And above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail.

On this topic we have much to say and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish in hearing.

But if you do not experience discipline, something all sons have shared in, then you are illegitimate and are not sons.

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, bear with my message of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you briefly.

and he reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead, and in a sense he received him back from there.

Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.

Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God,

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,

Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We have such a high priest, one who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.

and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect,

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

so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie.

For it was fitting for him, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.

For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands – the representation of the true sanctuary – but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us.

For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest!’” And yet God’s works were accomplished from the foundation of the world.

So God again ordains a certain day, “Today,” speaking through David after so long a time, as in the words quoted before, “O, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts.”

And no one assumes this honor on his own initiative, but only when called to it by God, as in fact Aaron was.