while multiplying I will multiply[dh] you”. 15 And so, having waited-patiently, he obtained the promise.
God Even Guaranteed His Promise To Encourage Those Waiting For It
16 For people swear by the greater one. And for them the oath for confirmation is the end[di] of every dispute, 17 by which custom God, intending even more to show the unchangeableness of His intention[dj] to the heirs of the promise, guaranteed with an oath, 18 in order that by two[dk] unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we[dl]— the ones having fled to take-hold-of the hope being set-before us— may have strong encouragement[dm], 19 which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both secure and firm and entering into the inner side of the curtain, 20 where a forerunner for us went in— Jesus— having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing