Spiritual Immaturity

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the 2oracles of God; and you have come to need qmilk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is ra babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are 3of full age, that is, those who by reason of 4use have their senses exercised sto discern both good and evil.

The Peril of Not Progressing

6 Therefore, aleaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to 1perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from bdead works and of faith toward God, 2 cof the doctrine of baptisms, dof laying on of hands, eof resurrection of the dead, fand of eternal judgment. 3 And this 2we will do if God permits.

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted gthe heavenly gift, and hhave become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 3if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, isince they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, jreceives blessing from God; 8 kbut if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

A Better Estimate

9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For lGod is not unjust to forget myour work and 4labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have nministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence oto the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become 5sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience pinherit the promises.

God’s Infallible Purpose in Christ

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, qHe swore by Himself, 14 saying, r“Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the spromise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and tan oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to uthe heirs of promise vthe 6immutability of His counsel, 7confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two 8immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to wlie, we 9might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope xset before us.

19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, yand which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 zwhere the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, ahaving become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

The King of Righteousness

7 For this aMelchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the 1spoils. 5 And indeed bthose who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham cand blessed dhim who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, eof whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.