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Hebrews 8:1-7

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.     For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.     Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law.     They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”     But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.     For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. On
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Hebrews 7:11-19

Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?     For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.     For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.     For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.     This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.     For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”     For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside bec
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Hebrews 7:1-10

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.     He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.     See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!     And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.     But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.     It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.     In the one case tithes are re
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Hebrews 6:13-20

For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.”     And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.     For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.     So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.     We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. The hope of believers comes from the promises of God.  We live in a world of brok
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Hebrews 6:9-12

Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.     For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.     And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. In light of the previous passage about the potential for counterfeit Christians, the author wants to assure the true believers that they are secure in Christ.  Satan not only wants to produce a false faith but he wants to instill in true believers a false fear.  Assurance that we are in the faith is important for every believer.  The author of Hebrews shares two reasons that demonstrate their faith is genuine.  This is clearly not an all-inclusive list, but it does give us some practices that provide assurance of
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Hebrews 6:1-8

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.     And this we will do if God permits.     For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.     For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God.     But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. This is one o
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Hebrews 5:11-14

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.     For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.     But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. There are believers who are immature in the spiritual walk and there are those who are mature in Christ. Unfortunately, time alone is not the determining factor between maturity and immaturity.  Certainly, it is understandable that a new believer will demonstrate signs of immaturity.  However, too often, those who have been believers for a long time continue to demonstrate immaturity.  This passage contrasts these two distinctive groups and gives us a roadmap for avoiding immaturity and devel
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