²⁴ but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues ^(A)forever.

²⁸ For the law appoints men ^(A)in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made ^(B)perfect forever.

³⁴ So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that ^(A)the Christ remains forever. How can you say that ^(B)the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”

¹⁸ and the living one. ^(A)I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and ^(B)I have the keys of Death and Hades.

⁸ Jesus Christ is ^(A)the same yesterday and today and forever.

⁸ In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one ^(A)of whom it is testified that ^(B)he lives. ⁹ One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, ¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

Jesus Compared to Melchizedek

^11 (C)Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? ¹² For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. ¹³ For 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 ^(D)from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

¹⁵ This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶ who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is witnessed of him,

¹⁸ For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside ^(F)because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹ (for ^(G)the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, ^(H)a better hope is introduced, through which ^(I)we draw near to God.

²⁰ And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, ²¹ but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

²² This makes Jesus the guarantor of ^(K)a better covenant.

²³ The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, ²⁴ but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues ^(L)forever. ²⁵ Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost^{[a] (M)}those who draw near to God ^(N)through him, since he always lives ^(O)to make intercession for them.

⁹ We know that ^(A)Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; ^(B)death no longer has dominion over him.

^35 (A)And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. ^(B)And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before ^(C)my anointed forever.