Beginning

God Speaks His Final Word Through His Son

1 In the past, God spoke to our people through the prophets. He spoke at many times. He spoke in different ways. ² But in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one whom God appointed to receive all things. God also made everything through him. ³ The Son is the shining brightness of God’s glory. He is the exact likeness of God’s being. He uses his powerful word to hold all things together. He provided the way for people to be made pure from sin. Then he sat down at the right hand of the King, the Majesty in heaven. ⁴ So he became higher than the angels. The name he received is more excellent than theirs.

The Son Is Greater Than the Angels

⁵ God never said to any of the angels,

Or,

⁶ God’s first and only Son is over all things. When God brings him into the world, he says,

⁷ Here is something else God says about the angels.

⁸ But here is what he says about the Son.

¹⁰ He also says,

¹³ God never said to an angel,

¹⁴ All angels are spirits who serve. God sends them to serve those who will receive salvation.

A Warning to Pay Attention

2 So we must pay the most careful attention to what we have heard. Then we will not drift away from it. ² Even the message God spoke through angels had to be obeyed. Every time people broke the Law, they were punished. Every time they didn’t obey, they were punished. ³ Then how will we escape if we don’t pay attention to God’s great salvation? The Lord first announced this salvation. Those who heard him gave us the message about it. ⁴ God showed that this message is true by signs and wonders. He showed that it’s true by different kinds of miracles. God also showed that this message is true by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God gave them out as it pleased him.

Jesus Was Made Fully Human

⁵ God has not put angels in charge of the world that is going to come. We are talking about that world. ⁶ There is a place where someone has spoken about this. He said,

So God has put everything under his Son. Everything is under his control. We do not now see everything under his control. ⁹ But we do see Jesus already given a crown of glory and honor. He was made lower than the angels for a little while. He suffered death. By the grace of God, he tasted death for everyone. That is why he was given his crown.

¹⁰ God has made everything. He is now bringing his many sons and daughters to share in his glory. It is only right that Jesus is the one to lead them into their salvation. That’s because God made him perfect by his sufferings. ¹¹ And Jesus, who makes people holy, and the people he makes holy belong to the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. ¹² He says,

¹³ Again he says,

And again he says,

¹⁴ Those children have bodies made out of flesh and blood. So Jesus became human like them in order to die for them. By doing this, he could break the power of the devil. The devil is the one who rules over the kingdom of death. ¹⁵ Jesus could set people free who were afraid of death. All their lives they were held as slaves by that fear. ¹⁶ It is certainly Abraham’s children that he helps. He doesn’t help angels. ¹⁷ So he had to be made like people, fully human in every way. Then he could serve God as a kind and faithful high priest. And then he could pay for the sins of the people by dying for them. ¹⁸ He himself suffered when he was tempted. Now he is able to help others who are being tempted.

Jesus Is Greater Than Moses

3 Holy brothers and sisters, God chose you to be his people. So keep thinking about Jesus. We embrace him as our apostle and our high priest. ² Moses was faithful in everything he did in the house of God. In the same way, Jesus was faithful to the God who appointed him. ³ The person who builds a house has greater honor than the house itself. In the same way, Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses. ⁴ Every house is built by someone. But God is the builder of everything. ⁵ “Moses was faithful as one who serves in the house of God.” (Numbers 12:7) He was a witness to what God would say in days to come. ⁶ But Christ is faithful as the Son over the house of God. And we are his house if we hold tightly to what we are certain about. We must also hold tightly to the hope we boast in.

A Warning Against Unbelief

⁷ The Holy Spirit says,

¹² Brothers and sisters, make sure that none of you has a sinful heart. Do not let an unbelieving heart turn you away from the living God. ¹³ But build one another up every day. Do it as long as there is still time. Then none of you will become stubborn. You won’t be fooled by sin’s tricks. ¹⁴ We belong to Christ if we hold tightly to the faith we had at first. But we must hold it tightly until the end. ¹⁵ It has just been said,

¹⁶ Who were those who heard and refused to obey? Weren’t they all the people Moses led out of Egypt? ¹⁷ Who was God angry with for 40 years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned? They died in the desert. ¹⁸ God promised that those people would never enjoy the rest he planned for them. God gave his word when he made that promise. Didn’t he make that promise to those who didn’t obey? ¹⁹ So we see that they weren’t able to enter. That’s because they didn’t believe.

God’s People Enter His Sabbath Rest

4 God’s promise of enjoying his rest still stands. So be careful that none of you fails to receive it. ² The good news was announced to our people of long ago. It has also been preached to us. The message they heard didn’t have any value for them. That’s because they didn’t share the faith of those who obeyed. ³ Now we who have believed enjoy that rest. God said,

Ever since God created the world, his works have been finished. ⁴ Somewhere he spoke about the seventh day. He said, “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” (Genesis 2:2) ⁵ In the part of Scripture I talked about earlier God spoke. He said, “They will never enjoy the rest I planned for them.” (Psalm 95:11)

⁶ It is still true that some people will enjoy this rest. But those who had the good news announced to them earlier didn’t go in. That’s because they didn’t obey. ⁷ So God again chose a certain day. He named it Today. He did this when he spoke through David a long time later. Here is what was written in the Scripture already given.

⁸ Suppose Joshua had given them rest. If he had, God would not have spoken later about another day. ⁹ So there is still a Sabbath rest for God’s people. ¹⁰ God rested from his work. Those who enjoy God’s rest also rest from their works. ¹¹ So let us make every effort to enjoy that rest. Then no one will die by disobeying as they did.

¹² The word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. It can separate bones from joints. It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing God created is hidden from him. His eyes see everything. He will hold us responsible for everything we do.

Jesus Is the Great High Priest

¹⁴ We have a great high priest. He has gone up into heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us hold firmly to what we say we believe. ¹⁵ We have a high priest who can feel it when we are weak and hurting. We have a high priest who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But he did not sin. ¹⁶ So let us boldly approach God’s throne of grace. Then we will receive mercy. We will find grace to help us when we need it.

5 Every high priest is chosen from among the people. He is appointed to act for the people. He acts for them in whatever has to do with God. He offers gifts and sacrifices for their sins. ² Some people have gone astray without knowing it. He is able to deal gently with them. He can do that because he himself is weak. ³ That’s why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins. He must also do it for the sins of the people. ⁴ And no one can take this honor for himself. Instead, he receives it when he is appointed by God. That is just how it was for Aaron.

⁵ It was the same for Christ. He did not take for himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,

⁶ In another place God said,

⁷ Jesus prayed while he lived on earth. He made his appeal with sincere cries and tears. He prayed to the God who could save him from death. God answered Jesus because he truly honored God. ⁸ Jesus was God’s Son. But by suffering he learned what it means to obey. ⁹ In this way he was made perfect. Eternal salvation comes from him. He saves all those who obey him. ¹⁰ God appointed him to be the high priest, just like Melchizedek.

A Warning Against Falling Away

¹¹ We have a lot to say about this. But it is hard to make it clear to you. That’s because you are no longer trying to understand. ¹² By this time you should be teachers. But in fact, you need someone to teach you all over again. You need even the simple truths of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food. ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby. That person does not want to learn about living a godly life. ¹⁴ Solid food is for those who are grown up. They have trained themselves to tell the difference between good and evil. That shows they have grown up.

6 So let us move beyond the simple teachings about Christ. Let us grow up as believers. Let us not start all over again with the basic teachings. They taught us that we need to turn away from doing things that lead to death. They taught us that we must have faith in God. ² These basic teachings taught us about different ways of becoming “clean.” They taught us about placing hands of blessing on people. They taught us that people will rise from the dead. They taught us that God will judge everyone. And they taught us that what he decides will last forever. ³ If God permits, we will go beyond those teachings and grow up.

⁴ What if some people fall away from the faith? It won’t be possible to bring them back. It is true that they have seen the light. They have tasted the heavenly gift. They have shared in the Holy Spirit. ⁵ They have tasted the good things of God’s word. They have tasted the powers of the age to come. ⁶ But they have fallen away from the faith. So it won’t be possible to bring them back. They won’t be able to turn away from their sins. They are losing everything. That’s because they are nailing the Son of God to the cross all over again. They are bringing shame on him in front of everyone. ⁷ Some land drinks the rain that falls on it. It produces a crop that is useful to those who farm the land. That land receives God’s blessing. ⁸ But other land produces only thorns and weeds. That land isn’t worth anything. It is in danger of coming under God’s curse. In the end, it will be burned.

⁹ Dear friends, we have to say these things. But we are sure of better things in your case. We are talking about the things that have to do with being saved. ¹⁰ God is fair. He will not forget what you have done. He will remember the love you have shown him. You showed it when you helped his people. And you show it when you keep on helping them. ¹¹ We want each of you to be faithful to the very end. If you are, then what you hope for will fully happen. ¹² We don’t want you to slow down. Instead, be like those who have faith and are patient. They will receive what God promised.

God Keeps His Promise

¹³ When God made his promise to Abraham, God gave his word. There was no one greater than himself to promise by. So he promised by making an appeal to himself. ¹⁴ He said, “I will certainly bless you. I will give you many children.” (Genesis 22:17) ¹⁵ Abraham was patient while he waited. Then he received what God promised him.

¹⁶ People promise things by someone greater than themselves. Giving your word makes a promise certain. It puts an end to all arguing. ¹⁷ So God gave his word when he made his promise. He wanted to make it very clear that his purpose does not change. He wanted those who would receive what was promised to know this. ¹⁸ When God made his promise, he gave his word. He did this so we would have good reason not to give up. Instead, we have run to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope is set before us in God’s promise. So God made his promise and gave his word. These two things can’t change. He couldn’t lie about them. ¹⁹ Our hope is certain. It is something for the soul to hold on to. It is strong and secure. It goes all the way into the Most Holy Room behind the curtain. ²⁰ That is where Jesus has gone. He went there to open the way ahead of us. He has become a high priest forever, just like Melchizedek.