Study Desk

Everything belongs to God, and all things were created by his power. So God did the right thing when he made Jesus perfect by suffering, as Jesus led many of God's children to be saved and to share in his glory.

Jesus and the people he makes holy all belong to the same family. That is why he isn't ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.

My friends, God has chosen you to be his holy people. So think about Jesus, the one we call our apostle and high priest!

We were sure about Christ when we first became his people. So let's hold tightly to our faith until the end.

The Scriptures say, "If you hear his voice today, don't be stubborn like those who rebelled."

And who did God say would never enter his place of rest? Weren't they the ones that disobeyed him?

In fact, somewhere the Scriptures say that by the seventh day, God had finished his work, and so he rested.

Much later God told David to make the promise again, just as I have already said, "If you hear his voice today, don't be stubborn!"

On that day God's people will rest from their work, just as God rested from his work.

What God has said isn't only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts.

A high priest has weaknesses of his own, and he feels sorry for foolish and sinful people.

That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins and for the sins of others.

God had the power to save Jesus from death. And while Jesus was on earth, he begged God with loud crying and tears to save him. He truly worshiped God, and God listened to his prayers.

God is always fair. He will remember how you helped his people in the past and how you are still helping them. You belong to God, and he won't forget the love you have shown his people.

Then you would never be lazy. You would be following the example of those who had faith and were patient until God kept his promise to them.

No one is greater than God. So he made a promise in his own name when he said to Abraham,

So when God wanted to prove for certain that his promise to his people could not be broken, he made a vow.

God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us.

Melchizedek was both king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He was the one who went out and gave Abraham his blessing, when Abraham returned from killing the kings.

Notice how great Melchizedek is! Our famous ancestor Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had taken from his enemies.