Hebrews 2

1We must hold tightly to the truth we heard! We must never slip and drift past our safe harbor.

2God gave His message to us through angels. That message held firm. God punished every sin and every act of disobedience fairly.

3So how will we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? The Lord Himself first announced this salvation. Those who heard Him proved it was true to us.

4God also proved it was true. He did this through signs, wonders, and all kinds of miracles. God also gave gifts through the Holy Spirit, just as He chose.

5God did not put the world to come under the control of angels. We are talking about that future world.

6Instead, somewhere the Scripture says: What is man, that you think of him? What is the son of man, that you care for him?

7You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor,

8You put everything under his control. God left nothing outside his control. But right now, we do not yet see everything under his control.

9But we do see Jesus. For a short time, God placed Jesus lower than the angels. Jesus took on a human body and suffered death. By God's grace, He fully experienced death for every single person! Now God has crowned Him with radiant glory and supreme honor!

10God is the reason for everything, and everything exists through Him. God wanted to bring many children into His glory. So it was right for God to make Jesus, the leader of their salvation, perfect through suffering.

11Jesus makes people holy. Those who are made holy belong to the same family as Jesus. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

12He says: I will tell my brothers and sisters about you; in the meeting of your people I will sing your praises.

13And again: I will put my trust in Him. And again: Here am I, and the children God has given me.

14God's children have physical bodies made of flesh and blood. So Jesus took on that same physical human body! Through His physical death, Jesus broke the power of the devil. The devil held the terrifying power of death.

15People spent their entire lives chained as slaves to the fear of dying. Jesus smashed those chains and set them completely free!

16Jesus does not help angels. He helps the descendants of Abraham instead.

17Jesus had to become like His brothers and sisters in every single way. This allowed Him to serve as our merciful and faithful high priest before God. He offered the sacrifice that wiped away all the people's sins!

18Jesus Himself suffered painful trials when Satan tempted Him. Therefore, He is able to step in and rescue us whenever we face temptation!