A "Grain Of Wheat" Ministries publication

Translated by David W. Dyer

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The Letter to the Hebrews

HEBREWS CHAPTER 1

1:1At many times and in various ways, God, having spoken long ago to the fathers through the prophets, 1:2has in these last days spoken to us in his Son – whom he appointed heir of all things and through whom also he made the universe.

1:3Who, being the radiance of his glory and the exact image of his essence – the One sustaining all things by the power of his word – when he by himself had made purification of our sins, sat down in the place of supreme honor and authority of the Majesty on high, 1:4having become so much superior to the angels since he has inherited a greater and more elevated name than they.

1:5For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you?” (Ps 2:7). And again, “I will be a Father to him and he will be a Son to me?” (2 Sam 7:14). 1:6And again, when he brought the firstborn into the world he said, “And let all the angels of God worship him.” 1:7On the one hand, concerning the angels he said, “Who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire” (Ps 104:4).

1:8But, on the other hand, he said concerning the Son, “Your throne, oh God, is forever and ever and the scepter of your kingdom is the scepter of uprightness. 1:9You have loved righteousness and hated sin. Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of extreme joy in the presence of your companions” (Ps 45:6,7).

1:10And, “You Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth. And the heavens are the works of your hands. 1:11They will be destroyed, but you remain. They will all get old like clothing 1:12and you will roll them up as a cloak and they will be changed. But you are the same and your years will never end” (Ps 102:25-27).

1:13But to which of the angels has he said at any time, “Sit here in this place of honor and authority until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?” (Ps 110:1). 1:14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to serve for the sake of those who are about to inherit the culmination of our salvation?*

*This “culmination” of our salvation is the glorification of our body.

HEBREWS CHAPTER 2

2:1Therefore, it is extremely important for us to hold onto the things which we heard so that in no way we would carelessly let go of them.

2:2For since the word spoken through angels was unchangeable and every sin and disobedience received a just reward, 2:3how will we escape a similar judgment if we neglect so great a salvation, which was initially received through the words of the Lord, being confirmed to us by those who heard him? 2:4God also “testified” to the truth of their words through both signs and wonders, through various works of power, and through impartations of the Holy Spirit all according to his own will.

2:5For he did not put the coming inhabitable world about which we speak in subjection to angels. 2:6But someone testified somewhere saying, “What is man that you think about him? Or the son of man that you have selected him? 2:7You made him a little lower than the angels. Yet, you crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works of your hands. 2:8You put all things in subjection under his feet” (Ps 8:4-6).

For since he subjected “all things” to him, he left nothing that is not subjected to him. But now we don’t yet see all things subjected to him. 2:9But we do see him who was made a little lower than the angels, even Jesus who because he was willing to endure the suffering of death – so that by the grace of God he would experience death for everyone – is now crowned with glory and honor.

2:10For it seemed right to him – for whom are all things and through whom are all things – in leading many sons into glorious splendor, to complete the human experience of the author of their salvation through those sufferings.

2:11Now both he who makes holy and those who are being made holy are all from one Source. This is the reason he is not ashamed to call them “brothers,” 2:12saying, “I will declare your name to my brethren. In the midst of the assembly will I sing praise to you” (Ps 22:22). 2:13And again, “I will trust in him.” And further, “Look, it is I and the children whom God has given me” (Is 8:17,18).

2:14Since then the children are alike in having flesh and blood, in the same way he also became a partaker of it with them so that through death he would render powerless the one who has the dominion of death, that is the devil, 2:15and to set free all those who because of the fear of death were in bondage throughout their lifetime.

2:16For truly he did not assume the likeness of angels but assumed the likeness of the seed of Abraham. 2:17The reason for this is that he was obligated to be made like his brethren in every way so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in the things pertaining to God to be able to atone for the sins of the people.

2:18For since he suffered while being tested himself, he is able to help those who are now being tested.

HEBREWS CHAPTER 3

3:1Therefore, holy brethren, who share in a calling from heaven, carefully contemplate the Sent One and High Priest of our agreement with God, even Jesus, 3:2who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses was also faithful in everything related to God’s dwelling place.

3:3But he has been considered worthy of more glory than Moses, in the same way that he who builds a house has more honor than the house. 3:4For every house is constructed by someone, but he who made all things is God.

3:5And Moses, on one hand, was faithful over all God’s house as a servant, as a testimony of those things which were to be spoken afterward. 3:6But the Anointed One, on the other hand, was faithful as a Son over his house, whose house we are if we firmly hold our confidence and the rejoicing of our hope to the end.

3:7Therefore, as the Holy Spirit said, “Today, if you will hear his voice, 3:8don’t harden your hearts, as in the ‘provocation’ during the time of testing in the wilderness, 3:9where your fathers tested me and tried me while they saw my works for forty years. 3:10Therefore, I was disgusted with that generation and said, ‘They always err in their hearts and they don’t understand my ways.’ 3:11So I swore in my anger that they would not enter into my rest” (Ps 95:7-11).

3:12Have a clear understanding of this, brethren, so that there won’t be in any one of you a diseased heart of unbelief, causing you to fall away from the living God. 3:13But encourage each other every day as long as it is called “today” so that none of you would become hardened by the illusion of sin.

3:14For we will become co-participants with the Anointed One in his coming kingdom and glory if we hold tightly onto our initial confidence until the end. 3:15As it is said, “Today, if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as the Jews did in the time which they provoked God” (Ps 95:7,8).

3:16For certain ones of them, even though they had heard, rebelled. In fact, wasn’t it all those who came out of Egypt through the works of Moses? 3:17And with whom was he disgusted for forty years? Wasn’t it with all those who sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness? 3:18And to whom did he swear an oath that they would not enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 3:19So we see that they were not able to enter into the “rest” that God had planned because of disobedience {or, unbelief}.

HEBREWS CHAPTER 4

4:1Therefore, since we have a promise reserved for us of entering into his rest, let us reverently fear so that none of us would be judged to be failing to enter into it.

4:2For we have had good news announced to us also, just as they did, but the word of the spies’* report which they heard did not benefit them because it was not combined with faith in those who heard it.

*These are the ones who spied out the promised land for Moses (Deut 1:22-46).

4:3For we who are believing can enter into that rest as shown when he said, “As I swore in my anger, they will not enter into my rest although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”*

*This shows that a “rest” is still available since “they” didn’t enter in (Ps 95:11).

4:4For he has said somewhere concerning the seventh day (the Sabbath rest) the following: “And God rested on the seventh day from all of his works” (Gen 2:2). 4:5And about this subject again he says, “They will not enter into my rest!” (Ps 95:11).

4:6Since then it remains clear that some would enter into it and those to whom the good news was announced before failed to enter in because of disobedience, 4:7he again confirms a certain day, i.e. “Today,” as the time during which we must enter in. He affirms this by saying through David such a long time later (just as has been said before), “Today, if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts” (Ps 95:7,8).

4:8For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken later of another “day.” 4:9Therefore, it is clear that a kind of “Sabbath rest” remains available for the people of God. 4:10For he who has entered into God’s rest has also ceased from doing his own works, just as God did from his. 4:11Let us, therefore, be diligent to enter into that rest so that no one would come under judgment by following the same pattern of disobedience!

4:12For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any two-edged sword, for penetrating even as far as the separation of soul and spirit, of both “joints and marrow,” and is able to discern the thoughts and meditations of our hearts. 4:13And there is no created being that is not transparent in his sight but all things are stripped bare and exposed before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.

4:14Having then a great high priest who has gone into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us keep our agreement with God.**

**This “agreement” of ours with God is an extremely serious thing. It is the covenant sealed by the sacrifice of His own life.

4:15For we don’t have a high priest who is not able to sympathize with our weaknesses but one who has been tested in all aspects of life just as we are, yet without sin. 4:16Let us, therefore, draw near to the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at just the right time.

HEBREWS CHAPTER 5

5:1For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men to take care of the things relating to God so that he would offer both gift offerings and sacrifices for sins. 5:2Since he also is hampered with weaknesses, he can be compassionate with the ignorant and erring. 5:3And also because of this, he must make offerings for his own sins as well as for those of the people.

5:4Yet no one takes this honor upon himself but must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5:5In the same way, the Anointed One also did not glorify himself to be made high priest but this was accomplished by him who spoke to him when he said, “You are my Son, this day have I begotten you” (Ps 2:7). 5:6And also in another place he says, “You are a priest forever after the priestly order of Melchizedek” (Ps 110:4).

5:7Who in the days of being in a physical body, having offered up both requests and earnest entreaties – with intense crying and tears to him who was able to deliver him from death – was heard because of his reverence.

5:8Even though he was a Son, he learned what it means to suffer through his obedience. 5:9Then, his human experience having been made complete through these tests, he became the source of eternal salvation to all those who are obeying him, 5:10having been called by God as a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

5:11It is about him that we have many things to say which are difficult to explain since you have become slow to understand what you hear. 5:12For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you again need someone to teach you the basic principles of the original pronouncements of God and have become like those who need milk and not solid nourishment.

5:13For everyone who drinks “milk” is inexperienced with the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 5:14But solid spiritual nourishment is for adults, even those who through use have had their faculties of spiritual perception trained to discern between what is excellent and what is wrong.

HEBREWS CHAPTER 6

6:1Therefore, advancing beyond the elementary instructions about the Anointed One, let us persevere onward to perfection, not laying again a foundation of repentance from acts which lead to death and of faith toward God, 6:2of the teaching about baptisms, of laying on of hands, of the resurrection of the dead and of the age-lasting judgment. 6:3Of course we will do this as God leads us.

6:4But concerning those who were once enlightened, who have tasted of the heavenly gift, who were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 6:5who have also sampled the good word of God and the powers of the coming age* 6:6and then have fallen away, it is impossible to restore them to repentance again since they themselves re-crucify the Son of God by exposing him to public disgrace through their actions.

*The “coming age” is the Kingdom age also known as the Millennium, not eternity.

6:7For the soil which has drunk the rain that frequently comes upon it shares the blessing of God if it produces herbs for those who cultivate it. 6:8But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is rejected and soon will be cursed – whose end is to be burned.

6:9But concerning you beloved, we are persuaded of better things than these, even your taking possession of your ongoing salvation, though we speak like this. 6:10For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the labor of love which you showed in his name in that you served those set apart for God and, in fact, are still serving them.

6:11But we want each one of you to demonstrate your diligence to the very end, being inspired by the certainty of the hope of being glorified. 6:12We also want you not to become sluggish but instead to become imitators of those who through faith and perseverance are inheriting the promises.

6:13For when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear an oath by no one greater, he swore an oath by himself 6:14saying, “Surely with blessings I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply you” (Gen 22:16,17). 6:15Then through patiently persevering, he obtained the promise.

6:16For men swear an oath by what is greatest and in all their disputes their oath is given for a final confirmation. 6:17In the same way, God pledged himself with an oath, wishing to show the supremacy and the unchangeableness of his purpose to the heirs of the promise.

6:18This was so that by two unchangeable things – one of which being that it is impossible for God to lie* – we who have fled for refuge may have strong encouragement to hold onto the hope of being glorified which is set before us.

*The other “unchangeable thing” being the holiness of God himself (Ps 89:35).

6:19We have this hope as an anchor of the soul, which is both immovable and trustworthy and which is holding within the inner veil of the heavenly holy of holies 6:20where Jesus as a forerunner entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

HEBREWS CHAPTER 7

7:1For this Melchizedek was the king of Salem and priest of God Most High – who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 7:2to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all the spoils – (being first translated, “King of righteousness,” and then also “King of Salem,” which means “King of peace”).

7:3He was without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but was the exact image of the Son of God and as such continues as a priest forever.

7:4Now consider how great this man was to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth out of the choice spoils. 7:5And truly, those who are of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment according to the law to receive tithes from the people, that is from their brethren, even though they too have come out of the loins of Abraham.

7:6But he who does not descend from their lineage received tithes from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. 7:7And without question, it is always the less important one who is blessed by the greater. 7:8And here men who die receive tithes, but in that case, someone received them about whom it is testified that he is alive.

7:9And so in a manner of speaking, even Levi who received tithes had paid tithes through Abraham, 7:10since he was still “in the loins of his father Abraham” when Melchizedek met him.

7:11Now if perfection was achieved through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek who was not part of the order of Aaron? 7:12For when the priesthood is changed it becomes necessary to change the law also. 7:13For he about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe from which no man has served at the altar. 7:14For it is evident that our Lord has risen out of the tribe of Judah, a tribe about which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

7:15And what is even clearer is that another priest arises just like Melchizedek 7:16who has not been made a priest by the law – made up of commandments for governing human activities – but through the power of an indestructible life. 7:17For it was testified concerning him, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Ps 110:4).

7:18For in this pronouncement there is an annulling of the previous commandment because of its weakness and ineffectiveness 7:19(for the law was unable to make anyone perfect), but now a better hope has been introduced through which we can come near to God and be made perfect.

7:20But in this case it was not done without an important swearing of an oath. 7:21For, on the one hand, they were made priests without the swearing of an oath but he, on the other hand, was made a priest with an oath sworn by him who said to him, “The Lord swore an oath and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’” 7:22It was through this oath then that Jesus has become the guarantor of a much better covenant.

7:23And by necessity those priests were more numerous because death prevented them from continuing on indefinitely. 7:24But he because he exists eternally, has a priesthood which is unchangeable.

7:25Therefore, he is also able to save completely {to perfect} those who are continually drawing near to God through him because he is always alive to intercede for them. 7:26For we have clearly seen just such a high priest, who, since he is holy, sincere, pure, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, 7:27does not have a daily necessity like those other high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. For he already did this once for all when he offered up himself.

7:28For the law appointed as high priests men who have weaknesses, but the word of the oath which was after the law completed everything by appointing a Son who is eternal.

HEBREWS CHAPTER 8

8:1Now the summation of everything which we are saying is this: We have such a high priest who sat down in the place of supreme honor and authority on the throne of the Majesty in the heavens (Rev 3:21), 8:2a priest of the holiest of all, even of the true tabernacle which the Lord set up and not man. 8:3Indeed, every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore, it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.

8:4Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing that here there are already those who offer the gifts according to the law, 8:5who serve in what is just an earthly copy and a shadow of the heavenly things. This is in accordance with how Moses was warned by God when he was about to make the tabernacle. “Now be careful,” he said, “that you make everything according to the pattern of that which was revealed to you on the mountain” (Ex 25:40).

8:6But now he has obtained a superior ministry since he is also the mediator of a better covenant which has been established upon better promises. 8:7For if that first covenant had been without defects, then there would have been no reason to seek a place for a second one. 8:8But finding fault with it, he said, “Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

8:9“This will not be along the lines of the covenant {contract} that I made with their fathers at the time that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. But they didn’t adhere to my covenant and so I turned away from them, says the Lord. 8:10But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will place my laws in their thoughts and I will also inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be God to them and they will be a people for me.

8:11“Furthermore, in no way will everyone teach his neighbor and everyone teach his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all will know me, from the least to the greatest. 8:12For I will be merciful with respect to their wrongs and I won’t remember their sins anymore” (Jer 31:31-34).

8:13By saying, “A new covenant” he made the first one obsolete. And the one which is obsolete and failing from age is nearing extinction.

HEBREWS CHAPTER 9

9:1The first tabernacle, indeed, had a set of rules of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 9:2For the first part of the tabernacle, which is called the Holy Place, was carefully equipped, containing the lampstand and the table for the showbread.

9:3And after the second veil was an inner tabernacle called the Holy of Holies, 9:4having a golden incense censer* and the ark of the covenant covered inside and outside with gold in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.

*Some translations say “incense altar” here. But that altar really belonged to the Holy Place, not to the Holy of Holies. It was placed directly in front of the veil which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. When the High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies he took the “censor” part from the incense altar with burning incense in it into the Holy of Holies (Ex 40:26; Lev 16:12). Therefore, it was the “censor” part of that altar which pertained to the Holy of Holies, not the altar itself.

9:5And above it were cherubim of glory overshadowing the propitiatory cover which are things that we will not speak about in great detail for now.

9:6Now having these things carefully prepared in this way, the priests go continually into the first part of the tabernacle, fulfilling the services. 9:7But the high priest goes alone into the second part only once a year and not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins the people committed through ignorance.

9:8Through this arrangement, the Holy Spirit is showing that open access for everyone into the Holiest Place had not yet been revealed while the first tabernacle was still in use.

This tabernacle was only a figure of something in the future which was set up for a limited time 9:9where both gifts and sacrifices were offered which cannot purify the moral consciousness of the worshipper concerning what is right and what is wrong. 9:10This is because it only deals with meats, drinks, and various ceremonial washings which are human ordinances imposed until a time of reform came.

9:11But the Anointed One has come as a high priest of the good things which had been planned in the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with human hands, that is to say, not of this creation. 9:12He entered into that Holiest Place once for all – not through the blood of goats and calves but through his own blood – having found an eternal liberation for us.

9:13For if the blood of goats and bulls and ashes of a heifer sprinkled on the defiled ones purified their flesh to make it clean, 9:14how much more will the blood of the Anointed One – who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God – purify your moral consciousness concerning right and wrong so that you don’t perform acts which produce death, enabling you to serve the living God?

9:15And for this reason he is the mediator of the new covenant – since a death has taken place for the release by payment of the ransom for those who violated the first covenant – so that those who have been called may be receiving the promise of the eternal inheritance.

9:16For where there is a will {or “testament”}, the one who made it must have died. 9:17For a will is only valid where there has been a death, since it has no validity while the one who made it is still alive.

9:18Therefore, even the first covenant {or “testament”} was not dedicated without blood signifying a death. 9:19For when Moses had spoken every commandment to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people 9:20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded for you.”

9:21Furthermore, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the service utensils in the same way with the blood. 9:22And according to the law, almost all things are cleansed with blood, for without the shedding of blood (a death) there is no release from sin. 9:23It was necessary, therefore, for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed in this way. But the heavenly things themselves have been cleansed with better sacrifices than those.

9:24For the Anointed One did not enter into holy places made with human hands, which are merely types of the true ones, but into heaven itself and is now appearing before the face of God for us. 9:25Neither does he need to offer himself often (since the high priest entered into the holiest place every year with the blood of another) 9:26or else he would have had to suffer frequently since the foundation of the world.

But now, once, at the end of the ages, he has been manifested to abolish sin by the sacrifice of himself. 9:27And seeing that it has been reserved for men to die only once and after this comes the judgment, 9:28so also the Anointed One, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time to those who wait for him – having put aside the problem of sin – to bring them the final step of their salvation.*

*This “salvation” refers to the “redemption” or glorification of the body.

HEBREWS CHAPTER 10

10:1For the law, being a shadow of the good things to come and not the very substance of those things, keeps on offering the same earthly sacrifices every year which can never make those who draw near perfect.

10:2If it were able, wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered? This is because once the worshippers had been thoroughly purified, they would no longer have sins to trouble their consciences. 10:3But through those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins. 10:4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to cut off and carry away sins.

10:5Therefore, coming into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings don’t satisfy your true intentions. Instead, you have prepared a human body for me. 10:6You had no real pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.” 10:7“Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God, (just as it is written about me in the rolled up scroll)’” (Ps 40:6-8).

10:8By first saying, “Sacrifices and offerings don’t satisfy your true intentions, neither do you take pleasure in them,” (which are the things offered according to the law) 10:9and then saying, “Look, I have come to do your will,” he does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10:10Through this choice of his, we are made truly holy through the unique and final offering of the body of Jesus the Anointed One.

10:11And, on one hand, every priest daily stands officiating, offering the same sacrifices over and over, which can never take away sins. 10:12But he, on the other hand, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down for eternity in the place of honor and authority of God, 10:13from here on waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.

10:14For by one offering he consummated his work forever for those who are being made holy. 10:15And the Holy Spirit also testifies this fact to us, for he has said beforehand, 10:16“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord. I will impress my laws on their hearts, and inscribe them upon their minds.” Then he said, 10:17“And their sins and their violations of the law I won’t remember anymore” (Jer 31:33,34).

10:18Now where there is a liberation from these sins, there is no further offering for sin required.*

*Once the transformation process is finished, the liberated person does not keep on sinning. Therefore, no more offering is required.

10:19Therefore, brethren, let us have confidence to enter into the Holiest Place by the blood of Jesus. 10:20We can enter in through the veil by this new and living way which he consecrated for us (which was through the offering of his body).

10:21So, having such a great high priest over the house of God, 10:22let us draw near to him with a sincere heart, being fully assured through faith, having our hearts purified from a degenerate sense of what is right and wrong, and having our bodies washed with pure water. 10:23Let us be taking possession of “the hope”* which we profess without wavering, for he who made the promise is faithful. 10:24And let us consider how to stir up each other to love and good works.

*”The hope” mentioned here is the hope of glory: i.e. being glorified with Jesus. **These are those who have disobeyed him and disrespected his authority.

10:25Don’t abandon gathering together with each other, as is the habit of some, but be encouraging each other even more as you see the day of the Lord coming near.

10:26But if we continue sinning willingly after we have received the full understanding of the truth, there is no longer a sacrifice for sins left for us. 10:27But, instead, there is a certain fearful expectation of judgment and the fire of God’s burning jealousy which will consume those who are the opposite of his holy nature. 10:28Anyone disregarding Moses’ law was killed without compassion based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 10:29How much worse punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled the Son of God under foot,** has considered the blood of the covenant with which he is being made holy as something of little value, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

10:30For we know him who said, “Revenge is mine, I will repay those who rebel.” And again saying, “The Lord will judge his people” (Deut 32:35,36). 10:31It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

10:32But remember the former days, during which, after you had been enlightened, you endured a great trial of sufferings. 10:33This was a result of being made a public spectacle, both through contemptuous verbal abuse and public persecution and also by being partners with those who were abused in this way. 10:34For you had compassion on those who were imprisoned and accepted with joy the seizure of your possessions, knowing that you have in yourselves a better possession which is permanent.

10:35Therefore, don’t throw away your assurance, which has a great reward. 10:36For you need endurance so that having done the will of God, you may receive the promise. 10:37“For in just a ‘little while,’ the coming One will be here and will not delay. 10:38Now, the Lord says, the one who exhibits righteous character is the one who is conducting his life by faith, but if he shrinks back from me, my soul will not be pleased with him” (Hab 2:3,4).

10:39Yet we are not among those who draw back, resulting in destruction, but among those who have faith, resulting in the complete saving of the soul.

HEBREWS CHAPTER 11

11:1Now faith is when what is hoped for is made real to us in the spirit. It is when we have a genuine inner conviction concerning unseen things. 11:2For this is how those of old received God’s approval. 11:3By such faith we understand that the universe came into being by the word of God so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

11:4By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, which was a testimony that he was righteous, God also testifying “upon” his gifts* and through it, even being dead, he still speaks.

*Perhaps by sending fire down from heaven to ignite the offering.

11:5By faith Enoch was translated so that he would not know death, and he was not found because God translated him. For before he was taken up, he had a testimony that God was entirely pleased with him.

11:6Yet without faith it is impossible to be pleasing to him, for he who is coming to God must believe that he is and that he rewards those who diligently seek after him.

11:7By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning things not yet seen, showed reverence and carefully prepared an ark for the deliverance of his household, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is through faith.

11:8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed, going out to a place which he later was to receive as an inheritance. So he went out without knowing where he was going. 11:9By faith he lived as a stranger in the land which had been promised, dwelling in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, the co-heirs with him of the same promise. 11:10For he looked for the city which has the true foundations whose architect and builder is God.

11:11By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive a child when she was past childbearing age since she trusted the authority of the One who had promised. 11:12Therefore, also from one (and he being very old), there are being born a multitude as many as the stars of the heavens and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

11:13These all died in faith, not having received the promises but they saw them and embraced them from far away, confessing that they were merely strangers and pilgrims on this earth. 11:14For those who say such things reveal that they are seeking a country of their own.

11:15And if indeed they had been fondly remembering that country which they left, they would have had the opportunity to return. 11:16But now they are reaching out for a better country, one that is heavenly in origin and nature. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he is preparing a city for them.

11:17By faith Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises willingly offered up his only son, 11:18even the one of whom it was said, “Your seed will receive their name through Isaac.” 11:19He considered that God was even able to raise him up from the dead, from where he also, in a manner of speaking, received him back.

11:20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning future things. 11:21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff. 11:22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, mentioned the exodus of the children of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones.

11:23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents because they saw he was a beautiful child and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

11:24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 11:25choosing to share ill treatment with the people of God rather than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin. 11:26He considered the reproach of the Anointed One as being greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked away from everything else to the divine reward. 11:27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king, for he persevered by seeing the One who is invisible.

11:28By faith he observed the passover with the sprinkling of the blood so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. 11:29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as if on dry land, in which the Egyptians, while attempting to do so, were swallowed up.

11:30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 11:31By faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with those who were disobedient, because she received the spies in peace.

11:32And what more can I say? For there is not sufficient time to relate the stories of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, of David, Samuel, and the prophets. 11:33Who through faith conquered kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 11:34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, in weakness were made strong, became valiant in war, and pushed back armies of foreigners.

11:35Women received a resurrection of their dead and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance so that they might obtain a better resurrection. 11:36Others had trials of mocking and beating with whips and even of bonds and imprisonment.

11:37They were stoned; they were sawn in two; they were tested; they were slain with the sword; they went around in sheepskins and goatskins, being in need, being afflicted, being mistreated; 11:38they wandered in deserts, mountains, caves, and in the holes of the earth; these were ones of whom the world was not worthy.

11:39And all these have a testimony because of their faith, even without receiving the promise: the Anointed One. 11:40Now God has provided a greater advantage for us, so that it would not happen that they would complete their course of faith and yet we would not do so.

HEBREWS CHAPTER 12

12:1Therefore, seeing that we are surrounded with such a great number of these who have this testimony, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin which so easily gets in our way.

And let us also run the race that is set before us with endurance, 12:2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, ignoring the dishonor, and sat down in the place of supreme honor and authority on the throne of God.

12:3Therefore, carefully consider how much it cost him to endure the negative impact which sinners had upon him so that you don’t become weary, fainting in your souls. 12:4You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood, fighting against your natural tendency to react in a sinful way.

12:5And you have totally forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with sons saying, “My son, don’t be inattentive to the discipline of the Lord or faint when you are corrected by him. 12:6For whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and he chastises with a whip every son whom he receives” (Pr 3:11,12).

12:7If you experience such discipline, God is dealing with you as sons, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t discipline? 12:8But if you are without disciplinary correction in which all sons share, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 12:9Furthermore, we had natural fathers who corrected us and we gave them our respect. Shouldn’t we much more submit ourselves to the Father of spirits and have more of his life?

12:10For they, on the one hand, disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he, on the other hand, does it for our benefit so that we may share in his holiness.

12:11All such discipline doesn’t seem to be enjoyable but painful at that moment, yet afterward it produces the peaceable fruit of God’s righteousness in those who have been trained by it.

12:12Therefore, lift up the hands which have become weak and the feeble knees. 12:13And walk in a straight line so that that which is lame will not be put out of joint but be healed instead. 12:14Pursue peace with everyone and pursue being made holy, since without such holiness no one will come to know the Lord intimately through experience.

12:15Be watchful so that no one lacks the grace of God; so that no poisonous root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and through it many others would be contaminated; 12:16and so that there wouldn’t be any sexually immoral or unclean person like Esau, who for one meal* sold his own birthright.

*One moment of sensual gratification.

12:17For you know that even when he afterward wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he did not find the condition of the heart necessary for repentance, even though he sought for it diligently with tears.

12:18But you have not come to that mountain burning with fire which can’t be touched, or to blackness, to darkness, or to storm, 12:19or the sound of a trumpet, or the voice of pronouncements which those who heard them begged that not one more word would be spoken to them.

12:20For they (the children of Israel) could not hold up under that which was ordered saying, “If even a domestic animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned or shot with an arrow” (Ex 19:12,13). 12:21And that spectacle was so fearsome that Moses said, “I am stricken with terror and am trembling” (Deut 9:19).

12:22But you have come to mount Zion, even to the city of the living God: the Jerusalem which is heavenly in origin and nature; and to innumerable angels; 12:23to the public festival gathering, even the assembly of the Firstborn composed of those who are registered in heaven; to God the Judge of all; to the spirits of just men who have completed their course of faith; 12:24to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant {contract}; and to the blood of sprinkling which speaks of better things than that of Abel.**
**Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance while Jesus’ blood speaks of liberation.

12:25See that you don’t reject him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape judgment when they rejected him who warned them on earth, how much more will you not escape judgment who turn away from the One who warns from heaven. 12:26His voice then shook the earth, but now he has promised saying, “One more time I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens” (Hag 2:6). 12:27And this word, “One more time,” indicates the substitution of those things which are shaken – since their time is over – so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

12:28Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakeable kingdom, let us be having grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverent respect and veneration. 12:29For our God is a consuming fire.

HEBREWS CHAPTER 13

13:1Let the love of the brethren continue. 13:2Don’t forget to show hospitality, even to strangers, for in this way some have had angels as guests without being aware of it. 13:3Remember those who are prisoners as if bound with them and remember those who are mistreated since you also are in the body.

13:4Let the marriage covenant be considered precious among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled since God will judge those who have sex outside of the marriage covenant and those who cheat on their spouses.

13:5Stay free from the love of money. Be content with the things that you have for he himself has said, “I will never leave you or in any way abandon you” (Deut 31:6) 13:6so that we can boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not fear. What can mere men do to me?” (Ps 118:6).

13:7Be easily persuaded by those who are outstanding examples in the spiritual walk, men who spoke the word of God to you, and pay attention to the way they live. Imitate their faith. 13:8Jesus the Anointed One is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

13:9Don’t get carried away by various and strange teachings. For it is good for the heart to be established by grace, not by what we eat, since those who are preoccupied with these things derive no benefit from them.

13:10We have an altar from which those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat. 13:11For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holiest Place by the high priest as an offering for sin were burned outside the camp. 13:12Therefore, Jesus also, in order to make the people holy through his own blood, suffered outside the gate. 13:13Let us, therefore, go out to him outside the camp,* carrying his contemptuous treatment [as he carried his cross].

13:14For here we don’t have a permanent city, but we eagerly seek for one which is coming.

13:15Through him, then, let us continually offer up the sacrifice of praise to God which is the fruit of our lips declaring his name. 13:16But don’t forget to do good and to give to others, for God is very pleased with such sacrifices.

13:17Be easily persuaded by those who are outstanding examples in the spiritual walk and be yielding, for they lie awake sleepless for the sake of your souls as those who will give account to God, so that they may do this with joy and not with grief, since that would be harmful for you.

13:18Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a clear conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things. 13:19And I encourage you to do this even more so that I may be restored to you more quickly.

13:20Now may the God of peace – who brought back from the dead the Great Shepherd of the sheep, even our Lord Jesus – through the blood of an eternal covenant 13:21equip you to do every good work according to his will, working through you that which is acceptable in his sight by means of Jesus the Anointed One: to whom is the glory for the ages of the ages. Amen.

13:22But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation which I have written to you in a few words. 13:23I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. I will see you with him if he comes quickly. 13:24Greet all those who are outstanding examples in the spiritual walk and all the holy ones. Those from Italy greet you.

13:25May grace be with you all. Amen.

*The “camp” signifies the larger group of people who often do not hear from God or understand his will.

Words in this translation found in italics are words which are implied by the Greek text but do not represent actual words in the Greek text. This practice is common in almost all modern translations. Occasionally, this translator has added words to the translation which represent his own ideas and opinions which, although they are based on his own biblical understanding, are not part of the actual Greek text. Such words are enclosed in brackets, like this [ ]. The reader should understand these words as being the opinion of the translator. In contrast to this, the words in these braces { } indicate legitimate, alternative translations or explanations. Words within parentheses () are part of the original Greek text. Such parentheses are often used in other New Testament translations also. 

End of The Letter to the Hebrews

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