Study Desk

But encourage each other every day while it is "today." Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.

The Good News was preached to us just as it was to them. But the teaching they heard did not help them, because they heard it but did not accept it with faith.

We who have believed are able to enter and have God's rest. As God has said, "I was angry and made a promise, ‘They will never enter my rest.'" Psalm 95:11 But God's work was finished from the time he made the world.

It is still true that some people will enter God's rest, but those who first heard the way to be saved did not enter, because they did not obey.

For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin.

To be a high priest is an honor, but no one chooses himself for this work. He must be called by God as Aaron was.

So also Christ did not choose himself to have the honor of being a high priest, but God chose him. God said to him, "You are my Son. Today I have become your Father." Psalm 2:7

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are so slow to understand.

By now you should be teachers, but you need someone to teach you again the first lessons of God's message. You still need the teaching that is like milk. You are not ready for solid food.

But solid food is for those who are grown up. They are mature enough to know the difference between good and evil.

But they fell away from Christ. It is impossible to bring them back to a changed life again, because they are nailing the Son of God to a cross again and are shaming him in front of others.

Dear friends, we are saying this to you, but we really expect better things from you that will lead to your salvation.

Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi, but he collected a tenth from Abraham. And he blessed Abraham, the man who had God's promises.

Priests receive a tenth, even though they are only men who live and then die. But Melchizedek, who received a tenth from Abraham, continues living, as the Scripture says.

Levi was not yet born, but he was in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham.

The people were given the law concerning the system of priests from the tribe of Levi, but they could not be made perfect through that system. So there was a need for another priest to come, a priest like Melchizedek, not Aaron.

He was not made a priest by human rules and laws but through the power of his life, which continues forever.

The law of Moses could not make anything perfect. But now a better hope has been given to us, and with this hope we can come near to God.

but Christ became a priest with God's oath. God said: "The Lord has made a promise and will not change his mind. ‘You are a priest forever.'" Psalm 110:4

But because Jesus lives forever, he will never stop serving as priest.