¹⁷ Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters,^[a] so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.

⁹ So there is a special rest^[a] still waiting for the people of God.

¹² So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood.