6 Therefore let us leave the ^pelementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from ^qdead works ^rand of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings,¹ the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For ^sit is impossible, in the case of those who have once been ^tenlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and ^uhave shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have ^vtasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, ^wsince they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But ^xif it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and ^yits end is to be burned.

9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your ^zwork and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the ^afull assurance of ^bhope until the end, 12 so that you may not be ^csluggish, but ^dimitators of those who through faith and patience ^einherit the promises.

The Certainty of God’s Promise

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, ^fhe swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham,² having patiently waited, ^gobtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to ^hlie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to ⁱhold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that ^jenters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 ^kwhere Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, ^lhaving become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

7 For ^mthis Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office ⁿhave a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers,¹ though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

Jesus Compared to Melchizedek

11 Now ^oif perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the ^porder of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was ^qdescended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,

18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its ^sweakness and uselessness 19 (for the law ^tmade nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better ^uhope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a ^xbetter covenant.

23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost² those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to ^ymake intercession for them.

26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a ^zhigh priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first ^afor his own sins and then for those of the people, since ^bhe did this ^conce for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son ^dwho has been made perfect forever.

Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant

8 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is ^eseated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the ^ftrue ^gtent¹ that the Lord set up, ^hnot man. 3 For ⁱevery high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a ^jcopy and ^kshadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, ^l“See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ² has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the ^mcovenant he ⁿmediates is ^obetter, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For ^pif that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

8 For he finds fault with them when he says:³

13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The Earthly Holy Place

9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. 2 For a ^utent¹ was prepared, the first section, in which were the ^vlampstand and the ^wtable and the ^xbread of the Presence.² It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a second section³ called the ^yMost Holy Place, 4 having the ^zgolden altar of incense and the ^aark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the ^bmanna, and ^cAaron’s staff that ^dbudded, and the ^etablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were the ^fcherubim of glory overshadowing the ^gmercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 These preparations having thus been made, ^hthe priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but ⁱonce a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers ^jfor himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the ^kway into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age).⁴ According to this arrangement, ^lgifts and sacrifices are offered ^mthat cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

11 But when Christ appeared as a ⁿhigh priest of the ^ogood things that have come,⁵ then through the greater and more perfect ^ptent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he ^qentered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and ^rthe sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify⁶ for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered ^shimself without blemish to God, ^tpurify our^{7 u}conscience from ^vdead works to serve the living God.

15 Therefore he is the ^wmediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal ^xinheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.⁸ 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore ^ynot even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and ^zscarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and ^awithout the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

23 Thus it was necessary for the ^bcopies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places ^cmade with hands, which are copies of the ^dtrue things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has ^eappeared ^fonce for all at the ^gend of the ages to ^hput away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and ⁱafter that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to ^jbear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly ^kwaiting for him.

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 For since the law has but a ^lshadow of the ^mgood things to come instead of the true form of these realities, ⁿit can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been ^ocleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Consequently, when Christ¹ came ^pinto the world, he said,

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and ^sburnt offerings and ^tsin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been ^usanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ^vonce for all.

11 And every priest stands ^wdaily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ² had ^xoffered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, ^yhe sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has ^zperfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

15 And ^athe Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

17 then he adds,

18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

The Full Assurance of Faith

19 Therefore, brothers,³ since we have ^dconfidence to ^eenter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living ^fway that he opened for us through the ^gcurtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the ^hhouse of God, 22 let us ⁱdraw near with a true heart in ^jfull assurance of faith, with our hearts ^ksprinkled clean from an evil ^lconscience and our bodies ^mwashed with pure water. 23 Let us ⁿhold fast the ^oconfession of our ^phope without wavering, for he who promised is ^qfaithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but ^rencouraging one another, and all the more as you see the ^sDay drawing near.

26 For ^tif we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the ^uknowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a ^vfury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy ^won the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 ^xHow much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has ^ytrampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the ^zblood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, ^a“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, ^b“The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a ^cfearful thing to fall into the hands of the ^dliving God.

32 But recall the former days when, after you were ^eenlightened, you ^fendured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being ^gpublicly exposed to ^hreproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those ⁱin prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your ^jconfidence, which has a great ^kreward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For,

39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.