1 T hat is why we must listen all the more to the truths we have been told. If we do not, we may slip away from them.

Since all this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past and slip away.

2 T hese truths given by the angels proved to be true. People were punished when they did not obey them.

For if the message given through angels was authentic and proved sure, and every violation and disobedience received an appropriate (just and adequate) penalty,

3 G od was so good to make a way for us to be saved from the punishment of sin. What makes us think we will not go to hell if we do not take the way to heaven that He has made for us? The Lord was the first to tell us of this. Then those who heard Him told it later.

How shall we escape if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to such a great salvation ? For it was declared at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved to be real and genuine by those who personally heard.

4 G od proved what they said was true by showing us special things to see and by doing powerful works. He gave the gifts of the Holy Spirit as He wanted to. Jesus, the Way to Heaven

it was also established and plainly endorsed by God, Who showed His approval of it by signs and wonders and various miraculous manifestations of power and by imparting the gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

5 G od did not make angels to be the leaders of that world to come which we have been speaking about.

For it was not to angels that God subjected the habitable world of the future, of which we are speaking.

6 I nstead, the Holy Writings say, “What is man that You think of him and the son of man that You should remember him?”

It has been solemnly and earnestly said in a certain place, What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You graciously and helpfully care for and visit and look after him?

7 “ You made him so he took a place that was not as important as the angels for a little while. You gave him the crown of honor and shining-greatness. You made him the head over everything You have made.

For some little time You have ranked him lower than and inferior to the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works of Your hands,

8 Y ou have put everything under his feet.” There is nothing that does not obey him, but we do not see all things obey him yet.

For You have put everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to man, He left nothing outside control. But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

9 B ut we do see Jesus. For a little while He took a place that was not as important as the angels. But God had loving-favor for everyone. He had Jesus suffer death on a cross for all of us. Then, because of Christ’s death on a cross, God gave Him the crown of honor and shining-greatness.

But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of His having suffered death, in order that by the grace (unmerited favor) of God He might experience death for every individual person.

10 G od made all things. He made all things for Himself. It was right for God to make Jesus a perfect Leader by having Him suffer for men’s sins. In this way, He is bringing many men to share His shining-greatness.

For it was an act worthy and fitting that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.

11 J esus makes men holy. He takes away their sins. Both Jesus and the ones being made holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them His brothers.

For both He Who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren;

12 J esus is saying to His Father, “I will tell My brothers Your name. I will sing songs of thanks for You among the people.”

For He says, I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the congregation I will sing hymns of praise to You.

13 A nd again He says, “I will put My trust in God.” At another time He said, “Here I am with the children God gave Me.”

And again He says, My trust and assured reliance and confident hope shall be fixed in Him. And yet again, Here I am, I and the children whom God has given Me.

14 I t is true that we share the same Father with Jesus. And it is true that we share the same kind of flesh and blood because Jesus became a man like us. He died as we must die. Through His death He destroyed the power of the devil who has the power of death.

Since, therefore, children share in flesh and blood, He in a similar manner partook of the same, that by death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death—that is, the devil—

15 J esus did this to make us free from the fear of death. We no longer need to be chained to this fear.

And also that He might deliver and completely set free all those who through the fear of death were held in bondage throughout the whole course of their lives.

16 J esus did not come to help angels. Instead, He came to help men who are of Abraham’s family.

For, as we all know, He did not take hold of angels '> the fallen angels, to give them a helping and delivering hand], but He did take hold of '> the fallen] descendants of Abraham.

17 S o Jesus had to become like His brothers in every way. He had to be one of us to be our Religious Leader to go between God and us. He had loving-pity on us and He was faithful. He gave Himself as a gift to die on a cross for our sins so that God would not hold these sins against us any longer.

So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the people’s sins.

18 B ecause Jesus was tempted as we are and suffered as we do, He understands us and He is able to help us when we are tempted.

For because He Himself has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried.