Hebrews 6
What Happens in This Chapter
The writer tells his readers to stop going over beginner lessons and to grow up in what they know. He gives a hard warning: people who have once shared in God's gifts and then fall away cannot be brought back to being sorry, the way land that grows only thorns ends up burned. He then says he expects better things of these readers, because God does not forget the loving work they have done. He points to Abraham, who waited patiently and received what God promised, and says God backed his promise with an oath so his people could hold on to hope, a hope that reaches where Jesus has gone as high priest forever.
Plain reading written for kids. Short sentences, everyday words, one idea at a time.
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
1So let us stop going back over the first lessons about Christ. Let us grow up instead. We do not need to lay the same foundation again. That foundation is turning away from work that leads nowhere, and trusting God.
The King James Version says "go on unto perfection." Here it does not mean being perfect with no mistakes. It means growing up, the way a child grows into an adult.
2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
2It also includes teaching about washings with water, and about putting hands on people to bless them. It includes teaching that dead people will rise, and that God will judge forever.
3And this will we do, if God permit.
3And we will do this, if God lets us.
4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
4Think about people who once had God's light shine on them. They tasted the gift that comes from heaven. They shared in the Holy Spirit.
5And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
5They tasted how good God's word is. They felt the powers of the age that is coming.
6If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
6If such people then turn away, no one can bring them back to being sorry. They are nailing God's Son to the cross all over again. They put him to shame where everyone can see.
7For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
7Think about ground that drinks in the rain that falls on it again and again. It grows good plants for the people who care for it. God blesses that ground.
8But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
8But ground that grows thorns and prickly weeds is no good. A curse is about to fall on it. In the end it will be burned.
9But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
9Dear friends, we said those hard words. But we are sure that better things are true of you. Those better things go along with being saved.
10For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
10God is fair, and he will not forget your work. He will not forget the love you showed for his name. You have helped God's people, and you are still helping them.
11And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
11We want every one of you to keep working just as hard, right to the end. Then you will be fully sure of your hope.
12That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
12Do not get lazy. Copy the people who trust God and wait patiently. They receive what God promised.
13For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
13When God made his promise to Abraham, he wanted to prove it was true. There was no one greater than himself to use, so he used his own name.
14Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
14He said, "I will surely bless you. I will surely give you many children and grandchildren."
15And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
15So Abraham waited patiently. And then he received what God had promised.
16For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
16When people make a serious promise, they use the name of someone greater than themselves. That promise settles the matter, and the arguing stops.
An oath is a very serious promise. Long ago, people made an oath by naming someone greater than themselves, so others would know they meant it.
17Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
17God's plan can never change. He wanted the people who get his promise to see this very clearly. So he added a serious promise on top of it.
18That 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:
18So there are two things that can never change: God's promise and his oath. God cannot lie. We ran to him to take hold of the hope he holds out to us. So we can be strongly comforted.
19Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
19This hope is like an anchor for us inside. It is strong, and it will not slip. It reaches all the way inside, behind the curtain.
In the temple, a heavy curtain hung in front of the innermost room. That room was the most holy place, where God met with his people.
20Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
20Jesus went in there ahead of us, for us. He became our high priest forever, the same kind of priest as Melchisedec.
A high priest was the leader of the priests. He was the one who went in to God for everyone else. Melchisedec was a priest and king who lived in Abraham's time.
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