¹⁶ to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles.^(A) He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God,^(B) so that the Gentiles might become an offering^(C) acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Greater Than Moses

3 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters,^(A) who share in the heavenly calling,^(B) fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge^(C) as our apostle and high priest.^(D)

⁵ In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory^(A) of becoming a high priest.^(B) But God said^(C) to him,

⁶ And he says in another place,

⁷ During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions^(G) with fervent cries and tears^(H) to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard^(I) because of his reverent submission.^{(J) 8} Son^(K) though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered^{(L) 9} and, once made perfect,^(M) he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him ¹⁰ and was designated by God to be high priest^(N) in the order of Melchizedek.^(O)

Jesus Like Melchizedek

¹¹ If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people^(A) established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,^(B) one in the order of Melchizedek,^(C) 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,^(D) and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.^{(E) 14} For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,^(F) 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^{(H) 19} (for the law made nothing perfect),^(I) and a better hope^(J) is introduced, by which we draw near to God.^(K)

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.^(N)

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.^{(O) 25} Therefore he is able to save^(P) completely^[c] those who come to God^(Q) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.^(R)

²⁶ Such a high priest^(S) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,^(T) exalted above the heavens.^{(U) 27} Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices^(V) day after day, first for his own sins,^(W) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all^(X) when he offered himself.^{(Y) 28} For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;^(Z) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,^(AA) who has been made perfect^(AB) 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,^(AC) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,^(AD)

²¹ and since we have a great priest^(A) over the house of God,^(B)

⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built^(A) into a spiritual house^[a](B) to be a holy priesthood,^(C) offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.^{(D) 6} For in Scripture it says:

⁷ Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,^(G)

⁸ and,

They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.^(K)

⁹ But you are a chosen people,^(L) a royal priesthood,^(M) a holy nation,^(N) God’s special possession,^(O) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.^(P)

⁶ and has made us to be a kingdom and priests^(A) to serve his God and Father^(B)—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.^(C)

¹⁰ On the Lord’s Day^(A) I was in the Spirit,^(B) and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,^(C)