God’s Unchangeable Promise
God swore by himself when he promised Abraham because there was no one greater to swear by. Abraham waited patiently and received what was promised.
W13hen God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, 14saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.” 15And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise.
An oath ends argument among people because it swears by someone greater. God’s oath did the same — confirming his purpose by two unchangeable things so that those who have fled to the promised hope might be strongly encouraged.
16Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument. 17So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath. 18Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.
Christian hope is an anchor for the soul, firm and secure, entering the inner sanctuary behind the curtain — the very place Jesus, our forerunner, has already entered, becoming a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.