For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works."

And again in this place he said, "They shall never enter my rest."

Because of this he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

About this we have much to say which is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of God's word. You need milk, not solid food;

And this we will do, if God permits.

Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that accompany salvation.

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him.

But this man whose genealogy is not derived from them received a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

In this case tithes are received by mortal men, but in that case by one of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.

This becomes even more evident if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,

Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

He does not need, like those high priests, to offer up daily sacrifices, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people, because he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; and so it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.

This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.

The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the holy place had not yet been disclosed as long as the outer tabernacle was still standing.

This is symbolic for the present time. According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, he entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation.

For this reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

This is why even the first covenant was not ratified without blood.

saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you."

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"

Besides this, we have had fathers of our flesh to discipline us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?

This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, in order that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Obey your leaders and submit to them; for they are keeping watch over your souls, as men who will have to give account. Let them do this with joy, and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.

I urge you all the more to do this so that I may be restored to you the sooner.