how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first communicated through the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard him,

but we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God's grace he would experience death on behalf of everyone.

For it was fitting for him, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For since he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

who is faithful to the one who appointed him, as Moses was also in God's house.

Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken.

For which ones heard and rebelled? Was it not all who came out of Egypt under Moses' leadership?

And against whom was God provoked for forty years? Was it not those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the wilderness?

Therefore it remains for some to enter it, yet those to whom it was previously proclaimed did not enter because of disobedience.

And no one assumes this honor on his own initiative, but only when called to it by God, as in fact Aaron was.

So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming high priest, but the one who glorified him was God, who said to him, "You are my Son! Today I have fathered you,"

During his earthly life Christ offered both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of his devotion.

Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered.

and he was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

In the same way God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, and so he intervened with an oath,

Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him.

For he was still in his ancestor Abraham's loins when Melchizedek met him.

And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation -- for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation,

The place where they serve is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says, "See that you make everything according to the design shown to you on the mountain."

For a tent was prepared, the outer one, which contained the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; this is called the holy place.

And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies.

The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the holy place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing.

This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper.

So even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood.

Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

So it was necessary for the sketches of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves required better sacrifices than these.

so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation.

Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God.

By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding where he was going.

For he was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

By faith, even though Sarah herself was barren and he was too old, he received the ability to procreate, because he regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He had received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his only son.

By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped as he leaned on his staff.

By faith, when Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months, because they saw the child was beautiful and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions,

(the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth.

And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.

For you know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing with tears.

For they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."

In fact, the scene was so terrifying that Moses said, "I shudder with fear."