Melchizedek’s Priesthood like Christ’s

For this (A)Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the (B)Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. Without father, without mother, (C)without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like (D)the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the (E)patriarch, (F)gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. And those indeed of (G)the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment [a]in the Law to collect [b]a tenth from the people, that is, from their countrymen, although they [c]are descended from Abraham. But the one (H)whose genealogy is not traced from them (I)collected [d]a tenth from Abraham and [e](J)blessed the one who (K)had the promises. But without any dispute the lesser person is blessed by the greater. In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, (L)of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, has paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his [f]forefather when Melchizedek met him.

11 (M)So if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it (N)the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise (O)according 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 (P)the one about whom (Q)these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord [g]was (R)descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses said nothing concerning priests. 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of [h](S)physical requirement, but according to the power of (T)an indestructible life. 17 For it is attested of Him,

(U)You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”

18 For, on the one hand, there is the nullification of a former commandment (V)because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for (W)the Law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, there is the introduction of a better (X)hope, through which we (Y)come near to God. 20 And to the extent that 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,

(Z)The Lord has sworn
And (AA)will not change His mind,
You are a priest (AB)forever’”);

22 by the same extent Jesus also has become the [i](AC)guarantee of (AD)a better covenant.

23 [j]The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; 24 [k]Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues (AE)forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is also able to (AF)save [l]forever those who (AG)come to God through Him, since He always lives to (AH)make intercession for them.

26 For it was fitting for us to have such a (AI)high priest, (AJ)holy, (AK)innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and (AL)exalted above the heavens; 27 who has no daily need, like those high priests, to (AM)offer up sacrifices, (AN)first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this (AO)once for all time when He (AP)offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests (AQ)who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints (AR)a Son, who has been (AS)made perfect forever.

A Better Ministry

Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a (AT)high priest, who has taken His seat at (AU)the right hand of the throne of the (AV)Majesty in the heavens, a (AW)minister [m]in the sanctuary and [n]in the (AX)true [o]tabernacle, which the Lord (AY)set up, not man. For every (AZ)high priest is appointed (BA)to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are [p]those who (BB)offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve (BC)a copy and (BD)shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses [q]was (BE)warned by God when he was about to erect the [r]tabernacle; for, “(BF)See,” He says, “that you make all things by the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, to the extent that He is also the (BG)mediator of (BH)a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

A New Covenant

For (BI)if that first covenant had been free of fault, no [s]circumstances would have been sought for a second. For in finding fault with [t]the people, He says,

(BJ)Behold, days are coming, says the Lord,
[u]When I will bring about (BK)a new covenant
With the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
(BL)Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers
On the day I took them by the hand
To bring them out of the land of Egypt;
For they did not continue in My covenant,
And I did not care about them, says the Lord.
10 (BM)For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, declares the Lord:
[v]I will put My laws into their minds,
And write them (BN)on their hearts.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.
11 (BO)And they will not teach, each one his fellow citizen,
And each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
For (BP)they will all know Me,
From [w]the least to the greatest of them.
12 (BQ)For I will be merciful toward their wrongdoings,
(BR)And their sins I will no longer remember.”

13 [x]When He said, “(BS)A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. (BT)But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is [y]about to disappear.

The Old and the New

Now even the first covenant had (BU)regulations for divine worship and (BV)the earthly sanctuary. For (BW)a [z]tabernacle was equipped, the [aa]outer sanctuary, in which were (BX)the lampstand, (BY)the table, and (BZ)the [ab]sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place. Behind (CA)the second veil there was a [ac]tabernacle which is called the (CB)Most Holy Place, having a golden [ad](CC)altar of incense and (CD)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was (CE)a golden jar holding the manna, (CF)Aaron’s staff which budded, and (CG)the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the (CH)cherubim of glory (CI)overshadowing the [ae]atoning cover; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests (CJ)are continually entering the [af]outer [ag]tabernacle, performing the divine worship, but into (CK)the second, only (CL)the high priest enters (CM)once a year, (CN)not without taking blood which he (CO)offers for himself and for the [ah](CP)sins of the people committed in ignorance. (CQ)The Holy Spirit is signifying this, (CR)that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the [ai]outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly (CS)both gifts and sacrifices are offered which (CT)cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to (CU)food, (CV)drink, and various (CW)washings, (CX)regulations for the [aj]body imposed until (CY)a time of reformation.

11 But when Christ appeared as a (CZ)high priest of the (DA)good things [ak]having come, He entered through (DB)the greater and more perfect [al]tabernacle, (DC)not made by hands, that is, (DD)not of this creation; 12 and not through (DE)the blood of goats and calves, but (DF)through His own blood, He (DG)entered the holy place (DH)once for all time, [am]having obtained (DI)eternal redemption. 13 For if (DJ)the blood of goats and bulls, and (DK)the [an]ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the [ao]cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will (DL)the blood of Christ, who through [ap](DM)the eternal Spirit (DN)offered Himself without blemish to God, (DO)cleanse your conscience from (DP)dead works to serve (DQ)the living God?

15 For this reason (DR)He is the (DS)mediator of a (DT)new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been (DU)called may (DV)receive the promise of (DW)the eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a [aq]covenant, there must of necessity [ar]be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a [as]covenant is valid only when people are dead, [at]for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been (DX)spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, (DY)he took the (DZ)blood of the calves and the goats, with (EA)water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both (EB)the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “(EC)This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” 21 And in the same way he (ED)sprinkled both the [au]tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22 And (EE)almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and (EF)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the (EG)copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these things, but (EH)the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ (EI)did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of (EJ)the true one, but into (EK)heaven itself, now (EL)to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as (EM)the high priest enters (EN)the Holy Place (EO)year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since (EP)the foundation of the world; but now (EQ)once at (ER)the consummation of the ages He has been (ES)revealed to put away sin [av](ET)by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And just as (EU)it is destined for people to die once, and after this (EV)comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been (EW)offered once to (EX)bear the sins of many, will appear (EY)a second time for (EZ)salvation (FA)without reference to sin, to those who (FB)eagerly await Him.

One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient

10 For the Law, since it has only (FC)a shadow of (FD)the good things to come and not the [aw]form of those things itself, [ax]can (FE)never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, (FF)make those who approach perfect. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had (FG)consciousness of sins? But (FH)in [ay]those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is (FI)impossible for the (FJ)blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, (FK)when He comes into the world, He says,

(FL)You have not desired sacrifice and offering,
But (FM)You have prepared a body for Me;
(FN)You have not taken pleasure in whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin.
(FO)Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come
(It is written of Me in (FP)the scroll of the book)
To do Your will, O God.’”

After saying above, “(FQ)Sacrifices and offerings and (FR)whole burnt offerings and offerings (FS)for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), then He [az]said, “(FT)Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By [ba]this will, we have been (FU)sanctified through (FV)the offering of (FW)the body of Jesus Christ (FX)once for all time.

11 Every priest stands daily ministering and (FY)offering time after time the same sacrifices, which (FZ)can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice (GA)for [bb]sins (GB)for all time, (GC)sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward (GD)until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has (GE)perfected (GF)for all time those who are [bc]sanctified. 15 And (GG)the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

16 (GH)This is the covenant which I will make with them
After those days, declares the Lord:
I will put My laws upon their hearts,
And write them on their mind,”

He then says,

17 (GI)And their sins and their lawless deeds
I will no longer remember.”

18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, an offering for sin is no longer required.

A New and Living Way

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we (GJ)have confidence to (GK)enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by (GL)a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through (GM)the veil, that is, through His flesh, 21 and since we have (GN)a great priest (GO)over the house of God, 22 let’s (GP)approach God with a [bd]sincere heart in (GQ)full assurance of faith, having our hearts (GR)sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies (GS)washed with pure water. 23 Let’s hold firmly to the (GT)confession of our (GU)hope without wavering, for (GV)He who promised is faithful; 24 and let’s consider how (GW)to [be]encourage one another in love and (GX)good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own (GY)meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but (GZ)encouraging one another; and all the more as you see (HA)the day drawing near.

Christ or Judgment

26 For if we go on (HB)sinning willfully after receiving (HC)the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of (HD)judgment and (HE)the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 (HF)Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 (HG)How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve (HH)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean (HI)the blood of the covenant (HJ)by which he was sanctified, and has (HK)insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “(HL)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “(HM)The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a (HN)terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the (HO)living God.

32 But remember (HP)the former days, [bf]when, after being (HQ)enlightened, you endured a great (HR)conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being (HS)made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming [bg](HT)companions with those who were so treated. 34 For you (HU)showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted (HV)joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves (HW)a better and lasting possession. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your (HX)confidence, which has a great (HY)reward. 36 For you have need of (HZ)endurance, so that when you have (IA)done the will of God, you may (IB)receive [bh]what was promised.

37 (IC)For yet in a very little while,
(ID)He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
38 (IE)But My righteous one will live by faith;
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

39 But [bi]we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 7:5 Lit according to
  2. Hebrews 7:5 Or tithes
  3. Hebrews 7:5 Lit have come out of the loins of
  4. Hebrews 7:6 Or tithes
  5. Hebrews 7:6 Lit has blessed
  6. Hebrews 7:10 Lit father
  7. Hebrews 7:14 Lit has arisen from
  8. Hebrews 7:16 Lit fleshly commandment; i.e., to be a descendant of Levi
  9. Hebrews 7:22 Or guarantor
  10. Hebrews 7:23 Lit The greater number have become priests...
  11. Hebrews 7:24 Lit He
  12. Hebrews 7:25 Or completely
  13. Hebrews 8:2 Or of
  14. Hebrews 8:2 Or of
  15. Hebrews 8:2 Or sacred tent
  16. Hebrews 8:4 I.e., temple priests
  17. Hebrews 8:5 Lit has been
  18. Hebrews 8:5 Or sacred tent
  19. Hebrews 8:7 Lit place
  20. Hebrews 8:8 Lit them
  21. Hebrews 8:8 Lit And
  22. Hebrews 8:10 Lit Putting my laws into...
  23. Hebrews 8:11 Lit small to great of them
  24. Hebrews 8:13 Or In His saying
  25. Hebrews 8:13 Or near destruction
  26. Hebrews 9:2 Or sacred tent
  27. Hebrews 9:2 Lit first
  28. Hebrews 9:2 Lit loaves of presentation
  29. Hebrews 9:3 Or sacred tent
  30. Hebrews 9:4 Or censer
  31. Hebrews 9:5 Also called mercy seat; i.e., where blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement
  32. Hebrews 9:6 Lit first
  33. Hebrews 9:6 Or sacred tent
  34. Hebrews 9:7 Lit ignorance of the people
  35. Hebrews 9:8 Lit first
  36. Hebrews 9:10 Lit flesh
  37. Hebrews 9:11 One early ms to come
  38. Hebrews 9:11 Or sacred tent
  39. Hebrews 9:12 Or obtaining
  40. Hebrews 9:13 I.e., ashes mixed in water
  41. Hebrews 9:13 Lit purity
  42. Hebrews 9:14 Or His eternal spirit
  43. Hebrews 9:16 Or testament
  44. Hebrews 9:16 Lit be brought
  45. Hebrews 9:17 Or testament
  46. Hebrews 9:17 One early ms for is it then...lives?
  47. Hebrews 9:21 Or sacred tent
  48. Hebrews 9:26 Or by His sacrifice
  49. Hebrews 10:1 Lit image
  50. Hebrews 10:1 One early ms they can
  51. Hebrews 10:3 Lit them there is
  52. Hebrews 10:9 Lit has said
  53. Hebrews 10:10 Lit which
  54. Hebrews 10:12 Or sins, forever sat down
  55. Hebrews 10:14 Or being sanctified
  56. Hebrews 10:22 Lit true
  57. Hebrews 10:24 Or stir up
  58. Hebrews 10:32 Lit in which
  59. Hebrews 10:33 Or partners
  60. Hebrews 10:36 Lit the promise
  61. Hebrews 10:39 Lit we are not of shrinking back...but of faith

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