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Hebrews 5-8
New International Version
Hebrews 5-8
New International Version
5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God,(A) to offer gifts and sacrifices(B) for sins.(C) 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray,(D) since he himself is subject to weakness.(E) 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.(F) 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.(G)
5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory(H) of becoming a high priest.(I) But God said(J) to him,
6 And he says in another place,
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions(N) with fervent cries and tears(O) to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard(P) because of his reverent submission.(Q) 8 Son(R) though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered(S) 9 and, once made perfect,(T) he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest(U) in the order of Melchizedek.(V)
Warning Against Falling Away(W)
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths(X) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!(Y) 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,(Z) is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature,(AA) who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.(AB)
6 Therefore let us move beyond(AC) the elementary teachings(AD) about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[c](AE) and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites,[d](AF) the laying on of hands,(AG) the resurrection of the dead,(AH) and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting,(AI) we will do so.
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,(AJ) who have tasted the heavenly gift,(AK) who have shared in the Holy Spirit,(AL) 5 who have tasted the goodness(AM) of the word of God(AN) and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen[e] away, to be brought back to repentance.(AO) To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God(AP) all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.(AQ) In the end it will be burned.
9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends,(AR) we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.(AS) 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope(AT) for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate(AU) those who through faith and patience(AV) inherit what has been promised.(AW)
The Certainty of God’s Promise
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,(AX) 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[f](AY) 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.(AZ)
16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.(BA) 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging(BB) nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,(BC) he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,(BD) we who have fled to take hold of the hope(BE) set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,(BF) 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.(BG) He has become a high priest(BH) forever, in the order of Melchizedek.(BI)
Melchizedek the Priest
7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem(BJ) and priest of God Most High.(BK) He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,(BL) 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy,(BM) without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God,(BN) he remains a priest forever.
4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch(BO) Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!(BP) 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people(BQ)—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed(BR) him who had the promises.(BS) 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.(BT) 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Jesus Like Melchizedek
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people(BU) established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,(BV) one in the order of Melchizedek,(BW) not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe,(BX) and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.(BY) 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,(BZ) and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless(CB) 19 (for the law made nothing perfect),(CC) and a better hope(CD) is introduced, by which we draw near to God.(CE)
20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.(CH)
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.(CI) 25 Therefore he is able to save(CJ) completely[i] those who come to God(CK) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.(CL)
26 Such a high priest(CM) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,(CN) exalted above the heavens.(CO) 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices(CP) day after day, first for his own sins,(CQ) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all(CR) when he offered himself.(CS) 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;(CT) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,(CU) who has been made perfect(CV) forever.
The High Priest of a New Covenant
8 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,(CW) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,(CX) 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle(CY) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.
3 Every high priest(CZ) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,(DA) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.(DB) 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.(DC) 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy(DD) and shadow(DE) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned(DF) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”[j](DG) 6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant(DH) of which he is mediator(DI) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.
7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.(DJ) 8 But God found fault with the people and said[k]:
“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant(DK)
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors(DL)
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant(DM) I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.(DN)
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.(DO)
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,(DP)
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.(DQ)”[l](DR)
13 By calling this covenant “new,”(DS) he has made the first one obsolete;(DT) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 5:5 Psalm 2:7
- Hebrews 5:6 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 6:1 Or from useless rituals
- Hebrews 6:2 Or about baptisms
- Hebrews 6:6 Or age, 6 if they fall
- Hebrews 6:14 Gen. 22:17
- Hebrews 7:17 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 7:21 Psalm 110:4
- Hebrews 7:25 Or forever
- Hebrews 8:5 Exodus 25:40
- Hebrews 8:8 Some manuscripts may be translated fault and said to the people.
- Hebrews 8:12 Jer. 31:31-34
Hebrews 5-8
King James Version
Hebrews 5-8
King James Version
5 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
6 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
8 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
New International Version (NIV) 
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