Study Desk

For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God.

For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.

Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and steadfast. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.

For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.

Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear-one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?

For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests.

For it is testified: "You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."

(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,

Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.

Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.

For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer.

For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second.

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

For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more."

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.