Part 52 (1/2)

But now we do not yet see all things put under him. (9)But we behold him, who was made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, on account of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, in order that he by the grace of G.o.d might taste death for every one. (10)For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

(11)For both he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one; for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, (12)saying:

I will declare thy name to my brethren; In the midst of the congregation I will sing praise to thee.

(13)And again: I will put my trust in him. And again: Behold, I and the children whom G.o.d gave me. (14)Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner took part in the same; that through death he might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the Devil; (15)and might deliver those who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

(16)For surely he does not succor angels; but he succors the seed of Abraham. (17)Wherefore, in all things it became him to be made like to his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to G.o.d, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (18)For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

III.

WHEREFORE, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Jesus, (2)who was faithful to him who appointed him, as also was Moses in all His house.

(3)For he has been accounted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who has built the house has more honor than the house. (4)For every house is builded by some one; but he who built all things is G.o.d. (5)And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, as a testimony of the things which were to be afterward spoken; (6)but Christ as son over His house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the boldness and the joyousness of the hope firm unto the end[3:6].

(7)Wherefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

To-day, if ye will hear his voice, (8)Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, In the day of the temptation in the wilderness; (9)Where your fathers tempted me, Proved me, and saw my works, forty years.

(10)Wherefore, I was offended with that generation; And I said: They always go astray in their heart, And they knew not my ways; (11)As I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.

(12)Take heed, brethren, lest there shall be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living G.o.d. (13)But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called To-day, that no one of you may be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (14)For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end. (15)When it is said: To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts as in the provocation; (16)who then, when they had heard, provoked? Nay, was it not all who came forth out of Egypt by Moses? (17)But with whom was he offended forty years? Was it not with those who sinned? whose carca.s.ses fell in the wilderness. (18)And to whom did he swear, that they should not enter into his rest, but to those who believed not? (19)And we see that they were not able to enter in, because of unbelief.

IV.

LET us fear therefore, lest, a promise being still left us of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it.

(2)For to us were the glad tidings preached, as also to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mingled with faith in those who heard. (3)For we who believed enter into the rest, as he said: As I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest, although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

(4)For he has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day thus: And G.o.d rested on the seventh day from all his works; (5)and in this again: They shall not enter into my rest.

(6)Since then it remains that some do enter into it, and they to whom the glad tidings were first preached entered not in because of unbelief, again (7)he limits a certain day, To-day, (saying in David, after so long a time, as has before been said,)

To-day, if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts.

(8)For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not, after this, have spoken of another day.

(9)So then, there remains a Sabbath-rest to the people of G.o.d. (10)For he that entered into his rest, himself rested from his works, as G.o.d did from his own. (11)Let us therefore endeavor to enter into that rest, that no one may fall into the same example of unbelief.

(12)For the word of G.o.d is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13)And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight; but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

(14)Having therefore a great high priest, who has pa.s.sed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of G.o.d, let us hold fast our profession.

(15)For we have not a high priest who can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but who has in all points been tempted in like manner, without sin. (16)Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

V.

FOR every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to G.o.d, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; (2)being able to bear with the ignorant and erring, since he himself also is encompa.s.sed with infirmity; (3)and on account of it he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to make offering for sins. (4)And no one takes to himself the honor, but being called by G.o.d, as was also Aaron. (5)So also Christ did not glorify himself to be made high priest, but he who spoke to him: