Hebrews

The Son Is Greater Than the Angels

1 In the past, God spoke to our people through the prophets. He spoke at many times. He spoke in different ways. 2But in these last days, he has spoken to us through his Son. He is the one whom God appointed to receive all things. God made everything through him. 3The Son is the gleaming 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. 4So he became higher than the angels. The name he received is more excellent than theirs.

5God never said to any of the angels,

“You are my Son.

Today I have become your Father.” (Psalm 2:7)

Or,

“I will be his Father.

And he will be my Son.” (2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13)

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

“Let all of God’s angels worship him.” (Deuteronomy 32:43)

7Here is something else God says about the angels.

“God makes his angels to be like winds.

He makes those who serve him to be like flashes of lightning.” (Psalm 104:4)

8But here is what he says about the Son.

“You are God. Your throne will last for ever and ever.

Your kingdom will be ruled by what is right.

9 You have loved what is right and hated what is evil.

So your God has placed you above your companions.

He has filled you with joy by pouring the sacred oil on your head.” (Psalm 45:6, 7)

10He also says,

“Lord, in the beginning you made the earth secure. You placed it on its foundations.

The heavens are the work of your hands.

11 They will pass away. But you remain.

They will all wear out like a piece of clothing.

12 You will roll them up like a robe.

They will be changed as a person changes clothes.

But you remain the same.

Your years will never end.” (Psalm 102:25–27)

13God never said to an angel,

“Sit at my right hand

until I put your enemies

under your control.” (Psalm 110:1)

14All 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 more careful attention to what we have heard. Then we will not drift away from it. 2Even 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. 3Then how will we escape if we don’t pay attention to God’s great salvation?

The Lord first announced that salvation. Those who heard him gave us the message about it. 4God gave witness to it through signs and wonders. He gave witness through different kinds of miracles. He also gave witness through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He gave them out as it pleased him.

Jesus Was Made Like His Brothers

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

“What is a human being that you think about him?

What is the son of man that you take care of him?

7 You made him a little lower than the angels.

You placed on him a crown of glory and honor.

8 You have put everything under his control.” (Psalm 8:4–6)

So God has put everything under him. Everything is under his control.

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

10God has made everything. He has acted in exactly the right way. He is bringing his many sons and daughters to share in his glory. To do so, he has made the One who saved them perfect because of his sufferings.

11The One 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. 12He says,

“I will announce your name to my brothers and sisters.

I will sing your praises among those who worship you.” (Psalm 22:22)

13Again he says,

“I will put my trust in him.” (Isaiah 8:17)

And again he says,

“Here I am. Here are the children God has given me.” (Isaiah 8:18)

14Those children have bodies made out of flesh and blood. So Jesus became human like them in order to die for them. By doing that, he could destroy the one who rules over the kingdom of death. I’m talking about the devil. 15Jesus could set people free who were afraid of death. All their lives they were held as slaves by that fear.

16It is certainly Abraham’s children that he helps. He doesn’t help angels. 17So he had to be made like his brothers 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.

18He himself suffered when he was tempted. Now he is able to help others who are being tempted.