Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us: which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil; whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 6:17-19).
It might at first seem odd that God would swear an oath, but we must remember that He did so for the benefit of man. God’s promise does not vacillate, but to assure man it is irrevocable God stands Himself as the guarantee for His word. And so, God confirmed His promise with an oath, that through Abraham’s seed all nations would be blessed. The blessing is the hope of heaven made not to Abraham’s physical offspring, but to his spiritual descendents. And if ye are Christ s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise (Gal. 3:29).
God certifies his promise with two unchangeable things: His promise and His oath. Since He cannot lie, the very laws of His Being would be violated. The fact is, He would no longer be God if the promise or the oath were broken. These facts should be of great consolation to those who take refuge in the promises of God. Our hope is dependent upon the immutability of the promise of God, for only in that promise can we find salvation.
As a result, this hope is to the believer what a secure anchor is to a ship. Hope sustains and braces the Christian in the midst of all of his trials, for he knows the promise of God remains regardless of circumstance or situation. He knows that God himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee (Heb. 13:5). But when hope fails, the Christian is left to drift aimlessly; and falling victim to the merciless ocean of life, all is lost. This anchor of hope is both sure and steadfast for two reasons:
1. It is based upon the immutable promise and oath of God.
2. It enters into that which is within the veil.</p>
The imagery is that of the tabernacle with its two central compartments. Any qualified priest could enter the outer compartment. But the inner Holy of Holies was separated from the first by a veil, and could be entered only by the high priest, and then only on the annual Day of Atonement. It is into the very presence of God that our high priest Jesus entered, having obtained eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12).
He is our forerunner providing the way for us to follow in His steps. He has entered on our behalf so that we too might come into the very presence of God. The Jewish high priest was not a forerunner but a representative of the people. He went where the people would never go. But behind the veil is Christ Jesus our hope (1 Tim. 1:1) who waits for us to join Him in the Most Holy place for all eternity.