Supplementary Offerings

15 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you^(A) as a home ³ and you present to the Lord food offerings from the herd or the flock,^(B) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord^(C)—whether burnt offerings^(D) or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings^(E) or festival offerings^(F)— ⁴ then the person who brings an offering shall present to the Lord a grain offering^(G) of a tenth of an ephah^[a] of the finest flour^(H) mixed with a quarter of a hin^[b] of olive oil. ⁵ With each lamb^(I) for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine^(J) as a drink offering.^(K)

⁶ “‘With a ram^(L) prepare a grain offering^(M) of two-tenths of an ephah^[c](N) of the finest flour mixed with a third of a hin^[d] of olive oil,^{(O) 7} and a third of a hin of wine^(P) as a drink offering.^(Q) Offer it as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^(R)

⁸ “‘When you prepare a young bull^(S) as a burnt offering or sacrifice, for a special vow^(T) or a fellowship offering^(U) to the Lord, ⁹ bring with the bull a grain offering^(V) of three-tenths of an ephah^[e](W) of the finest flour mixed with half a hin^[f] of olive oil, ¹⁰ and also bring half a hin of wine^(X) as a drink offering.^(Y) This will be a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(Z) 11} Each bull or ram, each lamb or young goat, is to be prepared in this manner. ¹² Do this for each one, for as many as you prepare.^(AA)

¹³ “‘Everyone who is native-born^(AB) must do these things in this way when they present a food offering as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(AC) 14} For the generations to come,^(AD) whenever a foreigner^(AE) or anyone else living among you presents a food^(AF) offering^(AG) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord, they must do exactly as you do. ¹⁵ The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come.^(AH) You and the foreigner shall be the same before the Lord: ¹⁶ The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the foreigner residing among you.^(AI)’”

¹⁷ The Lord said to Moses, ¹⁸ “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land to which I am taking you^{(AJ) 19} and you eat the food of the land,^(AK) present a portion as an offering to the Lord.^{(AL) 20} Present a loaf from the first of your ground meal^(AM) and present it as an offering from the threshing floor.^{(AN) 21} Throughout the generations to come^(AO) you are to give this offering to the Lord from the first of your ground meal.^(AP)

Offerings for Unintentional Sins

²² “‘Now if you as a community unintentionally fail to keep any of these commands the Lord gave Moses^(AQ)— ²³ any of the Lord’s commands to you through him, from the day the Lord gave them and continuing through the generations to come^(AR)— ²⁴ and if this is done unintentionally^(AS) without the community being aware of it,^(AT) then the whole community is to offer a young bull for a burnt offering^(AU) as an aroma pleasing to the Lord,^(AV) along with its prescribed grain offering^(AW) and drink offering,^(AX) and a male goat for a sin offering.^{[g](AY) 25} The priest is to make atonement for the whole Israelite community, and they will be forgiven,^(AZ) for it was not intentional^(BA) and they have presented to the Lord for their wrong a food offering^(BB) and a sin offering.^{(BC) 26} The whole Israelite community and the foreigners residing among them will be forgiven, because all the people were involved in the unintentional wrong.^(BD)

²⁷ “‘But if just one person sins unintentionally,^(BE) that person must bring a year-old female goat for a sin offering.^{(BF) 28} The priest is to make atonement^(BG) before the Lord for the one who erred by sinning unintentionally, and when atonement has been made, that person will be forgiven.^{(BH) 29} One and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether a native-born Israelite or a foreigner residing among you.^(BI)

³⁰ “‘But anyone who sins defiantly,^(BJ) whether native-born or foreigner,^(BK) blasphemes the Lord^(BL) and must be cut off from the people of Israel.^{(BM) 31} Because they have despised^(BN) the Lord’s word and broken his commands,^(BO) they must surely be cut off; their guilt remains on them.^(BP)’”

The Sabbath-Breaker Put to Death

³² While the Israelites were in the wilderness,^(BQ) a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day.^{(BR) 33} Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, ³⁴ and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him.^{(BS) 35} Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man must die.^(BT) The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.^(BU)” ³⁶ So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him^(BV) to death,^(BW) as the Lord commanded Moses.^(BX)

Tassels on Garments

³⁷ The Lord said to Moses, ³⁸ “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Throughout the generations to come^(BY) you are to make tassels on the corners of your garments,^(BZ) with a blue cord on each tassel. ³⁹ You will have these tassels to look at and so you will remember^(CA) all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves^(CB) by chasing after the lusts of your own hearts^(CC) and eyes. ⁴⁰ Then you will remember to obey all my commands^(CD) and will be consecrated to your God.^{(CE) 41} I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God.^(CF) I am the Lord your God.^(CG)’”

Korah, Dathan and Abiram

16 Korah^(A) son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram^(B), sons of Eliab,^(C) and On son of Peleth—became insolent^{[a] 2} and rose up against Moses.^(D) With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.^{(E) 3} They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron^(F) and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy,^(G) every one of them, and the Lord is with them.^(H) Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”^(I)

⁴ When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.^{(J) 5} Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy,^(K) and he will have that person come near him.^(L) The man he chooses^(M) he will cause to come near him. ⁶ You, Korah, and all your followers^(N) are to do this: Take censers^{(O) 7} and tomorrow put burning coals^(P) and incense^(Q) in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses^(R) will be the one who is holy.^(S) You Levites have gone too far!”

⁸ Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! ⁹ Isn’t it enough^(T) for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them?^{(U) 10} He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too.^{(V) 11} It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble^(W) against him?^(X)”

¹² Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram,^(Y) the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come!^{(Z) 13} Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey^(AA) to kill us in the wilderness?^(AB) And now you also want to lord it over us!^{(AC) 14} Moreover, you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey^(AD) or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards.^(AE) Do you want to treat these men like slaves^[b]?^(AF) No, we will not come!^(AG)”

¹⁵ Then Moses became very angry^(AH) and said to the Lord, “Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey^(AI) from them, nor have I wronged any of them.”

¹⁶ Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the Lord tomorrow—you and they and Aaron.^{(AJ) 17} Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the Lord. You and Aaron are to present your censers also.^(AK)” ¹⁸ So each of them took his censer,^(AL) put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ¹⁹ When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them^(AM) at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the Lord^(AN) appeared to the entire assembly. ²⁰ The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ²¹ “Separate yourselves^(AO) from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”^(AP)

²² But Moses and Aaron fell facedown^(AQ) and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things,^(AR) will you be angry with the entire assembly^(AS) when only one man sins?”^(AT)

²³ Then the Lord said to Moses, ²⁴ “Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”

²⁵ Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel^(A) followed him. ²⁶ He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men!^(B) Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away^(C) because of all their sins.^(D)” ²⁷ So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.^(E) Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children^(F) and little ones at the entrances to their tents.^(G)

²⁸ Then Moses said, “This is how you will know^(H) that the Lord has sent me^(I) to do all these things and that it was not my idea: ²⁹ If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me.^{(J) 30} But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth^(K) and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead,^(L) then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.^(M)”

³¹ As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart^{(N) 32} and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them^(O) and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. ³³ They went down alive into the realm of the dead,^(P) with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. ³⁴ At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”

³⁵ And fire came out from the Lord^(Q) and consumed^(R) the 250 men who were offering the incense.

³⁶ The Lord said to Moses, ³⁷ “Tell Eleazar^(S) son of Aaron, the priest, to remove the censers^(T) from the charred remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy— ³⁸ the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives.^(U) Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar,^(V) for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign^(W) to the Israelites.”

³⁹ So Eleazar the priest^(X) collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death,^(Y) and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, ⁴⁰ as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense^(Z) before the Lord,^(AA) or he would become like Korah and his followers.^(AB)

⁴¹ The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said.

⁴² But when the assembly gathered in opposition^(AC) to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord^(AD) appeared. ⁴³ Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, ⁴⁴ and the Lord said to Moses, ⁴⁵ “Get away from this assembly so I can put an end^(AE) to them at once.” And they fell facedown.

⁴⁶ Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer^(AF) and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly^(AG) to make atonement^(AH) for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord;^(AI) the plague^(AJ) has started.” ⁴⁷ So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people,^(AK) but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. ⁴⁸ He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.^{(AL) 49} But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah.^{(AM) 50} Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, for the plague had stopped.^[a]

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 Budding of Aaron’s Staff

17 ^[a]The Lord said to Moses, ² “Speak to the Israelites and get twelve staffs^(A) from them, one from the leader of each of their ancestral tribes.^(B) Write the name of each man on his staff. ³ On the staff of Levi write Aaron’s name,^(C) for there must be one staff for the head of each ancestral tribe. ⁴ Place them in the tent of meeting^(D) in front of the ark of the covenant law,^(E) where I meet with you.^{(F) 5} The staff belonging to the man I choose^(G) will sprout,^(H) and I will rid myself of this constant grumbling^(I) against you by the Israelites.”

⁶ So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their leaders gave him twelve staffs, one for the leader of each of their ancestral tribes, and Aaron’s staff was among them. ⁷ Moses placed the staffs before the Lord in the tent of the covenant law.^(J)

⁸ The next day Moses entered the tent^(K) and saw that Aaron’s staff,^(L) which represented the tribe of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds.^{(M) 9} Then Moses brought out all the staffs^(N) from the Lord’s presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each of the leaders took his own staff.

¹⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Put back Aaron’s staff^(O) in front of the ark of the covenant law, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious.^(P) This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die.” ¹¹ Moses did just as the Lord commanded him.

¹² The Israelites said to Moses, “We will die! We are lost, we are all lost!^{(Q) 13} Anyone who even comes near the tabernacle of the Lord will die.^(R) Are we all going to die?”

Duties of Priests and Levites

18 The Lord said to Aaron, “You, your sons and your family are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the sanctuary,^(S) and you and your sons alone are to bear the responsibility for offenses connected with the priesthood. ² Bring your fellow Levites from your ancestral tribe to join you and assist you when you and your sons minister^(T) before the tent of the covenant law. ³ They are to be responsible to you^(U) and are to perform all the duties of the tent,^(V) but they must not go near the furnishings of the sanctuary or the altar. Otherwise both they and you will die.^{(W) 4} They are to join you and be responsible for the care of the tent of meeting—all the work at the tent—and no one else may come near where you are.^(X)

⁵ “You are to be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the altar,^(Y) so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelites again. ⁶ I myself have selected your fellow Levites from among the Israelites as a gift to you,^(Z) dedicated to the Lord to do the work at the tent of meeting.^{(AA) 7} But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain.^(AB) I am giving you the service of the priesthood as a gift.^(AC) Anyone else who comes near the sanctuary is to be put to death.^(AD)”

Offerings for Priests and Levites

⁸ Then the Lord said to Aaron, “I myself have put you in charge of the offerings presented to me; all the holy offerings the Israelites give me I give to you and your sons as your portion,^(AE) your perpetual share.^{(AF) 9} You are to have the part of the most holy offerings^(AG) that is kept from the fire. From all the gifts they bring me as most holy offerings, whether grain^(AH) or sin^[b](AI) or guilt offerings,^(AJ) that part belongs to you and your sons. ¹⁰ Eat it as something most holy; every male shall eat it.^(AK) You must regard it as holy.^(AL)

¹¹ “This also is yours: whatever is set aside from the gifts of all the wave offerings^(AM) of the Israelites. I give this to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share.^(AN) Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean^(AO) may eat it.

¹² “I give you all the finest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain^(AP) they give the Lord^(AQ) as the firstfruits of their harvest.^{(AR) 13} All the land’s firstfruits that they bring to the Lord will be yours.^(AS) Everyone in your household who is ceremonially clean may eat it.^(AT)

¹⁴ “Everything in Israel that is devoted^[c] to the Lord^(AU) is yours. ¹⁵ The first offspring of every womb, both human and animal, that is offered to the Lord is yours.^(AV) But you must redeem^(AW) every firstborn^(AX) son and every firstborn male of unclean animals.^{(AY) 16} When they are a month old,^(AZ) you must redeem them at the redemption price set at five shekels^[d](BA) of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel,^(BB) which weighs twenty gerahs.^(BC)

¹⁷ “But you must not redeem the firstborn of a cow, a sheep or a goat; they are holy.^(BD) Splash their blood^(BE) against the altar and burn their fat^(BF) as a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.^{(BG) 18} Their meat is to be yours, just as the breast of the wave offering^(BH) and the right thigh are yours.^{(BI) 19} Whatever is set aside from the holy^(BJ) offerings the Israelites present to the Lord I give to you and your sons and daughters as your perpetual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt^(BK) before the Lord for both you and your offspring.”

²⁰ The Lord said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any share among them;^(BL) I am your share and your inheritance^(BM) among the Israelites.

²¹ “I give to the Levites all the tithes^(BN) in Israel as their inheritance^(BO) in return for the work they do while serving at the tent of meeting.^{(BP) 22} From now on the Israelites must not go near the tent of meeting, or they will bear the consequences of their sin and will die.^{(BQ) 23} It is the Levites who are to do the work at the tent of meeting and bear the responsibility for any offenses they commit against it. This is a lasting ordinance^(BR) for the generations to come.^(BS) They will receive no inheritance^(BT) among the Israelites.^{(BU) 24} Instead, I give to the Levites as their inheritance the tithes that the Israelites present as an offering to the Lord.^(BV) That is why I said concerning them: ‘They will have no inheritance among the Israelites.’”

²⁵ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁶ “Speak to the Levites and say to them: ‘When you receive from the Israelites the tithe I give you^(BW) as your inheritance, you must present a tenth of that tithe as the Lord’s offering.^{(BX) 27} Your offering will be reckoned^(BY) to you as grain from the threshing floor^(BZ) or juice from the winepress.^{(CA) 28} In this way you also will present an offering to the Lord from all the tithes^(CB) you receive from the Israelites. From these tithes you must give the Lord’s portion to Aaron the priest. ²⁹ You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’

³⁰ “Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress.^{(CC) 31} You and your households may eat the rest of it anywhere, for it is your wages for your work at the tent of meeting.^{(CD) 32} By presenting the best part^(CE) of it you will not be guilty in this matter;^(CF) then you will not defile the holy offerings^(CG) of the Israelites, and you will not die.’”

The Water of Cleansing

19 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ² “This is a requirement of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer^(CH) without defect or blemish^(CI) and that has never been under a yoke.^{(CJ) 3} Give it to Eleazar^(CK) the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp^(CL) and slaughtered in his presence. ⁴ Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle^(CM) it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting. ⁵ While he watches, the heifer is to be burned—its hide, flesh, blood and intestines.^{(CN) 6} The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop^(CO) and scarlet wool^(CP) and throw them onto the burning heifer. ⁷ After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water.^(CQ) He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening. ⁸ The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening.

⁹ “A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer^(CR) and put them in a ceremonially clean place^(CS) outside the camp. They are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing;^(CT) it is for purification from sin.^{(CU) 10} The man who gathers up^(CV) the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he too will be unclean till evening.^(CW) This will be a lasting ordinance^(CX) both for the Israelites and for the foreigners residing among them.^(CY)

¹¹ “Whoever touches a human corpse^(CZ) will be unclean for seven days.^{(DA) 12} They must purify themselves with the water on the third day and on the seventh day;^(DB) then they will be clean. But if they do not purify themselves on the third and seventh days, they will not be clean.^{(DC) 13} If they fail to purify themselves after touching a human corpse,^(DD) they defile the Lord’s tabernacle.^(DE) They must be cut off from Israel.^(DF) Because the water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, they are unclean;^(DG) their uncleanness remains on them.

¹⁴ “This is the law that applies when a person dies in a tent: Anyone who enters the tent and anyone who is in it will be unclean for seven days, ¹⁵ and every open container^(DH) without a lid fastened on it will be unclean.

¹⁶ “Anyone out in the open who touches someone who has been killed with a sword or someone who has died a natural death,^(DI) or anyone who touches a human bone^(DJ) or a grave,^(DK) will be unclean for seven days.^(DL)

¹⁷ “For the unclean person, put some ashes^(DM) from the burned purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water^(DN) over them. ¹⁸ Then a man who is ceremonially clean is to take some hyssop,^(DO) dip it in the water and sprinkle^(DP) the tent and all the furnishings and the people who were there. He must also sprinkle anyone who has touched a human bone or a grave^(DQ) or anyone who has been killed or anyone who has died a natural death. ¹⁹ The man who is clean is to sprinkle^(DR) those who are unclean on the third and seventh days, and on the seventh day he is to purify them.^(DS) Those who are being cleansed must wash their clothes^(DT) and bathe with water, and that evening they will be clean. ²⁰ But if those who are unclean do not purify themselves, they must be cut off from the community, because they have defiled^(DU) the sanctuary of the Lord.^(DV) The water of cleansing has not been sprinkled on them, and they are unclean.^{(DW) 21} This is a lasting ordinance^(DX) for them.

“The man who sprinkles the water of cleansing must also wash his clothes, and anyone who touches the water of cleansing will be unclean till evening. ²² Anything that an unclean^(DY) person touches becomes unclean, and anyone who touches it becomes unclean till evening.”

Jesus the Great High Priest

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest^(A) who has ascended into heaven,^[a](B) Jesus the Son of God,^(C) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.^{(D) 15} For we do not have a high priest^(E) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are^(F)—yet he did not sin.^{(G) 16} Let us then approach^(H) God’s throne of grace with confidence,^(I) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God,^(J) to offer gifts and sacrifices^(K) for sins.^{(L) 2} He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray,^(M) since he himself is subject to weakness.^{(N) 3} This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.^{(O) 4} And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.^(P)

⁵ In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory^(Q) of becoming a high priest.^(R) But God said^(S) to him,

⁶ And he says in another place,

⁷ During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions^(W) with fervent cries and tears^(X) to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard^(Y) because of his reverent submission.^{(Z) 8} Son^(AA) though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered^{(AB) 9} and, once made perfect,^(AC) he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him ¹⁰ and was designated by God to be high priest^(AD) in the order of Melchizedek.^(AE)

Warning Against Falling Away^(AF)

¹¹ We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. ¹² In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths^(AG) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!^{(AH) 13} Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,^(AI) is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature,^(AJ) who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.^(AK)

6 Therefore let us move beyond^(AL) the elementary teachings^(AM) about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,^[d](AN) and of faith in God, ² instruction about cleansing rites,^[e](AO) the laying on of hands,^(AP) the resurrection of the dead,^(AQ) and eternal judgment. ³ And God permitting,^(AR) we will do so.

⁴ It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,^(AS) who have tasted the heavenly gift,^(AT) who have shared in the Holy Spirit,^{(AU) 5} who have tasted the goodness^(AV) of the word of God^(AW) and the powers of the coming age ⁶ and who have fallen^[f] away, to be brought back to repentance.^(AX) To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God^(AY) all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. ⁷ Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. ⁸ But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed.^(AZ) In the end it will be burned.

⁹ Even though we speak like this, dear friends,^(BA) we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. ¹⁰ God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.^{(BB) 11} We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope^(BC) for may be fully realized. ¹² We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate^(BD) those who through faith and patience^(BE) inherit what has been promised.^(BF)

The Certainty of God’s Promise

¹³ When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,^{(BG) 14} saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”^{[g](BH) 15} And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.^(BI)

¹⁶ People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.^{(BJ) 17} Because God wanted to make the unchanging^(BK) nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,^(BL) he confirmed it with an oath. ¹⁸ God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,^(BM) we who have fled to take hold of the hope^(BN) set before us may be greatly encouraged. ¹⁹ We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,^{(BO) 20} where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.^(BP) He has become a high priest^(BQ) forever, in the order of Melchizedek.^(BR)

Melchizedek the Priest

7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem^(BS) and priest of God Most High.^(BT) He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,^{(BU) 2} and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” ³ Without father or mother, without genealogy,^(BV) without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God,^(BW) he remains a priest forever.

⁴ Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch^(BX) Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!^{(BY) 5} Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people^(BZ)—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. ⁶ This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed^(CA) him who had the promises.^{(CB) 7} And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 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.^{(CC) 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^(CD) established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,^(CE) one in the order of Melchizedek,^(CF) 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,^(CG) and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.^{(CH) 14} For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,^(CI) 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^{(CK) 19} (for the law made nothing perfect),^(CL) and a better hope^(CM) is introduced, by which we draw near to God.^(CN)

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.^(CQ)

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.^{(CR) 25} Therefore he is able to save^(CS) completely^[j] those who come to God^(CT) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.^(CU)

²⁶ Such a high priest^(CV) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,^(CW) exalted above the heavens.^{(CX) 27} Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices^(CY) day after day, first for his own sins,^(CZ) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all^(DA) when he offered himself.^{(DB) 28} For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;^(DC) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,^(DD) who has been made perfect^(DE) 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,^(DF) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,^{(DG) 2} and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle^(DH) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

³ Every high priest^(DI) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,^(DJ) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.^{(DK) 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.^{(DL) 5} They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy^(DM) and shadow^(DN) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned^(DO) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”^{[k](DP) 6} But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant^(DQ) of which he is mediator^(DR) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

⁷ For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.^{(DS) 8} But God found fault with the people and said^[l]:

¹³ By calling this covenant “new,”^(EB) he has made the first one obsolete;^(EC) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.