Melchizedek the Priest

7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem^(A) and priest of God Most High.^(B) He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,^{(C) 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,^(D) without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God,^(E) he remains a priest forever.

⁴ Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch^(F) Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!^{(G) 5} Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people^(H)—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^(I) him who had the promises.^{(J) 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.^{(K) 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^(L) established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,^(M) one in the order of Melchizedek,^(N) 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,^(O) and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.^{(P) 14} For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,^(Q) 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^{(S) 19} (for the law made nothing perfect),^(T) and a better hope^(U) is introduced, by which we draw near to God.^(V)

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.^(Y)

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.^{(Z) 25} Therefore he is able to save^(AA) completely^[c] those who come to God^(AB) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.^(AC)

²⁶ Such a high priest^(AD) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,^(AE) exalted above the heavens.^{(AF) 27} Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices^(AG) day after day, first for his own sins,^(AH) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all^(AI) when he offered himself.^{(AJ) 28} For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;^(AK) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,^(AL) who has been made perfect^(AM) 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,^(AN) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,^{(AO) 2} and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle^(AP) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

³ Every high priest^(AQ) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,^(AR) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.^{(AS) 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.^{(AT) 5} They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy^(AU) and shadow^(AV) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned^(AW) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”^{[d](AX) 6} But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant^(AY) of which he is mediator^(AZ) 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.^{(BA) 8} But God found fault with the people and said^[e]:

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

Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.^{(BL) 2} A tabernacle^(BM) was set up. In its first room were the lampstand^(BN) and the table^(BO) with its consecrated bread;^(BP) this was called the Holy Place.^{(BQ) 3} Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,^{(BR) 4} which had the golden altar of incense^(BS) and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.^(BT) This ark contained the gold jar of manna,^(BU) Aaron’s staff that had budded,^(BV) and the stone tablets of the covenant.^{(BW) 5} Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory,^(BX) overshadowing the atonement cover.^(BY) But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

⁶ When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly^(BZ) into the outer room to carry on their ministry. ⁷ But only the high priest entered^(CA) the inner room,^(CB) and that only once a year,^(CC) and never without blood,^(CD) which he offered for himself^(CE) and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.^{(CF) 8} The Holy Spirit was showing^(CG) by this that the way^(CH) into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. ⁹ This is an illustration^(CI) for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered^(CJ) were not able to clear the conscience^(CK) of the worshiper. ¹⁰ They are only a matter of food^(CL) and drink^(CM) and various ceremonial washings^(CN)—external regulations^(CO) applying until the time of the new order.

The Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ came as high priest^(CP) of the good things that are now already here,^[g](CQ) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle^(CR) that is not made with human hands,^(CS) that is to say, is not a part of this creation. ¹² He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;^(CT) but he entered the Most Holy Place^(CU) once for all^(CV) by his own blood,^(CW) thus obtaining^[h] eternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls^(CX) and the ashes of a heifer^(CY) sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit^(CZ) offered himself^(DA) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences^(DB) from acts that lead to death,^[i](DC) so that we may serve the living God!^(DD)

¹⁵ For this reason Christ is the mediator^(DE) of a new covenant,^(DF) that those who are called^(DG) may receive the promised^(DH) eternal inheritance^(DI)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.^(DJ)

¹⁶ In the case of a will,^[j] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, ¹⁷ because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. ¹⁸ This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.^{(DK) 19} When Moses had proclaimed^(DL) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,^(DM) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.^{(DN) 20} He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”^{[k](DO) 21} In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. ²² In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,^(DP) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(DQ)

²³ It was necessary, then, for the copies^(DR) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;^(DS) he entered heaven itself,^(DT) now to appear for us in God’s presence.^{(DU) 25} Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place^(DV) every year with blood that is not his own.^{(DW) 26} Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.^(DX) But he has appeared^(DY) once for all^(DZ) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.^{(EA) 27} Just as people are destined to die once,^(EB) and after that to face judgment,^{(EC) 28} so Christ was sacrificed once^(ED) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,^(EE) not to bear sin,^(EF) but to bring salvation^(EG) to those who are waiting for him.^(EH)

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 The law is only a shadow^(EI) of the good things^(EJ) that are coming—not the realities themselves.^(EK) For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect^(EL) those who draw near to worship.^{(EM) 2} Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.^{(EN) 3} But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.^{(EO) 4} It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats^(EP) to take away sins.^(EQ)

⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world,^(ER) he said:

⁸ First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”^(EV)—though they were offered in accordance with the law. ⁹ Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”^(EW) He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy^(EX) through the sacrifice of the body^(EY) of Jesus Christ once for all.^(EZ)

¹¹ Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,^(FA) which can never take away sins.^{(FB) 12} But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,^(FC) he sat down at the right hand of God,^{(FD) 13} and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.^{(FE) 14} For by one sacrifice he has made perfect^(FF) forever those who are being made holy.^(FG)

¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies^(FH) to us about this. First he says:

¹⁷ Then he adds:

¹⁸ And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

A Call to Persevere in Faith

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence^(FK) to enter the Most Holy Place^(FL) by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way^(FM) opened for us through the curtain,^(FN) that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest^(FO) over the house of God,^{(FP) 22} let us draw near to God^(FQ) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,^(FR) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience^(FS) and having our bodies washed with pure water.^{(FT) 23} Let us hold unswervingly to the hope^(FU) we profess,^(FV) for he who promised is faithful.^{(FW) 24} And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,^{(FX) 25} not giving up meeting together,^(FY) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another^(FZ)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.^(GA)

²⁶ If we deliberately keep on sinning^(GB) after we have received the knowledge of the truth,^(GC) no sacrifice for sins is left, ²⁷ but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire^(GD) that will consume the enemies of God. ²⁸ Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.^{(GE) 29} How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God^(GF) underfoot,^(GG) who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant^(GH) that sanctified them,^(GI) and who has insulted the Spirit^(GJ) of grace?^{(GK) 30} For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”^[o](GL) and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”^{[p](GM) 31} It is a dreadful thing^(GN) to fall into the hands^(GO) of the living God.^(GP)

³² Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,^(GQ) when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.^{(GR) 33} Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution;^(GS) at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.^{(GT) 34} You suffered along with those in prison^(GU) and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.^{(GV) 35} So do not throw away your confidence;^(GW) it will be richly rewarded.

³⁶ You need to persevere^(GX) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.^{(GY) 37} For,

³⁸ And,

³⁹ But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.