For this reason we must pay closer attention to the things we have heard, or we may drift away,

how will we escape if we neglect a salvation as great as this? It was first proclaimed by the Lord himself, and then it was confirmed to us by those who heard him,

and again in this passage, "They will never enter my rest."

No one takes this honor upon himself but he is called to it by God, just as Aaron was.

We have much to say about this, but it is difficult to explain because you have become too lazy to understand.

And this we will do, if God permits.

Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case, things that point to salvation.

Now this man Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, met Abraham and blessed him when he was returning from defeating the kings.

Just look at how great this man was! Even Abraham the patriarch himself gave him a tenth of what he had captured!

But this man, whose descent is not traced from them, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the man who had received the promises.

Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood for on this basis the people received the Law what further need would there be to speak of appointing another kind of priest according to the order of Melchizedek, not one according to the order of Aaron?

This point is even more obvious in that another priest who is like Melchizedek has appeared

Now none of this happened without an oath. Others became priests without any oath,

In this way, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

He has no need to offer sacrifices every day like high priests do, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he sacrificed himself.

Now the main point in what we are saying is this: we do have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven

For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, this high priest had to offer something, too.

They serve in a sanctuary that is a copy, a shadow of the heavenly one. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tent: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain."

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord: I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

For a tent was set up, and in the first part were the lamp stand, the table, and the bread of the Presence. This was called the Holy Place.

When everything had been arranged like this, the priests always went into the first part of the tent to perform their duties.

The Holy Spirit was indicating by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first part of the tent was still standing.

This illustration for today indicates that the gifts and sacrifices being offered could not clear the conscience of a worshiper,

But when the Messiah came as a high priest of the good things that have come, he went through the greater and more perfect tent that was not made by human hands and that is not a part of this creation.

This is why the Messiah is the mediator of a new covenant; so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance promised them, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the offenses committed under the first covenant.

This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.

saying, "This is the blood of the covenant that God ordained for you."

For this reason, the Scriptures say, when the Messiah was about to come into the world: "You did not want sacrifices and offerings, but you prepared a body for me.

Then I said, "See, I have come to do your will, O God' In the volume of the scroll this is written about me."

In this passage he says, "You never wanted or took delight in sacrifices, offerings, burnt offerings, and sin offerings," which are offered according to the Law.

But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, "he sat down at the right hand of God."

The Holy Spirit also assures us of this, for he said:

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

At times you were made a public spectacle by means of insults and persecutions, while at other times you associated with people who were treated this way.

Abraham was as good as dead, yet from this one man came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

Abraham was certain that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did get Isaac back in this way.

By faith they went through the Red Sea as if it were dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do this, they were drowned.

Continue to follow and be submissive to your leaders, since they are watching over your souls as those who will have to give a word of explanation. By doing this, you will be letting them carry out their duties joyfully, and not with grief, for that would be harmful for you.

I especially ask you to do this so that I may be brought back to you sooner.