Melchizedek’s Priesthood Like Christ’s

7 For this ^(A)Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the ^(B)Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. ³ Without father, without mother, ^(C)without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like ^(D)the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

⁴ Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the ^(E)patriarch, ^(F)gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. ⁵ And those indeed of ^(G)the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment ^[a]in the Law to collect ^[b]a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these ^[c]are descended from Abraham. ⁶ But the one ^(H)whose genealogy is not traced from them ^(I)collected ^[d]a tenth from Abraham and ^[e](J)blessed the one who ^(K)had the promises. ⁷ But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. ⁸ In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, ^(L)of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. ⁹ And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, ¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

^11 (M)Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it ^(N)the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise ^(O)according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. ¹³ For ^(P)the one concerning whom ^(Q)these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord ^[f]was ^(R)descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. ¹⁵ And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶ who has become such not on the basis of a law of ^[g](S)physical requirement, but according to the power of ^(T)an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is attested of Him,

¹⁸ For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment ^(V)because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹ (for ^(W)the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better ^(X)hope, through which we ^(Y)draw near to God. ²⁰ And inasmuch as it was not without an oath ²¹ (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

²² so much the more also Jesus has become the ^(AC)guarantee of ^(AD)a better covenant.

^23 [h]The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, ²⁴ but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues ^(AE)forever, holds His priesthood permanently. ²⁵ Therefore He is able also to ^(AF)save ^[i]forever those who ^(AG)draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to ^(AH)make intercession for them.

²⁶ For it was fitting for us to have such a ^(AI)high priest, ^(AJ)holy, ^(AK)innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and ^(AL)exalted above the heavens; ²⁷ who does not need daily, like those high priests, to ^(AM)offer up sacrifices, ^(AN)first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did ^(AO)once for all when He ^(AP)offered up Himself. ²⁸ For the Law appoints men as high priests ^(AQ)who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints ^(AR)a Son, ^(AS)made perfect forever.

A Better Ministry

8 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a ^(A)high priest, who has taken His seat at ^(B)the right hand of the throne of the ^(C)Majesty in the heavens, ² a ^(D)minister ^[a]in the sanctuary and ^[b]in the ^(E)true ^[c]tabernacle, which the Lord ^(F)pitched, not man. ³ For every ^(G)high priest is appointed ^(H)to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. ⁴ Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who ^(I)offer the gifts according to the Law; ⁵ who serve ^(J)a copy and ^(K)shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses ^[d]was ^(L)warned by God when he was about to erect the ^[e]tabernacle; for, “^(M)See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” ⁶ But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the ^(N)mediator of ^(O)a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

A New Covenant

⁷ For ^(P)if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. ⁸ For finding fault with them, He says,

^13 [i]When He said, “^(Z)A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. ^(AA)But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ^[j]ready to disappear.

The Old and the New

9 Now even the first covenant had ^(A)regulations of divine worship and ^(B)the earthly sanctuary. ² For there was ^(C)a ^[a]tabernacle prepared, the ^[b]outer one, in which were ^(D)the lampstand and ^(E)the table and ^(F)the ^[c]sacred bread; this is called the holy place. ³ Behind ^(G)the second veil there was a ^[d]tabernacle which is called the ^(H)Holy of Holies, ⁴ having a golden ^[e](I)altar of incense and ^(J)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^(K)a golden jar holding the manna, and ^(L)Aaron’s rod which budded, and ^(M)the tables of the covenant; ⁵ and above it were the ^(N)cherubim of glory ^(O)overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶ Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests ^(P)are continually entering the ^[f]outer ^[g]tabernacle performing the divine worship, ⁷ but into ^(Q)the second, only ^(R)the high priest enters ^(S)once a year, ^(T)not without taking blood, which he ^(U)offers for himself and for the ^[h](V)sins of the people committed in ignorance. ^8 (W)The Holy Spirit is signifying this, ^(X)that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the ^[i]outer tabernacle is still standing, ⁹ which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly ^(Y)both gifts and sacrifices are offered which ^(Z)cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, ¹⁰ since they relate only to ^(AA)food and ^(AB)drink and various ^(AC)washings, ^(AD)regulations for the ^[j]body imposed until ^(AE)a time of reformation.

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a ^(AF)high priest of the ^(AG)good things ^[k]to come, He entered through ^(AH)the greater and more perfect ^[l]tabernacle, ^(AI)not made with hands, that is to say, ^(AJ)not of this creation; ¹² and not through ^(AK)the blood of goats and calves, but ^(AL)through His own blood, He ^(AM)entered the holy place ^(AN)once for all, ^[m]having obtained ^(AO)eternal redemption. ¹³ For if ^(AP)the blood of goats and bulls and ^(AQ)the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the ^[n]cleansing of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will ^(AR)the blood of Christ, who through ^[o](AS)the eternal Spirit ^(AT)offered Himself without blemish to God, ^(AU)cleanse ^[p]your conscience from ^(AV)dead works to serve ^(AW)the living God?

¹⁵ For this reason ^(AX)He is the ^(AY)mediator of a ^(AZ)new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been ^(BA)called may ^(BB)receive the promise of ^(BC)the eternal inheritance. ¹⁶ For where a ^[q]covenant is, there must of necessity ^[r]be the death of the one who made it. ¹⁷ For a ^[s]covenant is valid only when ^[t]men are dead, ^[u]for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. ¹⁸ Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. ¹⁹ For when every commandment had been ^(BD)spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, ^(BE)he took the ^(BF)blood of the calves and the goats, with ^(BG)water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both ^(BH)the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, “^(BI)This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” ²¹ And in the same way he ^(BJ)sprinkled both the ^[v]tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. ²² And according to the ^[w]Law, one may ^(BK)almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and ^(BL)without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

²³ Therefore it was necessary for the ^(BM)copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but ^(BN)the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ ^(BO)did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of ^(BP)the true one, but into ^(BQ)heaven itself, now ^(BR)to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as ^(BS)the high priest enters ^(BT)the holy place ^(BU)year by year with blood that is not his own. ²⁶ Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since ^(BV)the foundation of the world; but now ^(BW)once at ^(BX)the consummation of the ages He has been ^(BY)manifested to put away sin ^[x](BZ)by the sacrifice of Himself. ²⁷ And inasmuch as ^(CA)it is ^[y]appointed for men to die once and after this ^(CB)comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ also, having been ^(CC)offered once to ^(CD)bear the sins of many, will appear ^(CE)a second time for ^(CF)salvation ^(CG)without reference to sin, to those who ^(CH)eagerly await Him.