We are looking into the "Better Things of Christ" or the "Certainty of GOD's Promise," that in many study Bibles are headers for this area of study. These headers also serve the over flow of thought into chapter 7, which we will soon see, tying the strange of chapter 5 to that of 7, into a neat package. In the use of a mystery priest's origin, of a gentile nation, to that of a Hebrew patriarch. As the prototype of our own High Priest's never ending reign.
Hebrews 6:13-20 "For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, saying (in Genesis 22:17), 'Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.' And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end[1] of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." (KJV)
Hebrews 6:13-20 "For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying (in Genesis 22:17), "'Surely I will bless you and multiply you.'" And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final[1] for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." (ESV)
Hebrews 6:13-2 "Since GOD had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by (on) himself. He could give Abraham no greater guarantee but the integrity of his own Being; this makes the promise as sure as GOD is. Saying in Genesis 22:17, 'I will continue to speak well of you. I will confirm my intention always only to bless you, and to multiply you beyond measure.' (In blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply you. Besides Israel, GOD uses all the scattered family's of the world as his seed bears in this promise of spiritual multiplication. This being His purpose and intent.) And so Abraham continued in patience and secured the promise. It is common practice in human affairs to evoke a higher authority under oath in order to add weight to any agreement between parties, thereby [1]silencing any possibility of quibbling. (The word, [1, G4009, the same as G4008 peran, across, beyond] peras, means the end of all dispute; the point beyond which one cannot go.) In the same context we are confronted with GOD's eagerness to go to the last extreme in his dealing with us heirs of his promise, and to cancel out all possible grounds for doubt or dispute. In order to persuade us of the unalterable character and finality of his resolve, he [1]confined himself to an oath. The promise which already belongs to us by heritage is now also confirmed under oath. (The word, [1, G3315 mesiteuō, from G3316 ] mesiteo, is used, interposed or mediated. Compare (G3316) mesites, mediator, from (G3319 from G3326 meta, close proximity) mesos, midst. In the incarnation, GOD has positioned himself in the midst, of his creation. Look at Galatians 3:20. With Abraham there was no middleman; it was GOD! [The Mosaic Law required mediators (the Levitical Priesthood) because it was an arrangement whereby humanity had a part and God (you are gods) had a part. Humanity's part was to obey the commandments and GOD's part was to bless. GOD's covenant with Abraham was a grace covenant pointing to the man ((human) Jesus Christ, in whom GOD himself would fulfil humanity's part and therefore needed no mediator apart from himself.
"The Word is the promise; the Incarnate, crucified and risen Christ is the proof. He desires to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose."(RSV)
Humanity was not redeemed from the Devil; a thief never becomes an owner; neither did Jesus do what he did to change his Father's mind about us! It was our hearts (minds) that needed persuasion! GOD was not to be reconciled to his creation; GOD was in Christ when he reconciled the world to himself! 2Corinthians 5:18-20.) Our hearts and minds are certain; anchored securely within the innermost courts of GOD's habitation's immediate Presence; beyond the (prophetic) veil. By going there on our behalf, Jesus pioneered a place for us and removed every type of obstruction that could possibly distance us from the promise, that is now his yes and amen. In him we are represented for all time; he became our High Priest after the order of a gentile priest Melchizedek. We now enjoy the same privileges of access he has. (He said, 'I go to prepare a place for you so that you may be where I am. On that day you will no longer doubt that i and the Father are One; you will know that I am in the Father and you are in me and I am in you! [John 10:30, 14:3, 20]) (The Mirror, with editing)
Until our next visit when we shall pick up again on Melchizedek, may our LORD increase our awareness of his divine incarnate presence deep within us.
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