Chronological
Melchizedek, a Kohen Forever
7 For this Melchizedek was king of Salem, kohen of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, [a] 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth of everything. First, by the translation of his name, he is “King of Righteousness”[b]; and then also King of Salem, which is “King of Shalom.” 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life but made like Ben-Elohim, he remains a kohen for all time.
4 Now see how great this man is! Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth out of the plunder. 5 Indeed, those sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have, according to Torah, a command to collect a tithe from the people[c]—that is, from their kin, although they have come out of the loins of Abraham. 6 But this one—who did not have their genealogy—has collected tithes from Abraham and has blessed him, the one holding the promises. 7 Now it is beyond dispute that the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In one case, dying men receive tithes; but in the other, one about whom it is testified that he lives on. 9 Through Abraham even Levi, the one receiving tithes, has paid the tithe, so to speak— 10 for he was still in his father’s loins when Melchizedek met him.
Yeshua, Our Kohen Gadol Forever
11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for based on it the people had been given the Torah[d]), what further need was there for a different kohen to arise—designated according to the order of Melchizedek, not according to the order of Aaron? 12 For whenever the priesthood is altered, out of necessity an alteration[e] of law also takes place. 13 For the one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord has sprung forth[f] from Judah—concerning this tribe, Moses said nothing about kohanim. 15 And it is even more evident, if another kohen arises like Melchizedek— 16 one made not by virtue of a Torah requirement of physical descent,[g] but by virtue of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is testified,
“You are a kohen forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”[h]
18 For on the one hand, a former requirement is set aside because of its weakness and ineffectiveness— 19 for Torah made nothing perfect. But on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
20 Moreover, it was not without a sworn oath. (Others indeed have become kohanim without a sworn oath, 21 but He with an oath—sworn by the One who said to Him, “Adonai has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a kohen forever.’”[i]) 22 How much more then has Yeshua become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 Now on the one hand, many have become kohanim, who through death are prevented from continuing in office. [j] 24 But on the other hand, the One who does remain forever has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, always living to make intercession for them.
26 For such a Kohen Gadol was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need to offer up sacrifices day by day like those other kohanim g’dolim—first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people.[k] For when He offered up Himself, He did this once for all. 28 For the Torah appoints as kohanim g’dolim men who have weakness; but the word of the oath,[l] which came after the Torah, appoints a Son—made perfect forever.
Yeshua, Mediator of a Better Covenant
8 Now here is the main point being said. We do have such a Kohen Gadol, who has taken His seat at the right hand[m] of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. 2 He is a priestly attendant of the Holies and the true Tent—which Adonai set up, not man. 3 For every kohen gadol is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, so it is necessary for this One also to have something to offer. [n] 4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a kohen at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Torah. 5 They offer service in a replica[o] and foreshadower of the heavenlies—one that is just as Moses was instructed by God when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For He says, “See that you make everything according to the design that was shown to you on the mountain.” [p] 6 But now Yeshua has obtained a more excellent ministry, insofar as He is the mediator of a better covenant which has been enacted on better promises.
7 For if that first one had been faultless, there would not have been discourse seeking a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He says,
“Behold, days are coming,
says Adonai,
when I will inaugurate a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their fathers
on the day when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of the land of Egypt.
For they did not remain in My covenant,
and I did not care for them, says Adonai.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel
after those days, says Adonai.
I will put My Torah into their mind,
and upon their hearts I will write it.
And I will be their God,
and they shall be My people.[q]
11 And no more will they teach,
each one his fellow citizen
and each one his brother, saying,
‘Know Adonai,’
because all will know Me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
and their sins I will remember no more.”[r]
13 In saying “new,” He has treated the first as old; but what is being made old and aging is close to vanishing.
Messiah Enters the Heavenly Holies
9 Now even the first one had regulations for worship and the earthly sanctuary. [s] 2 For a tent was prepared: in the outer[t] part were the menorah, the table, and the presentation of the bread[u]—this is called the Holy Place. 3 Beyond the second curtain[v] was a dwelling called the Holy of Holies. [w] 4 It held a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, completely covered with gold. In the ark was a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant[x]— 5 and above it, cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.[y] But it is not now possible to speak in detail about these things.
6 Now with these things prepared this way,
the kohanim
do continually enter
into the outer tent[z]
while completing the services;
7 but into the inner,[aa]
once a year,
the kohen gadol alone[ab]—and not without blood which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins[ac] of the people. 8 By this the Ruach ha-Kodesh makes clear that the way into the Holies has not yet been revealed while the first tent is still standing. 9 It is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly, gifts and sacrifices are being offered that cannot make the worshiper perfect with respect to conscience. 10 These relate only to food and drink and various washings[ad]—regulations for the body imposed until a time of setting things straight.
11 But when Messiah appeared as Kohen Gadol of the good things that have now come, passing through the greater and more perfect Tent not made with hands (that is to say not of this creation), 12 He entered into the Holies once for all—not by the blood of goats and calves but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls[ae] and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled[af] sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Messiah—who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God—cleanse our[ag] conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant,[ah] in order that those called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—since a death has taken place that redeems them from violations under the first covenant. 16 For where there is a covenant, the death of the one who made it must be established. [ai] 17 For a covenant is secured upon the basis of dead bodies, since it has no strength as long as the one who made it lives. 18 That is why not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Torah, he took the blood of the calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and he sprinkled both the book itself and all the people. 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” [aj] 21 And in the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. [ak] 22 And nearly everything is purified in blood according to the Torah, and apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.[al]
23 Therefore it was necessary for the replicas of these heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices—but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Messiah did not enter into Holies made with hands—counterparts of the true things—but into heaven itself, now to appear in God’s presence on our behalf. 25 And He did not offer Himself again and again—as the kohen gadol enters into the Holy of Holies year after year with blood that is not his own. 26 For then He would have needed to suffer again and again from the foundation of the world. But as it is, He has been revealed once and for all at the close of the ages—to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this judgment, [am] 28 so also Messiah, was offered once to bear the sins of many.[an] He will appear a second time, apart from sin, to those eagerly awaiting Him for salvation.[ao]
Perfect Pardon in the New Covenant
10 The Torah has a shadow of the good things to come—not the form itself of the realities. For this reason it can never, by means of the same sacrifices they offer constantly year after year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers—cleansed once and for all—would no longer have consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices is a reminder of sins year after year— 4 for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 So when Messiah comes into the world, He says,
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
but a body You prepared for Me.
6 In whole burnt offerings and sin offerings
You did not delight.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I come to do Your will, O God
(in the scroll of the book it is written of Me).’”[ap]
8 After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor did You delight in them” (those which are offered according to Torah), 9 then He said, “Behold, I come to do Your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 By His will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Messiah Yeshua once for all.
11 Indeed, every kohen stands day by day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. [aq] 12 But on the other hand, when this One offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God— 13 waiting from then on, until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. [ar] 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those being made holy. 15 The Ruach ha-Kodesh also testifies to us—for after saying,
16 “This is the covenant that I will cut with them:
‘After those days,’ says Adonai,
‘I will put My Torah upon their hearts,
and upon their minds I will write it,’”[as]
then He says,
17 “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”[at]
18 Now where there is removal of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
Let Us Pray Boldly in God’s Presence
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have boldness to enter into the Holies by the blood of Yeshua. 20 He inaugurated a new and living way for us through the curtain—that is, His flesh. 21 We also have a Kohen Gadol over God’s household.
22 So let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and body washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the unwavering confession of hope, for He who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good deeds.
25 And do not neglect our own meetings, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another—and all the more so as you see the Day[au] approaching.
26 For if we keep on sinning willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only a terrifying expectation of judgment and a fury of fire about to devour the enemies of God. [av] 28 Anyone who rejected the Torah of Moses dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. [aw] 29 How much more severe do you think the punishment will be for the one who has trampled Ben-Elohim underfoot, and has regarded as unholy the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the One who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “Adonai will judge His people.” [ax] 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Suffering Perfects Yeshua’s Followers
32 But remember the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to abuses and afflictions, and other times you became partners with those who were treated this way. 34 For you suffered along with the prisoners and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better and lasting possession. 35 Therefore, do not lose your boldness, which has great reward. 36 For you need perseverance so that, after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. 37 For yet
“in a very little while,[ay]
the Coming One will come,
and He will not delay.[az]
38 But My righteous one shall live by emunah;
and if he shrinks back,
My soul takes no pleasure in him.”[ba]
39 But we are not among the timid ones on the path to destruction, but among the faithful ones on the path to the preservation of the soul.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.