Hebrews 6:13-20

The Certainty of God's Promise

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, e he swore by himself, 14 saying, f "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." 15 And thus Abraham, 1 g having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes h an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to i the heirs of the promise j the unchangeable character of his purpose, k he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which l it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope m set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into n the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone o as a forerunner on our behalf, p having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 22:16
    And said, "By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son.
  2. Cross References
    Genesis 22:17
    I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies.
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 22:17
    I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies.
  4. Cross References
    Hebrews 6:12
    So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
    Hebrews 6:17
    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.
    Hebrews 7:6
    But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
    Romans 4:13
    For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.
  5. Cross References
    Exodus 22:11
    An oath by the Lord shall be between them both to see whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor's property. The owner shall accept the oath, and he shall not make restitution.
  6. Cross References
    Hebrews 11:9
    By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
  7. Cross References
    Hebrews 6:18
    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.
    Psalms 110:4
    The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
    Proverbs 19:21
    Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
  8. Cross References
    Galatians 3:20
    Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
  9. Cross References
    Titus 1:2
    In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
  10. Cross References
    Hebrews 12:1 - 2
    Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
  11. Cross References
    Hebrews 9:7
    But into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.
    Leviticus 16:15
    Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the veil and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it over the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.
  12. Cross References
    Hebrews 4:14
    Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
    Hebrews 8:1
    Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven.
    Hebrews 9:24
    For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.
  13. Cross References
    Hebrews 3:1
    Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession.
    Hebrews 5:6
    As he says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.
    Hebrews 5:10
    Being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
    Hebrews 7:17
    For it is witnessed of him, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.
    Hebrews 7:21
    But this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.