Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹³ God made a promise to Abraham. God did not have anyone greater than himself to hear his promise.

¹⁴ So he promised to himself when he said, `I will surely bless you and you will have many children.'

¹⁵ Abraham kept on believing God. And so he got what God had promised him.

¹⁶ When men make a promise, they ask someone to hear it who is greater than they are. When someone great has heard a promise, it stops any quarrel about it.

¹⁷ God made a promise to people. He wanted to show them that he would surely do as he said. So he promised to himself to keep the promise.

¹⁸ These two things cannot be changed and God cannot lie about them. So we can trust him. We have run to him to get what he has promised us.

¹⁹ This promise gives our hearts something to hold on to. It keeps our hearts strong and steady. It will take us into the Holy Place right inside God's house.

²⁰ Jesus has gone there ahead of us. He has been made high priest for ever like Melchizedek.