Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. In the first place, his name means "king of righteousness," and then he is also king of Salem, that is, "king of peace."

The descendants of Levi who accept the priesthood have a commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their own brothers, even though they are also descendants of Abraham.

It is beyond dispute that the less important person is blessed by the more important person.

Mortal men collect tithes, but we are informed by Scripture that Melchizedek keeps on living.

One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham,

For the person we are talking about belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.

Furthermore, it is obvious that our Lord was a descendant of Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests coming from that tribe.

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

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."

It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors at the time when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. Because they did not remain loyal to my covenant, I ignored them, declares the Lord.

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.

which had the gold altar for incense and the Ark of the Covenant completely covered with gold. In it were the gold jar holding the manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the Tablets of the Covenant.

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.

how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead actions so that we may serve the living God!

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.

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

For the Messiah did not go into a sanctuary made by human hands that is merely a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, to appear now in God's presence on our behalf.

Nor did he go into heaven to sacrifice himself again and again, the way the high priest goes into the Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.

Indeed, just as people are destined to die once and after that to be judged,

Day after day every priest stands and repeatedly offers the same sacrifices that can never take away sins.

Since that time, he has been waiting for his enemies to be made a footstool for his feet.

"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,

the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh),

let us continue to come near with sincere hearts in the full assurance that faith provides, because our hearts have been sprinkled clean from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Let us continue to hold firmly to the hope that we confess without wavering, for the one who made the promise is faithful.

but only a terrifying prospect of judgment and a raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

How much more severe a punishment do you think that person deserves who tramples on God's Son, treats as common the blood of the covenant by which it was sanctified, and insults the Spirit of grace?

For you sympathized with the prisoners and cheerfully submitted to the violent seizure of your property, because you know that you have a better and more permanent possession.

For you need endurance, so that after you have done God's will you can receive what he has promised.

Now faith is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists.

By faith we understand that time was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are invisible.

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, reverently prepared an ark to save his family, and by faith he condemned the world and inherited the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith Sarah, even though she was old and barren, received the strength to conceive, because she was convinced that the one who had made the promise was faithful.

All these people died having faith. They did not receive the things that were promised, yet they saw them in the distant future and welcomed them, acknowledging that they were strangers and foreigners on earth.

For people who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own.

Instead, they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has prepared a city for them.

about whom it had been said, "It is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you."

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

By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after he was born, because they saw that he was a beautiful child and were not afraid of the king's order.

He thought that being insulted for the sake of the Messiah was of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

Women received their dead raised back to life. Other people were brutally tortured, but refused to be ransomed, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

since God had planned something better for us, so that they would not be perfected without us.

Therefore, having so vast a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, and throwing off everything that hinders us and especially the sin that so easily entangles us, let us keep running with endurance the race set before us,

Think about the one who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you may not become tired and give up.

You have forgotten the encouragement that is addressed to you as sons: "My son, do not think lightly of the Lord's discipline or give up when you are corrected by him.

For a short time they disciplined us as they thought best, but God does it for our good, so that we may share in his holiness.

and straighten the paths of your life, so that your lameness may not become worse, but instead may be healed.

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up and causes you trouble, or many of you will become defiled.

For you know that afterwards, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected because he could not find any opportunity to repent, even though he begged to repent with tears.

You have not come to something that can be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, to gloom,

to a trumpet's blast, or to a voice that made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them.

For they could not endure the command that was given: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death."

Indeed, the sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."

to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better message than Abel's.

See to it that you do not ignore the one who is speaking. For if the hearers did not escape when they ignored the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we turn away from the one who is from heaven!

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also heaven."

The expression "once more" signifies the removal of what can be shaken, that is, what he has made, so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and worship God in reverence and fear in a way that pleases him.

Stop being carried away by all kinds of unusual teachings, for it is good that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by food laws that have never helped those who follow them.

That is why Jesus, in order to sanctify the people by his own blood, also suffered outside the city gate.

For here we have no permanent city but are looking for the one that is coming.

Therefore, through him let us always bring God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess his name.

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.

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

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

You should know that our brother Timothy has been set free. If he comes soon, he will be with me when I see you.

because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

But you must let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

But he must ask in faith, without any doubts, for the one who has doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass. The flower in it drops off, and its beauty is gone. That is how the rich person will fade away in his pursuits.

How blessed is the man who endures temptation! When he has passed the test, he will receive the victor's crown of life that God has promised to those who keep on loving him.

When that desire becomes pregnant, it gives birth to sin; and when that sin grows up, it gives birth to death.

In accordance with his will he made us his children by the word of truth, so that we might become the most important of his creatures.

For human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

Therefore, rid yourselves of everything impure and every expression of wickedness, and with a gentle spirit welcome the word planted in you that can save your souls.

But the one who looks at the perfect law of freedom and remains committed to it thereby demonstrating that he is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of what that law requires will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone thinks that he is religious and does not bridle his tongue, but instead deceives himself, his religion is worthless.

A religion that is pure and stainless according to God the Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows who are suffering, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Listen, my dear brothers! God has chosen the poor in the world to become rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who keep on loving him, has he not?

You believe that there is one God. That's fine! Even the demons believe that and tremble with fear.

Do you want proof, you foolish person, that faith without actions is worthless?

You see that his faith worked together with what he did, and by his actions his faith was made complete.

And so the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." And so he was called God's friend.

You observe that a person is justified through actions and not through faith alone.

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more severely than others.

And look at ships! They are so big that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the helmsman directs.

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his noble conduct that his actions are done humbly and wisely.

That kind of wisdom does not come from above. No, it is worldly, self-centered, and demonic.

However, the wisdom that comes from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of compassion and good deeds, and without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.

Where do those fights and quarrels among you come from? They come from your selfish desires that are at war in your bodies, don't they?

You adulterers! Don't you know that friendship with the world means hostility with God? So whoever wants to be a friend of this world is an enemy of God.

Or do you think the Scripture means nothing when it says that the Spirit that God caused to live in us jealously yearns for us?

You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Instead you should say, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that."

Now listen, you rich people! Cry and moan over the miseries that are overtaking you.

Look! The wages that you kept back from the workers who harvested your fields are shouting out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.

We consider those who endured to be blessed. You have heard about Job's endurance and have seen the purpose of the Lord that the Lord is compassionate and merciful.