After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets,

in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world.

For if the message spoken through angels proved to be so firm that every violation or disobedience received its just penalty,

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,

while God confirmed their witness with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

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.

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil),

and set free those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.

"There your fathers tested me and tried me, and they saw my works for forty years.

"Therefore, I became provoked at that generation and said, 'Their hearts are always wandering and they have not known my ways.'

So God again ordains a certain day, "Today," speaking through David after so long a time, as in the words quoted before, "O, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts."

Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.

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

so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.

so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie.

And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descendants of Abraham.

But Melchizedek who does not share their ancestry collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed the one who possessed the promise.

And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham.

So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood -- for on that basis the people received the law -- what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron's order?

for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all.

Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.

"It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord.

"For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God and they will be my people.

"And there will be no need at all for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, 'Know the Lord,' since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest.

"For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer."

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

So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tent as they perform their duties.

But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation,

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be proven.

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

But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year.

By his will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

"This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws on their hearts and I will inscribe them on their minds,"

then he says, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer."

Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

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

So do not throw away your confidence, because it has great reward.

But we are not among those who shrink back and thus perish, but are among those who have faith and preserve their souls.

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 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.

But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

God had told him, "Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name,"

and he reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead, and in a sense he received him back from there.

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,

and women received back their dead raised to life. But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life.

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

Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?

See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.

So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe.

Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them, and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment.

Remember your leaders, who spoke God's message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith.

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.

equip you with every good thing to do his will, working in us what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever. Amen.