Study Desk

For we have not a high priest who is not able to be touched by the feelings of our feeble flesh; but we have one who has been tested in all points as we ourselves are tested, but without sin.

Then let us come near to the seat of grace without fear, so that mercy may be given to us, and we may get grace for our help in time of need.

Every high priest who is taken from among men is given his position to take care of the interests of men in those things which have to do with God, so that he may make offerings for sins.

He is able to have feeling for those who have no knowledge and for those who are wandering from the true way, because he himself is feeble;

And being feeble, he has to make sin-offerings for himself as well as for the people.

And no man who is not given authority by God, as Aaron was, takes this honour for himself.

In the same way Christ did not take for himself the glory of being made a high priest, but was given it by him who said, You are my Son, this day I have given you being:

As he says in another place, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

And though by this time it would be right for you to be teachers, you still have need of someone to give you teaching about the first simple rules of God's revelation; you have become like babies who have need of milk, and not of solid food.

For everyone who takes milk is without experience of the word of righteousness: he is a child.

But solid food is for men of full growth, even for those whose senses are trained by use to see what is good and what is evil.

For this reason let us go on from the first things about Christ to full growth; not building again that on which it is based, that is, the turning of the heart from dead works, and faith in God,

As for those who at one time saw the light, tasting the good things from heaven, and having their part in the Holy Spirit,

And then let themselves be turned away, it is not possible for their hearts to be made new a second time; because they themselves put the Son of God on the cross again, openly shaming him.

For a land, drinking in the frequent rain and producing good plants for those for whom it is worked, has a blessing from God:

For God is true, and will not put away from him the memory of your work and of your love for his name, in the help which you gave and still give to the saints.

For when God made his oath to Abraham, because there was no greater oath, he made it by himself,

And so, when he had been waiting calmly for a long time, God's word to him was put into effect.

For men at all times make their oaths by what is greater; and any argument is ended by the decision of the oath.

So that we, who have gone in flight from danger to the hope which has been put before us, may have a strong comfort in two unchanging things, in which it is not possible for God to be false;