They will perish, but you remain forever. They will wear out like old clothing.

You will fold them up like a cloak and discard them like old clothing. But you are always the same; you will live forever.”

Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless.

There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office.

But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.

Old Rules about Worship

That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth.

For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established.

Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity.

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.

Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.

Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp.