²⁴ but he holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever.

²⁸ For the law appoints as high priests humans, who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.^(A)

³⁴ The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah^[a] remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”^(A)

¹⁸ and the Living One. I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever, and I have the keys of Death and of Hades.^(A)

⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

⁸ In the one case, tithes are received by those who are mortal; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.^{(A) 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.

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?^{(B) 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.^(C)

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.^{(D) 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^{(F) 19} (for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope through which we approach God.^(G)

²⁰ This was confirmed with an oath, for others have become priests without an oath, ²¹ but this one became a priest with an oath because of the one who said to him,

²² accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantor of a better covenant.^(I)

²³ Furthermore, 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 forever. ²⁵ Consequently, he is able for all time to save^[b] those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.^(J)

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

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