The Priesthoods of Melchizedek and Christ
For this aMelchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the bMost High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 ato whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. 3 Without father, without mother, awithout genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like bthe Son of God, he remains a priest continually.
4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the apatriarch, bgave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And those indeed of athe sons of Levi, who receive the priest’s office, have a commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brothers, although these are descended from Abraham. 6 But the one awhose genealogy is not traced from them had bcollected a tenth from Abraham and bblessed the one who chad the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 And in this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, aof whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
11 aNow if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it bthe people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise caccording to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13 For athe one concerning whom bthese things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was adescended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not according to a law of aphysical requirement, but according to the power of ban indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed about Him,
“aYou are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment abecause of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for athe Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better bhope, through which we cdraw near to God. 20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,
“aThe Lord has sworn
And bwill not change His mind,
‘You are a priest cforever’”);
22 so much more Jesus also has become the aguarantee of ba better covenant.
23 And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues aforever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to asave forever those who bdraw near to God through Him, since He always lives to cmake intercession for them.
26 For it was fitting for us to have such a ahigh priest, bholy, cinnocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and dexalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to aoffer up sacrifices, bfirst for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did conce for all when He doffered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests awho are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints ba Son, who has been cmade perfect forever.
Jesus, High Priest of a New Covenant
Now the main point in what is being said is this: we have such a ahigh priest, who sat down at bthe right hand of the throne of the bMajesty in the heavens, 2 a aminister in the holy places and in the btrue tabernacle, which the Lord cpitched, not man. 3 For every ahigh priest is appointed bto offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. 4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who aoffer the gifts according to the Law; 5 who serve aa copy and bshadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was cwarned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “dSee,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the amediator of ba better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. 7 For aif that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He says,
“aBehold, days are coming, says the Lord,
When I will complete ba new covenant
With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
9 aNot like the covenant which I made with their fathers
In the day when I took them by the hand
To lead them out of the land of Egypt;
For they did not continue in My covenant,
And I did not care for them, says the Lord.
10 aFor this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their minds,
And bupon their hearts I will write them.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.
11 aAnd they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen,
And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
For ball will know Me,
From the least to the greatest of them.
12 aFor I will be merciful to their iniquities,
bAnd I will remember their sins no more.”
13 When He said, “aA new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. bBut whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear.
The Old Covenant
Now even the first covenant had arequirements of divine worship and bthe earthly sanctuary. 2 For there was aa tabernacle prepared: the first part, in which were bthe lampstand and cthe table and dthe sacred bread, which is called the holy place. 3 And behind athe second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the bHoly of Holies, 4 having a golden aaltar of incense and bthe ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ca golden jar holding the manna, and dAaron’s rod which budded, and ethe tablets of the covenant. 5 And above it were the acherubim of glory bovershadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests aare continually entering the first part of the tabernacle performing the divine worship, 7 but into athe second, only bthe high priest enters conce a year, dnot without taking blood, which he eoffers for himself and for the fsins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 aThe Holy Spirit is indicating this, bthat the way into the holy places has not yet been manifested while that first part of the tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly aboth gifts and sacrifices are offered which bcannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to afood and bdrink and various cwashings, drequirements for the body imposed until ea time of reformation.
The New Covenant
11 But when Christ appeared as a ahigh priest of the bgood things to come, He entered through cthe greater and more perfect tabernacle, dnot made with hands, that is to say, enot of this creation, 12 and not through athe blood of goats and calves, but bthrough His own blood, He centered the holy places donce for all, having obtained eeternal redemption. 13 For if athe blood of goats and bulls and bthe ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will athe blood of Christ, who through bthe eternal Spirit coffered Himself without blemish to God, dcleanse your conscience from edead works to serve fthe living God?
15 And for this reason aHe is the bmediator of a cnew covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the trespasses that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been dcalled may ereceive the promise of fthe eternal inheritance. 16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been aspoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, bhe took the cblood of the calves and the goats, with dwater and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both ethe book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “aThis is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” 21 And in the same way, both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he asprinkled with the blood. 22 And according to the Law, one may aalmost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and bwithout shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23 Therefore it was necessary for the acopies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but athe heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ adid not enter holy places made with hands, mere copies of bthe true ones, but into cheaven itself, now dto appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as athe high priest enters bthe holy places ayear by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since athe foundation of the world; but now bonce at cthe consummation of the ages He has been dmanifested to put away sin eby the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And inasmuch as ait is appointed for men to die once and after this bcomes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been aoffered once to bbear the sins of many, will appear ca second time for dsalvation ewithout reference to sin, to those who feagerly await Him.
Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
For the Law, since it has only aa shadow of bthe good things to come and not the very form of things, can cnever, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, dmake perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have aconsciousness of sins? 3 But ain those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. 4 For it is aimpossible for the bblood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, awhen He comes into the world, He says,
“bSacrifice and offering You have not desired,
But ca body You have prepared for Me;
6 aIn burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure.
7 aThen I said, ‘Behold, I have come,
In bthe scroll of the book it is written of Me,
To do Your will, O God.’”
8 After saying above, “aSacrifices and offerings and bburnt offerings and sacrifices cfor sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), 9 then He said, “aBehold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By this will we have been asanctified through bthe offering of cthe body of Jesus Christ donce for all.
11 And every priest stands daily ministering and aoffering time after time the same sacrifices, which bcan never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice afor sins bfor all time, csat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time auntil His enemies are put as a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has aperfected bfor all time those who are being sanctified. 15 And athe Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,
16 “aThis is the covenant that I will make with them
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws upon their heart,
And on their mind I will write them,”
He then says,
17 “aAnd their sins and their lawless deeds
I will remember no more.”
18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.
A New and Living Way
19 Therefore, brothers, since we ahave confidence to benter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by aa new and living way which He inaugurated for us through bthe veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have aa great priest bover the house of God, 22 let us adraw near with a sincere heart in bfull assurance of faith, having our hearts csprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies dwashed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the aconfession of our bhope without wavering, for cHe who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how ato stimulate one another to love and bgood deeds, 25 not forsaking our own aassembling together, as is the habit of some, but bencouraging one another, and all the more as you see cthe day drawing near.
Warning Against Willful Sin
26 For if we go on asinning willfully after receiving bthe knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of ajudgment and bthe fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 aAnyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy by the mouth of two or three witnesses. 29 aHow much worse punishment do you think he will deserve bwho has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as defiled cthe blood of the covenant dby which he was sanctified, and has einsulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “aVengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “bThe Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a aterrifying thing to fall into the hands of the bliving God.
32 But remember athe former days, when, after being benlightened, you endured a great cconflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being amade a public spectacle through reproaches and afflictions, and partly by becoming bsharers with those who were so treated. 34 For you also ashowed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted with bjoy the seizure of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves ca better and lasting possession. 35 Therefore, do not throw away that aconfidence of yours, which has a great breward. 36 For you have need of aendurance, so that when you have bdone the will of God, you may creceive the promise.
37 aFor yet in a very little while,
bHe who is coming will come, and will not delay.
38 aBut My righteous one shall live by faith,
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.