Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Warning Against Falling Away

6 Therefore ^(A)leaving ^(B)the ^[a]elementary teaching about the ^[b]Christ, let us press on to ^[c](C)maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from ^(D)dead works and of faith toward God, ² of ^(E)teaching about washings and ^(F)laying on of hands, and the ^(G)resurrection of the dead and ^(H)eternal judgment. ³ And this we will do, ^(I)if God permits. ⁴ For in the case of those once having been ^(J)enlightened and having tasted of ^(K)the heavenly gift and having become ^(L)partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and having ^(M)tasted the good ^(N)word of God and the powers of ^(O)the age to come, ⁶ and having fallen away, it is ^(P)impossible to renew them again to repentance, ^[d](Q)since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. ⁷ For ground that drinks the rain which often ^[e]falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those ^(R)for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; ⁸ but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is unfit and ^(S)close ^[f]to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

The Inheritance of the Promises

⁹ But we are convinced about you, ^(T)beloved, of things that are better and that belong to salvation, though we are speaking in this way. ¹⁰ For ^(U)God is not unrighteous so as to forget ^(V)your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ^(W)ministered and continuing to minister to the ^[g]saints. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence ^[h]so as to realize the ^(X)full assurance of ^(Y)hope until the end, ¹² so that you may not become dull, but ^(Z)imitators of those who through ^(AA)faith and patience ^(AB)inherit the promises.

¹³ For ^(AC)when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He ^(AD)swore by Himself, ¹⁴ saying, “^(AE)I will greatly bless you and I will greatly multiply you.” ¹⁵ And so, ^(AF)having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. ^16 (AG)For men swear by ^[i]one greater than themselves, and with them ^(AH)an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. ^17 [j]In the same way God, desiring even more to show to ^(AI)the heirs of the promise ^(AJ)the unchangeableness of His purpose, guaranteed it with an oath, ¹⁸ so that by two unchangeable things in which ^(AK)it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of ^(AL)the hope set before us. ^19 [k]This ^(AM)hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and confirmed and one which ^(AN)enters ^[l]within the veil, ^20 (AO)where a forerunner has entered for us—Jesus, having become a ^(AP)high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

The Priesthoods of Melchizedek and Christ

7 For this ^(AQ)Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the ^(AR)Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ^2 (AS)to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. ³ Without father, without mother, ^(AT)without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like ^(AU)the Son of God, he remains a priest continually.

⁴ Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the ^(AV)patriarch, ^(AW)gave a tenth of the spoils. ⁵ And those indeed of ^(AX)the sons of Levi, who receive the priest’s office, have a commandment ^[m]in the Law to collect ^[n]a tenth from the people, that is, from their brothers, although these ^[o]are descended from Abraham. ⁶ But the one ^(AY)whose genealogy is not traced from them had ^(AZ)collected ^[p]a tenth from Abraham and ^[q](BA)blessed the one who ^(BB)had the promises. ⁷ But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. ⁸ And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, ^(BC)of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. ⁹ And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, ¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

^11 (BD)Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it ^(BE)the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise ^(BF)according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. ¹³ For ^(BG)the one concerning whom ^(BH)these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord ^[r]was ^(BI)descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. ¹⁵ And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶ who has become such not according to a law of ^[s](BJ)physical requirement, but according to the power of ^(BK)an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is witnessed about Him,

¹⁸ For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment ^(BM)because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹ (for ^(BN)the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better ^(BO)hope, through which we ^(BP)draw near to God. ²⁰ And inasmuch as it was not without an oath ²¹ (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

²² so much more Jesus also has become the ^(BT)guarantee of ^(BU)a better covenant.

²³ And ^[u]the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, ²⁴ but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues ^(BV)forever, holds His priesthood permanently. ²⁵ Therefore He is able also to ^(BW)save ^[v]forever those who ^(BX)draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to ^(BY)make intercession for them.

²⁶ For it was fitting for us to have such a ^(BZ)high priest, ^(CA)holy, ^(CB)innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and ^(CC)exalted above the heavens; ²⁷ who does not need daily, like those high priests, to ^(CD)offer up sacrifices, ^(CE)first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did ^(CF)once for all when He ^(CG)offered up Himself. ²⁸ For the Law appoints men as high priests ^(CH)who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints ^(CI)a Son, who has been ^(CJ)made perfect forever.