1 B ecause of this it behoveth more abundantly to take heed to the things heard, lest we may glide aside,

That 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.

2 f or if the word being spoken through messengers did become stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience did receive a just recompense,

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

3 h ow shall we escape, having neglected so great salvation? which a beginning receiving -- to be spoken through the Lord -- by those having heard was confirmed to us,

God 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.

4 G od also bearing joint-witness both with signs and wonders, and manifold powers, and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to His will.

God 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

5 F or not to messengers did He subject the coming world, concerning which we speak,

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

6 a nd one in a certain place did testify fully, saying, `What is man, that Thou art mindful of him, or a son of man, that Thou dost look after him?

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

7 T hou didst make him some little less than messengers, with glory and honour Thou didst crown him, and didst set him over the works of Thy hands,

“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.

8 a ll things Thou didst put in subjection under his feet,' for in the subjecting to him the all things, nothing did He leave to him unsubjected, and now not yet do we see the all things subjected to him,

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

9 a nd him who was made some little less than messengers we see -- Jesus -- because of the suffering of the death, with glory and honour having been crowned, that by the grace of God for every one he might taste of death.

But 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.

10 F or it was becoming to Him, because of whom the all things, and through whom the all things, many sons to glory bringing, the author of their salvation through sufferings to make perfect,

God 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.

11 f or both he who is sanctifying and those sanctified all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,

Jesus 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.

12 s aying, `I will declare Thy name to my brethren, in the midst of an assembly I will sing praise to Thee;' and again, `I will be trusting on Him;'

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

13 a nd again, `Behold I and the children that God did give to me.'

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

14 S eeing, then, the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he himself also in like manner did take part of the same, that through death he might destroy him having the power of death -- that is, the devil --

It 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.

15 a nd might deliver those, whoever, with fear of death, throughout all their life, were subjects of bondage,

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

16 f or, doubtless, of messengers it doth not lay hold, but of seed of Abraham it layeth hold,

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

17 w herefore it did behove him in all things to be made like to the brethren, that he might become a kind and stedfast chief-priest in the things with God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people,

So 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.

18 f or in that he suffered, himself being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Because 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.