For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on<n id="1" /> it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God.

<t /><p class="bodytext">So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood &#8211; for on that basis<n id="1" /> the people received the law &#8211; what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron&#8217;s order?

<p class="bodytext">And so he is the mediator<n id="1" /> of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised,<n id="2" /> since he died<n id="3" /> to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.

By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith<n id="1" /> he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith<n id="2" /> he still speaks, though he is dead.

These all died in faith without receiving the things promised,<n id="1" /> but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners<n id="2" /> on the earth.

<p class="bodytext">Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven?

<p class="otpoetry">&#8220;<i><b>For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those daysb>, <b>says the Lordb>. <b>I will putb>i><n id="1" /> <b><i>my laws in their mindsi>b><n id="2" /> <i><b>and I will inscribe them on their heartsb>. <b>And I will be their God and they will be my peopleb>.i><n id="3" />p>