but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’” –

In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.

For you know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing with tears.

“For I will be merciful toward their evil deeds, and their sins I will remember no longer.”

“For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God and they will be my people.

Instead someone testified somewhere: “What is man that you think of him or the son of man that you care for him?

In the same way God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, and so he intervened with an oath,

Remember those in prison as though you were in prison with them, and those ill-treated as though you too felt their torment.

“This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws on their hearts and I will inscribe them on their minds,”

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding where he was going.

And have you forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons? “My son, do not scorn the Lord’s discipline or give up when he corrects you.

Remember your leaders, who spoke God’s message to you; reflect on the outcome of their lives and imitate their faith.