6 1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward our Father, 2 of instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, if our Father permits. 4 For it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of our Father's word and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to bring them back to repentance, since they are crucifying once more the Son of our Father to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. a a v6 "The Son of our Father" renders what other translations give as "the Son of God" — when Scripture distinguishes God from Christ, the "God" in view is the Father. 7 For land that soaks up the rain that falls on it, and produces a useful crop for those who farm it, receives a blessing from our Father. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.
9 But in your case, beloved, we are convinced of better things—things that belong to salvation—even though we speak in this way. 10 For our Father is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown for his name in serving our Father's people, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not become sluggish, but follow the example of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
The Father's Promise to Abraham
13 For when our Father made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, b b v13 Our Father bound himself by oath to Abraham — there was no one greater for him to swear by, so he swore by his own name. 14 saying, "I will surely bless you and surely multiply you." 15 And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, received the promise. 16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is the final word. 17 So when our Father desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for our Father to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this hope as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, c c v19 The 'curtain' is the veil that separated the outer courts from the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle — the innermost chamber of God's presence. 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. d d v20 Melchizedek was a mysterious priest-king from Genesis 14; the author unpacks this comparison fully in chapter 7.