Study Desk

Warning to Pay Attention

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.^(a)

For since the message spoken^(b) through angels^(c) was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,^(d)

how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?^(e) This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord,^(f) was confirmed to us by those who heard him.^(g)

God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles,^(h) and by gifts of the Holy Spirit⁽ⁱ⁾ distributed according to his will.^(j)

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking.

But there is a place where someone^(k) has testified: "What is mankind that you are mindful of them, a son of man that you care for him?^(l)

You made them a little^[a] lower than the angels; you crowned them with glory and honor

and put everything under their feet."^[b][c](m) In putting everything under them,^[d] God left nothing that is not subject to them.^[e] Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them.^[f]

But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor⁽ⁿ⁾ because he suffered death,^(o) so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.^(p)

In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists,^(q) should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.^(r)

Both the one who makes people holy^(s) and those who are made holy^(t) are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.^[g](u)

He says, "I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises."^[h](v)

And again, "I will put my trust in him."^[i](w) And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me."^[j](x)

Since the children have flesh and blood,^(y) he too shared in their humanity^(z) so that by his death he might break the power^(aa) of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil^(ab)—

and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear^(ac) of death.

For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants.^(ad)

For this reason he had to be made like them,^[k](ae) fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful^(af) and faithful high priest^(ag) in service to God,^(ah) and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.^(ai)

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.^(aj)