Hebrews 1-3

Evangelical Heritage Version

God Speaks to Us By His Son

1 In the past, God spoke to our forefathers by the prophets at many times and in many ways. ² In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact imprint of the divine nature. He sustains all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins,^[a] he took his seat at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

The Son Is Superior to the Angels

⁴ The Son became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. ⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say:

And again:

⁶ And again, when he brought his firstborn into the world, he said:

⁷ About the angels he says:

⁸ But about the Son he says:

¹⁰ And he says:

¹³ To which of the angels has he ever said:

¹⁴ Are not all angels ministering spirits sent out to serve for the benefit of those who are going to inherit salvation?

Pay Attention to God’s Word

2 Therefore, we need to pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. ² For if the message that was spoken through angels^[j] was valid, and every transgression and disobedient act received a just punishment, ³ how will we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? First the message was spoken by the Lord; then it was confirmed to us by those who heard him. ⁴ God also testified to it with signs and wonders, various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his will.

God Put Everything Under His Control

⁵ For God did not place the coming world, about which we are speaking, under the control of angels. ⁶ But there is a place where someone has testified:

Indeed, in putting everything in subjection to him, God left nothing that is not in subjection to him. At the present time, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. ⁹ But we look to Jesus (the one who was made lower than the angels for a little while, so that by God’s grace he might taste death for everyone), now crowned with glory and honor, because he suffered death.

A Merciful and Faithful High Priest

¹⁰ Certainly it was fitting for God (the one for whom and through whom everything exists), in leading many sons to glory, to bring the author of their salvation to his goal through sufferings. ¹¹ For he who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified all have one Father. For that reason, he is not ashamed to call them brothers.^{[o] 12} He says:

¹³ And again:

And again:

¹⁴ Therefore, since the children share flesh and blood,^[s] he also shared the same flesh and blood, so that through death he could destroy the one who had the power of death (that is, the Devil) ¹⁵ and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. ¹⁶ For surely he was not concerned with helping angels but with helping Abraham’s offspring.^{[t] 17} For this reason, he had to become like his brothers in every way, in order that he would be a merciful and faithful high priest in the things pertaining to God, so that he could pay^[u] for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Indeed, because he suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Christ Is Superior to Moses

3 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, focus your attention on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. ² He was faithful to the one who appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in God’s whole house. ³ In fact, Jesus is worthy of greater glory than Moses, in the same way that the builder of a house has more honor than the house. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, and God is the one who built everything.

⁵ Moses was faithful as a servant within God’s whole house by testifying to the things that would be spoken. ⁶ But Christ is faithful as a Son over God’s house. We are his house, if we hold on firmly^[v] to our confidence and the hope about which we boast until the end.^[w]

Do Not Harden Your Hearts

⁷ Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

¹² Watch out, brothers, so that there is not an evil, unbelieving heart in any of you that turns away from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “today,” so that none of you are hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. ¹⁴ For we have become people who share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firmly until the end. ¹⁵ As it is said:

¹⁶ Who was it who heard and rebelled? Wasn’t it all those who left Egypt, led by Moses? ¹⁷ And with whom was God angry for forty years? Surely it was with the ones who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness, wasn’t it? ¹⁸ And about whom did he swear an oath that they would not enter his rest, if it wasn’t concerning those who were disobedient? ¹⁹ So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.