Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death ¹  without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ² 

So do not throw away your confidence, because it ¹  has great reward.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.

By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.

By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

By faith the walls of Jericho ¹  fell after the people marched around them ²  for seven days.

And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

And these all were commended ¹  for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. ² 

For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us. ¹ 

Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. ¹ 

For to which of the angels did God ¹  ever say, “You are my son! Today I have fathered you”? ²  And in another place ³  he says, ⁴  “I will be his father and he will be my son.” ⁵ 

Therefore he had ¹  to be made like his brothers and sisters ²  in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement ³  for the sins of the people.

For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest!’” ¹  And yet God’s works ²  were accomplished from the foundation of the world.

So God ¹  again ordains a certain day, “Today,” speaking through David ²  after so long a time, as in the words quoted before, ³  “O, that today you would listen as he speaks! ⁴  Do not harden your hearts.”

For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on ¹  it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God.

And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office ¹  have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, ²  although they too are descendants of Abraham. ³ 

So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis ¹  the people received the law – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?

“And there will be no need at all ¹  for each one to teach his countryman or each one to teach his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ since they will all know me, from the least to the greatest. ² 

And so he is the mediator ¹  of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, ²  since he died ³  to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.

For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship. ¹