Hebrews 5–6

5Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God,^x to offer gifts and sacrifices^y for sins.^{z 2}He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray,^a since he himself is subject to weakness.^{b 3}This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.^{c 4}And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.^d

⁵In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory^e of becoming a high priest.^f But God said^g to him,

“You are my Son;

today I have become your Father.”^ah

⁶And he says in another place,

“You are a priest forever,

in the order of Melchizedek.ⁱ”^bj

⁷During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions^k with fervent cries and tears^l to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard^m because of his reverent submission.^{n 8}Son^o though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered^{p 9}and, once made perfect,^q he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him ¹⁰and was designated by God to be high priest^r in the order of Melchizedek.^s

Warning Against Falling Away

6:4–6Ref—Heb 10:26–31

¹¹We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. ¹²In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths^t of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!^{u 13}Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,^v is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴But solid food is for the mature,^w who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.^x

6Therefore let us move beyond^y the elementary teachings^z about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,^aa and of faith in God, ²instruction about cleansing rites,^bb the laying on of hands,^c the resurrection of the dead,^d and eternal judgment. ³And God permitting,^e we will do so.

⁴It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,^f who have tasted the heavenly gift,^g who have shared in the Holy Spirit,^{h 5}who have tasted the goodnessⁱ of the word of God^j and the powers of the coming age ⁶and who have fallen^c away, to be brought back to repentance.^k To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God^l all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. ⁷Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. ⁸But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.^m In the end it will be burned.

⁹Even though we speak like this, dear friends,ⁿ we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. ¹⁰God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.^{o 11}We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope^p for may be fully realized. ¹²We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate^q those who through faith and patience^r inherit what has been promised.^s

The Certainty of God’s Promise

¹³When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,^{t 14}saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”^{du 15}And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.^v

¹⁶People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.^{w 17}Because God wanted to make the unchanging^x nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,^y he confirmed it with an oath. ¹⁸God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,^z we who have fled to take hold of the hope^a set before us may be greatly encouraged. ¹⁹We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,^{b 20}where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.^c He has become a high priest^d forever, in the order of Melchizedek.^e