6 ¹³ When God made his promise to Abraham, he swore by himself, because he had no one greater to swear by: 6 ^{14 [ Gn.22.17, Sir.44.21. ]} I vow that I will bless you abundantly and multiply your descendants.' 6 ¹⁵ Thus it was that Abraham, after patient waiting, attained the promise. 6 ¹⁶ Men swear by a greater than themselves, and the oath provides a confirmation to end all dispute; 6 ¹⁷ and so God, desiring to 'how even more clearly to the heirs of his promise how unchanging was his purpose, guaranteed it by oath. 6 ¹⁸ Here, then, are two irrevocable acts in which God could not possibly play us false, to give powerful encouragement to us, who have claimed his protection by grasping the hope set before us. 6 ¹⁹ That hope we hold. It is like an anchor for our lives, an anchor safe and sure. 6 ^{20 [ Ps.110.4. ]} It enters in through the veil, where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner, having become a high priest for ever in the succession of Melchizedek.