1 Therefore having left the word of the beginning of the Messiah, let us be borne along to perfection (the Instructor being the Holy Spirit. Cp. 2 Pet. 1:21); not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works (works of the old nature), and of faith toward God,
2 Of the teaching of washings, and of laying on of hands (see Acts 8:18,&c.), and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. (Of the 6 things enumerated, 2 are esoteric experiences, 2 exoteric rites, 2 eschatalogical facts, and all have to do with the dispensation of the kingdom.)
3 And this will we do, if that is, God permit.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and tasted of the heavenly gift, and became partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of a coming age,
6 And fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; they crucifying [as they do] to themselves the Son of God afresh, and putting [as they do] Him to an open shame. (The warning is that if, after accepting Jesus the Nazarene as Messiah and Lord, they go back to Judaism, they cut themselves off [see Gal. 5:4], as there is no other Messiah to be looked for, and by rejecting Him they put Him to open shame. Though the interpretation is for apostates who go back to Judaism, the application remains a solemn warning to all who profess to "believe".)
R d 7-11. Hope based on illustration of earth, and rain upon it.
e 12-15. The promises and the oath.
e 16,17. The oath and the promises.
d 18-20. Hope based on illustration of heaven, and Jesus having entered therein.
7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth herbs fit for them on account of whom it is tilled also, receives blessing from God:
8 But that which bears thorns and briers is rejected, and is near to a curse (cp. Ps. 37:22); whose end is for burning.
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things concerning you, and things near to salvation (antithesis to "near to a curse" above), even if we thus speak.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you exhibited toward His name, having ministered to the saints (see Act 9:13), and ministering.
11 And we desire that each one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end:
12 In order that you be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and long-suffering (or patient endurance) are inheritors of the promises. (Cp. Luke 21:42. Acts 1:4. Gal. 3:14,&c.)
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear according to no greater, He swore by Himself,
14 Saying, "Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee."(Quoted from Gen. 22:17. When God swears by Himself, you can count on it.)
15 And so, having patiently endured, he obtained the promise. (I.e. Isaac [the Land is still future]; Gen. 18:10,14; 21:3. Gal. 4:23.)
16 For men swear by a greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. ( The children of Abraham are numerous as the sands of the sea.)
17 In which God, willing more abundantly to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable of His counsel, intervened by an oath: (You that are heirs to the promise can rest assured that God doesn't change His mind or His Word.)
18 That by two unchangeable things (i.e. God's promise and God's oath), in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong consolation, who fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: (God is willing to do this for you.)
19 Which hope we have as our anchor, both sure and steadfast, and entering into that within the veil; (See Matt. 27:51. God is willing to give both the promise and the covenant. You can anchor your soul to the fact that our hope, Jesus Christ, entered within the veil of the holy of holies and is there as you intercessor. You have access to God, if you seek Him.)
20 Where as the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, having become a High Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. (See 5:5. This order is unique, being that of a high priest without altar, offering, sacrifice, or successor. God is willing. He is passionately ready to keep His promise to those that serve Him, and He never changes His mind. We should be passionately ready to serve Him.)