Hebrews 6:20

whither the forerunner is … entered Lit. "where a forerunner entered … Jesus;" or "where, as a forerunner" (or harbinger) "Jesus entered."

for us "on our behalf." This explains the introduction of the remark. Christ's Ascension is a pledge that our Hope will be fulfilled. He is gone to prepare a place for us (John 14:2-3). His entrance into the region behind the veil proves the reality of the hidden kingdom of glory into which our Hope has cast its anchor (Ahlfeld). This is evidently a prominent thought with the writer (Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 9:24).

made Rather, "having become," as the result of His earthly life.

after the order of Melchisedec By repeating this quotation, as a sort of refrain, the writer once more resumes the allusion of Hebrews 5:10, and brings us face to face with the argument to which he evidently attached extreme importance as the central topic of his epistle. In the dissertation which follows there is nothing which lessresembles St Paul's manner of "going off at a word" (as in Ephesians 5:12-15, &c.) The warning and exhortation which ends at this verse, so far from being "a sudden transition" (or "a digression") "by which he is carried from the main stream of his argument" belongs essentially to his whole design. The disquisition on Melchisedek for which he has prepared the way by previous allusions and with the utmost deliberation is prefaced by the same kind of solemn strain as those which we find in Hebrews 2:1-3; Hebrews 3:2; Hebrews 3:12-14; Hebrews 12:15-17. So far from being "hurried aside by the violence of his feelings" into these appeals, they are strictly subordinated to his immediate design, and enwoven into the plan of the Epistle with consummate skill. "Hurry" and "vehemence" may often describe the intensity and impetuosity of St Paul's fervent style which was the natural outcome of his impassioned nature; but faultless rhetoric, sustained dignity, perfect smoothness and elaborate eloquence are the very different characteristics of the manner of this writer.

for ever The words in the Greek come emphatically at the end, and as Dr Kay says strike the keynote of the next chapter (Hebrews 7:3; Hebrews 7:16-17; Hebrews 7:21; Hebrews 7:24-25; Hebrews 7:28).