Don't Drift Away
Since the coming world is entrusted not to angels but to people, and since children share flesh and blood, the Son took flesh too, to break the power of death and free those held captive their whole lives by fear of dying. Tested himself, he helps the tested.
2 1So we must pay closer attention to what we've heard, or we may drift away. 2For if the word spoken through angels held firm, and every wrongdoing and disobedience got just payment, 3how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? First announced by the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard him, 4while our Father also testified with them through signs, wonders, various miracles, and distributions of the Holy Spirit, according to his will.
The World to Come
5For it was not to angels that our Father subjected the coming world we're speaking of. 6Someone has testified somewhere, "What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? 7You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor, 8putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in subjecting everything to him, our Father left nothing outside his control. At present, however, we do not yet see everything subjected to Christ.
9But we see Jesus, made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by our Father's grace he might taste death for everyone.
10It was fitting that our Father, for whom and through whom all things exist, should perfect the pioneer of their salvation through suffering, bringing many sons to glory. 11The one who makes holy and those made holy all come from one Father. That's why he isn't ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, a a v11 Those Jesus makes holy share his Father — they are restored into the same family he eternally belongs to. He is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.
12saying, "I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters; I will sing your praise amid the assembly."
13And again, "I will trust in him." And again, "Here am I, and the children our Father gave me." b b v13 Jesus speaks these words from Isaiah's prophecy, presenting himself together with the children our Father has entrusted to him — one family, one Father.
14Since the children share flesh and blood, he too shared them, so that through death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—the devil, 15and free all those who, through fear of death, were enslaved their whole lives. 16For surely it is not angels he helps, but the descendants of Abraham. 17So he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, to be a merciful and faithful high priest serving our Father, clearing away the people's sins. 18Since he himself suffered when tempted, he can help those being tempted.
