²⁴ but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.^(A)

²⁸ For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;^(A) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,^(B) who has been made perfect^(C) forever.

¹⁸ I am the Living One; I was dead,^(A) and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!^(B) And I hold the keys of death and Hades.^(C)

³⁴ The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law^(A) that the Messiah will remain forever,^(B) so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man^(C) must be lifted up’?^(D) Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

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

⁸ In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.^{(A) 9} One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, ¹⁰ because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

Jesus Like Melchizedek

¹¹ If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people^(B) established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,^(C) one in the order of Melchizedek,^(D) not in the order of Aaron? ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. ¹³ He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe,^(E) and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.^{(F) 14} For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,^(G) and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. ¹⁵ And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, ¹⁶ one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is declared:

¹⁸ The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless^{(I) 19} (for the law made nothing perfect),^(J) and a better hope^(K) is introduced, by which we draw near to God.^(L)

²⁰ And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, ²¹ but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

²² Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.^(O)

²³ Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; ²⁴ but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.^{(P) 25} Therefore he is able to save^(Q) completely^[c] those who come to God^(R) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.^(S)

⁹ For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead,^(A) he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.^(B)

³⁵ I will raise up for myself a faithful priest,^(A) who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed^(B) one always.