Hebrews 6:13-8

New International Version

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,^{(A) 14} saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”^{[a](B) 15} And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.^(C)

¹⁶ People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.^{(D) 17} Because God wanted to make the unchanging^(E) nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,^(F) 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,^(G) we who have fled to take hold of the hope^(H) 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,^{(I) 20} where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.^(J) He has become a high priest^(K) forever, in the order of Melchizedek.^(L)

Melchizedek the Priest

7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem^(M) and priest of God Most High.^(N) He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,^{(O) 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,^(P) without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God,^(Q) he remains a priest forever.

⁴ Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch^(R) Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!^{(S) 5} Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people^(T)—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^(U) him who had the promises.^{(V) 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.^{(W) 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^(X) established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,^(Y) one in the order of Melchizedek,^(Z) 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,^(AA) and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.^{(AB) 14} For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,^(AC) 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^{(AE) 19} (for the law made nothing perfect),^(AF) and a better hope^(AG) is introduced, by which we draw near to God.^(AH)

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.^(AK)

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.^{(AL) 25} Therefore he is able to save^(AM) completely^[d] those who come to God^(AN) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.^(AO)

²⁶ Such a high priest^(AP) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,^(AQ) exalted above the heavens.^{(AR) 27} Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices^(AS) day after day, first for his own sins,^(AT) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all^(AU) when he offered himself.^{(AV) 28} For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;^(AW) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,^(AX) who has been made perfect^(AY) 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,^(AZ) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,^{(BA) 2} and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle^(BB) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

³ Every high priest^(BC) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,^(BD) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.^{(BE) 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.^{(BF) 5} They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy^(BG) and shadow^(BH) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned^(BI) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”^{[e](BJ) 6} But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant^(BK) of which he is mediator^(BL) 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.^{(BM) 8} But God found fault with the people and said^[f]:

¹³ By calling this covenant “new,”^(BV) he has made the first one obsolete;^(BW) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.