11. We want each of you to be willing and eager to show your love like that the rest of your life. Then you will be sure to get what you hope for.
12. We don’t want you to be lazy. We want you to be like those who, because of their faith and patience, will get what God has promised.
13. God made a promise to Abraham. And there is no one greater than God, so he made the promise with an oath in his own name—an oath that he would do what he promised.
14. He said, “I will surely bless you. I will give you many descendants.”
15. Abraham waited patiently for this to happen, and later he received what God promised.
16. People always use the name of someone greater than themselves to make a promise with an oath. The oath proves that what they say is true, and there is no more arguing about it.
17. God wanted to prove that his promise was true. He wanted to prove this to those who would get what he promised. He wanted them to understand clearly that his purposes never change. So God said something would happen, and he proved what he said by adding an oath.
18. These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when he says something, and he cannot lie when he makes an oath. So these two things are a great help to us who have come to God for safety. They encourage us to hold on to the hope that is ours.
19. This hope is like an anchor for us. It is strong and sure and keeps us safe. It goes behind the curtain.
20. Jesus has already entered there and opened the way for us. He has become the high priest forever, just like Melchizedek.