²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian,

¹⁴ For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.^(A)

¹⁵ And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,

¹⁷ and he adds,

¹⁸ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

⁴ In the same way, my brothers and sisters, you have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God.^(A)

Another Priest, Like Melchizedek

¹¹ Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood—for the people received the law under this priesthood—what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek rather than one according to the order of Aaron?^{(A) 12} For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. ¹³ Now the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.^(B)

¹⁵ It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek, ¹⁶ one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent but through the power of an indestructible life.^{(C) 17} For it is attested of him,

¹⁸ There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual^{(E) 19} (for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope through which we approach God.^(F)

³ For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer.^{(A) 4} Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are already those^[a] who offer gifts according to the law. ⁵ They offer worship in a sanctuary that is^[b] a sketch and shadow of the heavenly one, just as Moses was warned when he was about to erect the tent.^[c] For, God^[d] said, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”^{(B) 6} But Jesus^[e] has now obtained a more excellent ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on the basis of better promises.^{(C) 7} For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need to look for a second one.^(D)

⁸ God^[f] finds fault with them when he says:

¹³ In speaking of a new covenant, he has made the first one obsolete, and what is obsolete and growing old will soon disappear.^(I)

4 My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than those who are enslaved, though they are the owners of all the property, ² but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. ³ So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental principles^[a] of the world.^{(A) 4} But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,^{(B) 5} in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.^{(C) 6} And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our^[b] hearts, crying, “Abba!^[c] Father!”^(D)