The Danger of Falling Away

6 Therefore ^(A)leaving ^(B)the ^[a]elementary teaching about the ^[b]Christ, let us press on to ^[c](C)maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from ^(D)dead works and of faith toward God, ² of ^(E)instruction about ^[d]washings and ^(F)laying on of hands, and about the ^(G)resurrection of the dead and ^(H)eternal judgment. ³ And this we will do, ^(I)if God permits. ⁴ For it is ^(J)impossible, in the case of those who have once been ^(K)enlightened and have tasted of ^(L)the heavenly gift and have been made ^(M)partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and ^(N)have tasted the good ^(O)word of God and the powers of ^(P)the age to come, ⁶ and then have ^[e]fallen away, to ^(Q)restore them again to repentance, ^[f](R)since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. ⁷ For ground that drinks the rain which often ^[g]falls on it and produces vegetation useful to those ^(S)for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; ⁸ but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and ^[h](T)close to being cursed, and ^[i]it ends up being burned.

Better Things for You

⁹ But, ^(U)beloved, we are convinced of better things regarding you, and things that ^[j]accompany salvation, even though we are speaking in this way. ¹⁰ For ^(V)God is not unjust so as to forget ^(W)your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, by having ^(X)served and by still serving the ^[k]saints. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you demonstrate the same diligence ^[l]so as to realize the ^(Y)full assurance of ^(Z)hope until the end, ¹² so that you will not be sluggish, but ^(AA)imitators of those who through ^(AB)faith and endurance ^(AC)inherit the promises.

¹³ For ^(AD)when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear an oath by no one greater, He ^(AE)swore by Himself, ¹⁴ saying, “^(AF)indeed I will greatly bless you and I will greatly multiply you.” ¹⁵ And so, ^(AG)having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. ^16 (AH)For people swear an oath by ^[m]one greater than themselves, and with them ^(AI)an oath serving as confirmation is an end of every dispute. ^17 [n]In the same way God, desiring even more to demonstrate to ^(AJ)the heirs of the promise ^[o](AK)the fact that His purpose is unchangeable, ^[p]confirmed it with an oath, ¹⁸ so that by two unchangeable things in which ^(AL)it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to ^(AM)the hope set before us. ^19 [q]This ^(AN)hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and reliable and one which ^(AO)enters ^[r]within the veil, ^20 (AP)where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a ^(AQ)high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Melchizedek’s Priesthood like Christ’s

7 For this ^(AR)Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the ^(AS)Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. ³ Without father, without mother, ^(AT)without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like ^(AU)the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

⁴ Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the ^(AV)patriarch, ^(AW)gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. ⁵ And those indeed of ^(AX)the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment ^[s]in the Law to collect ^[t]a tenth from the people, that is, from their countrymen, although they ^[u]are descended from Abraham. ⁶ But the one ^(AY)whose genealogy is not traced from them ^(AZ)collected ^[v]a tenth from Abraham and ^[w](BA)blessed the one who ^(BB)had the promises. ⁷ But without any dispute the lesser person is blessed by the greater. ⁸ In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, ^(BC)of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. ⁹ And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, has paid tithes, ¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his ^[x]forefather when Melchizedek met him.

^11 (BD)So if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it ^(BE)the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise ^(BF)according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. ¹³ For ^(BG)the one about whom ^(BH)these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord ^[y]was ^(BI)descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses said nothing concerning priests. ¹⁵ And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶ who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of ^[z](BJ)physical requirement, but according to the power of ^(BK)an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is attested of Him,

¹⁸ For, on the one hand, there is the nullification of a former commandment ^(BM)because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹ (for ^(BN)the Law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, there is the introduction of a better ^(BO)hope, through which we ^(BP)come near to God. ²⁰ And to the extent that it was not without an oath ²¹ (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

²² by the same extent Jesus also has become the ^[aa](BT)guarantee of ^(BU)a better covenant.

^23 [ab]The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; ^24 [ac]Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues ^(BV)forever, holds His priesthood permanently. ²⁵ Therefore He is also able to ^(BW)save ^[ad]forever those who ^(BX)come to God through Him, since He always lives to ^(BY)make intercession for them.

²⁶ For it was fitting for us to have such a ^(BZ)high priest, ^(CA)holy, ^(CB)innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and ^(CC)exalted above the heavens; ²⁷ who has no daily need, like those high priests, to ^(CD)offer up sacrifices, ^(CE)first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this ^(CF)once for all time when He ^(CG)offered up Himself. ²⁸ For the Law appoints men as high priests ^(CH)who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints ^(CI)a Son, who has been ^(CJ)made perfect forever.