Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
God Spoke Through His Son
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets many times and in many different ways. 2 But now in these last days God has spoken to us through his Son. God has chosen his Son to own all things, and through him he made the world. 3 The Son reflects the glory of God and shows exactly what God is like. He holds everything together with his powerful word. When the Son made people clean from their sins, he sat down at the right side of God, the Great One in heaven. 4 The Son became much greater than the angels, and God gave him a name that is much greater than theirs.
5 This is because God never said to any of the angels,
“You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.” Psalm 2:7
Nor did God say of any angel,
“I will be his Father,
and he will be my Son.” 2 Samuel 7:14
6 And when God brings his firstborn Son into the world, he says,
“Let all God’s angels worship him.”[a] Psalm 97:7
7 This is what God said about the angels:
“God makes his angels become like winds.
He makes his servants become like flames of fire.” Psalm 104:4
8 But God said this about his Son:
“God, your throne will last forever and ever.
You will rule your kingdom with fairness.
9 You love right and hate evil,
so God has chosen you from among your friends;
he has set you apart with much joy.” Psalm 45:6–7
10 God also says,
“Lord, in the beginning you made the earth,
and your hands made the skies.
11 They will be destroyed, but you will remain.
They will all wear out like clothes.
12 You will fold them like a coat.
And, like clothes, you will change them.
But you never change,
and your life will never end.” Psalm 102:25–27
13 And God never said this to an angel:
“Sit by me at my right side
until I put your enemies under your control.”[b]Psalm 110:1
14 All the angels are spirits who serve God and are sent to help those who will receive salvation.
Our Salvation Is Great
2 So we must be more careful to follow what we were taught. Then we will not stray away from the truth. 2 The teaching God spoke through angels was shown to be true, and anyone who did not follow it or obey it received the punishment that was earned. 3 So surely we also will be punished if we ignore this great salvation. The Lord himself first told about this salvation, and those who heard him testified it was true. 4 God also testified to the truth of the message by using wonders, great signs, many kinds of miracles, and by giving people gifts through the Holy Spirit, just as he wanted.
Christ Became like Humans
5 God did not choose angels to be the rulers of the new world that was coming, which is what we have been talking about. 6 It is written in the Scriptures,
“Why are people even important to you?
Why do you take care of human beings?
7 You made them a little lower than the angels
and crowned them with glory and honor.[c]
8 You put all things under their control.” Psalm 8:4–6
When God put everything under their control, there was nothing left that they did not rule. Still, we do not yet see them ruling over everything. 9 But we see Jesus, who for a short time was made lower than the angels. And now he is wearing a crown of glory and honor because he suffered and died. And by God’s grace, he died for everyone.
10 God is the One who made all things, and all things are for his glory. He wanted to have many children share his glory, so he made the One who leads people to salvation perfect through suffering.
11 Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. 12 He says,
“Then, I will tell my brothers and sisters about you;
I will praise you in the public meeting.” Psalm 22:22
13 He also says,
“I will trust in God.” Isaiah 8:17
And he also says,
“I am here, and with me are the children God has given me.” Isaiah 8:18
14 Since these children are people with physical bodies, Jesus himself became like them. He did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death—the devil— 15 and free those who were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death. 16 Clearly, it is not angels that Jesus helps, but the people who are from Abraham.[d] 17 For this reason Jesus had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way so he could be their merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Then Jesus could die in their place to take away their sins. 18 And now he can help those who are tempted, because he himself suffered and was tempted.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.