Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

6 With this in mind, we should stop going over the elementary truths about Christ and move on to topics for more mature people. We shouldn’t repeat the basics about turning away from the useless things we did and the basics about faith in God. ² We shouldn’t repeat the basic teachings about such things as baptisms, setting people apart for holy tasks, dead people coming back to life, and eternal judgment. ³ If God permits, we will do this.

⁴ Some people once had God’s light. They experienced the heavenly gift and shared in the Holy Spirit. ⁵ They experienced the goodness of God’s word and the powers of the world to come. ⁶ Yet, they have deserted Christ. They are crucifying the Son of God again and publicly disgracing him. Therefore, they cannot be led a second time to God.

⁷ God blesses the earth. So rain often falls on it, and it produces useful crops for farmers. ⁸ However, if the earth produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

God Will Not Forget You

⁹ Dear friends, even though we say these things, we are still convinced that better things are in store for you and that they will save you. ¹⁰ God is fair. He won’t forget what you’ve done or the love you’ve shown for him. You helped his holy people, and you continue to help them. ¹¹ We want each of you to prove that you’re working hard so that you will remain confident until the end. ¹² Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are receiving the promises through faith and patience.

¹³ God made a promise to Abraham. Since he had no one greater on whom to base his oath, he based it on himself. ¹⁴ He said, “I will certainly bless you and give you many descendants.” ¹⁵ So Abraham received what God promised because he waited patiently for it.

¹⁶ When people take oaths, they base their oaths on someone greater than themselves. Their oaths guarantee what they say and end all arguments. ¹⁷ God wouldn’t change his plan. He wanted to make this perfectly clear to those who would receive his promise, so he took an oath. ¹⁸ God did this so that we would be encouraged. God cannot lie when he takes an oath or makes a promise. These two things can never be changed. Those of us who have taken refuge in him hold on to the confidence we have been given. ¹⁹ We have this confidence as a sure and strong anchor for our lives. This confidence goes into the holy place behind the curtain ²⁰ where Yeshua went before us on our behalf. He has become the chief priest forever in the way Melchizedek was a priest.

Christ Is Superior to Melchizedek

7 Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham and blessed him when Abraham was returning from defeating the kings. ² Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything he had captured.

In the first place, Melchizedek’s name means king of righteousness. He is also called king of Salem (which means king of peace). ³ No one knows anything about Melchizedek’s father, mother, or ancestors. No one knows when he was born or when he died. Like the Son of God, Melchizedek continues to be a priest forever.

⁴ You can see how important Melchizedek was. Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had captured, even though Abraham was the father of the chosen people. ⁵ Moses’ Teachings say that members of the tribe of Levi who become priests must receive a tenth of everything from the people. The priests collect it from their own people, Abraham’s descendants. ⁶ Although Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi, he received a tenth of everything from Abraham. Then Melchizedek blessed Abraham, who had God’s promises. ⁷ No one can deny that the more important person blesses the less important person.

⁸ Priests receive a tenth of everything, but they die. Melchizedek received a tenth of everything, but we are told that he lives. ⁹ We could even say that when Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything, Levi was giving a tenth of everything. Levi gave, although later his descendants would receive a tenth of everything. ¹⁰ Even though Levi had not yet been born, he was in the body of Abraham when Melchizedek met him.

¹¹ The people established the Levitical priesthood based on instructions they received. If the work of the Levitical priests had been perfect, we wouldn’t need to speak about another kind of priest. However, we speak about another kind of priest, a priest like Melchizedek, not a Levitical priest like Aaron.

¹² When a different kind of priesthood is established, the regulations for those priests are different. ¹³ The priest whom we are talking about was a member of a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest at the altar. ¹⁴ Everyone knows that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah. Moses never said anything about priests coming from that tribe. ¹⁵ The regulations were different. This became clear when a different priest who is like Melchizedek appeared. ¹⁶ That person is a priest, not because he met human requirements, but because he has power that comes from a life that cannot be destroyed. ¹⁷ The Scriptures say the following about him: “You are a priest forever, in the way Melchizedek was a priest.” ¹⁸ The former requirements are rejected because they are weak and useless. ¹⁹ Moses’ Teachings couldn’t accomplish everything that God required. But we have something else that gives us greater confidence and allows us to approach God.

²⁰ None of this happened without an oath. The men from the tribe of Levi may have become priests without an oath, ²¹ but Yeshua became a priest when God took an oath. God said about him, “The Lord has taken an oath and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever.” ²² In this way Yeshua has become the guarantee of a better promise.^[a]

²³ There was a long succession of priests because when a priest died he could no longer serve. ²⁴ But Yeshua lives forever, so he serves as a priest forever. ²⁵ That is why he is always able to save those who come to God through him. He can do this because he always lives and intercedes for them.

²⁶ We need a chief priest who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, and who has the highest position in heaven. ²⁷ We need a priest who doesn’t have to bring daily sacrifices as those chief priests did. First they brought sacrifices for their own sins, and then they brought sacrifices for the sins of the people. Yeshua brought the sacrifice for the sins of the people once and for all when he sacrificed himself. ²⁸ Moses’ Teachings designated mortals as chief priests even though they had weaknesses. But God’s promise, which came after Moses’ Teachings, designated the Son who forever accomplished everything that God required.