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but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
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And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
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how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
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For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”
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God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
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For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
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During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
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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.”
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Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
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Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
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For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.
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But God found fault with the people and said: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
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By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
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Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle
Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.
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A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place.
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The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning.
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For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
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This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.
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First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law.
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Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second.
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Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
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The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:
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not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
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Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.
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By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
