The Greatest Commandment^(A)

²⁸ One of the teachers of the law^(B) came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^{[a] 30} Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^{[b](C) 31} The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[c](D) There is no commandment greater than these.”

³² “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.^{(E) 33} To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”^(F)

³⁴ When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”^(G) And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.^(H)

Instructions on Worship

2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers,^(A) intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— ² for kings and all those in authority,^(B) that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness^(C) and holiness. ³ This is good, and pleases^(D) God our Savior,^{(E) 4} who wants^(F) all people^(G) to be saved^(H) and to come to a knowledge of the truth.^{(I) 5} For there is one God^(J) and one mediator^(K) between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,^{(L) 6} who gave himself as a ransom^(M) for all people. This has now been witnessed to^(N) at the proper time.^{(O) 7} And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying^(P)—and a true and faithful teacher^(Q) of the Gentiles.^(R)

⁸ Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands^(S) without anger or disputing. ⁹ I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,^{(T) 10} but with good deeds,^(U) appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

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.^{(A) 25} Therefore he is able to save^(B) completely^[a] those who come to God^(C) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.^(D)

²⁶ Such a high priest^(E) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,^(F) exalted above the heavens.^{(G) 27} Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices^(H) day after day, first for his own sins,^(I) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all^(J) when he offered himself.^{(K) 28} For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;^(L) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,^(M) who has been made perfect^(N) forever.

The High Priest of a New Covenant

8 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,^(O) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,^{(P) 2} and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle^(Q) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

³ Every high priest^(R) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,^(S) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.^{(T) 4} If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.^{(U) 5} They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy^(V) and shadow^(W) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned^(X) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”^{[b](Y) 6} But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant^(Z) of which he is mediator^(AA) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

¹⁰ We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle^(A) have no right to eat.^(B)

¹¹ The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering,^(C) but the bodies are burned outside the camp.^{(D) 12} And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate^(E) to make the people holy^(F) through his own blood.^{(G) 13} Let us, then, go to him^(H) outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.^{(I) 14} For here we do not have an enduring city,^(J) but we are looking for the city that is to come.^(K)

¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice^(L) of praise—the fruit of lips^(M) that openly profess his name. ¹⁶ And do not forget to do good and to share with others,^(N) for with such sacrifices^(O) God is pleased.