Chronological

Melchizedek’s Priesthood like Christ’s

7 For this ^(A)Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the ^(B)Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. ³ Without father, without mother, ^(C)without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like ^(D)the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

⁴ Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the ^(E)patriarch, ^(F)gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. ⁵ And those indeed of ^(G)the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment ^[a]in the Law to collect ^[b]a tenth from the people, that is, from their countrymen, although they ^[c]are descended from Abraham. ⁶ But the one ^(H)whose genealogy is not traced from them ^(I)collected ^[d]a tenth from Abraham and ^[e](J)blessed the one who ^(K)had the promises. ⁷ But without any dispute the lesser person is blessed by the greater. ⁸ In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, ^(L)of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. ⁹ And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, has paid tithes, ¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his ^[f]forefather when Melchizedek met him.

^11 (M)So if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it ^(N)the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise ^(O)according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. ¹³ For ^(P)the one about whom ^(Q)these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord ^[g]was ^(R)descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses said nothing concerning priests. ¹⁵ And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶ who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of ^[h](S)physical requirement, but according to the power of ^(T)an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is attested of Him,

¹⁸ For, on the one hand, there is the nullification of a former commandment ^(V)because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹ (for ^(W)the Law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, there is the introduction of a better ^(X)hope, through which we ^(Y)come near to God. ²⁰ And to the extent that it was not without an oath ²¹ (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

²² by the same extent Jesus also has become the ^[i](AC)guarantee of ^(AD)a better covenant.

^23 [j]The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; ^24 [k]Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues ^(AE)forever, holds His priesthood permanently. ²⁵ Therefore He is also able to ^(AF)save ^[l]forever those who ^(AG)come to God through Him, since He always lives to ^(AH)make intercession for them.

²⁶ For it was fitting for us to have such a ^(AI)high priest, ^(AJ)holy, ^(AK)innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and ^(AL)exalted above the heavens; ²⁷ who has no daily need, like those high priests, to ^(AM)offer up sacrifices, ^(AN)first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this ^(AO)once for all time when He ^(AP)offered up Himself. ²⁸ For the Law appoints men as high priests ^(AQ)who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints ^(AR)a Son, who has been ^(AS)made perfect forever.

A Better Ministry

8 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a ^(AT)high priest, who has taken His seat at ^(AU)the right hand of the throne of the ^(AV)Majesty in the heavens, ² a ^(AW)minister ^[m]in the sanctuary and ^[n]in the ^(AX)true ^[o]tabernacle, which the Lord ^(AY)set up, not man. ³ For every ^(AZ)high priest is appointed ^(BA)to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. ⁴ Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are ^[p]those who ^(BB)offer the gifts according to the Law; ⁵ who serve ^(BC)a copy and ^(BD)shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses ^[q]was ^(BE)warned by God when he was about to erect the ^[r]tabernacle; for, “^(BF)See,” He says, “that you make all things by the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.” ⁶ But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, to the extent that He is also the ^(BG)mediator of ^(BH)a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

A New Covenant

⁷ For ^(BI)if that first covenant had been free of fault, no ^[s]circumstances would have been sought for a second. ⁸ For in finding fault with ^[t]the people, He says,

^13 [x]When He said, “^(BS)A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. ^(BT)But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ^[y]about to disappear.

The Old and the New

9 Now even the first covenant had ^(BU)regulations for divine worship and ^(BV)the earthly sanctuary. ² For ^(BW)a ^[z]tabernacle was equipped, the ^[aa]outer sanctuary, in which were ^(BX)the lampstand, ^(BY)the table, and ^(BZ)the ^[ab]sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place. ³ Behind ^(CA)the second veil there was a ^[ac]tabernacle which is called the ^(CB)Most Holy Place, ⁴ having a golden ^[ad](CC)altar of incense and ^(CD)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^(CE)a golden jar holding the manna, ^(CF)Aaron’s staff which budded, and ^(CG)the tablets of the covenant; ⁵ and above it were the ^(CH)cherubim of glory ^(CI)overshadowing the ^[ae]atoning cover; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶ Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests ^(CJ)are continually entering the ^[af]outer ^[ag]tabernacle, performing the divine worship, ⁷ but into ^(CK)the second, only ^(CL)the high priest enters ^(CM)once a year, ^(CN)not without taking blood which he ^(CO)offers for himself and for the ^[ah](CP)sins of the people committed in ignorance. ^8 (CQ)The Holy Spirit is signifying this, ^(CR)that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the ^[ai]outer tabernacle is still standing, ⁹ which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly ^(CS)both gifts and sacrifices are offered which ^(CT)cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, ¹⁰ since they relate only to ^(CU)food, ^(CV)drink, and various ^(CW)washings, ^(CX)regulations for the ^[aj]body imposed until ^(CY)a time of reformation.

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a ^(CZ)high priest of the ^(DA)good things ^[ak]having come, He entered through ^(DB)the greater and more perfect ^[al]tabernacle, ^(DC)not made by hands, that is, ^(DD)not of this creation; ¹² and not through ^(DE)the blood of goats and calves, but ^(DF)through His own blood, He ^(DG)entered the holy place ^(DH)once for all time, ^[am]having obtained ^(DI)eternal redemption. ¹³ For if ^(DJ)the blood of goats and bulls, and ^(DK)the ^[an]ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the ^[ao]cleansing of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will ^(DL)the blood of Christ, who through ^[ap](DM)the eternal Spirit ^(DN)offered Himself without blemish to God, ^(DO)cleanse your conscience from ^(DP)dead works to serve ^(DQ)the living God?

¹⁵ For this reason ^(DR)He is the ^(DS)mediator of a ^(DT)new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been ^(DU)called may ^(DV)receive the promise of ^(DW)the eternal inheritance. ¹⁶ For where there is a ^[aq]covenant, there must of necessity ^[ar]be the death of the one who made it. ¹⁷ For a ^[as]covenant is valid only when people are dead, ^[at]for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. ¹⁸ Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. ¹⁹ For when every commandment had been ^(DX)spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, ^(DY)he took the ^(DZ)blood of the calves and the goats, with ^(EA)water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both ^(EB)the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, “^(EC)This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” ²¹ And in the same way he ^(ED)sprinkled both the ^[au]tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. ²² And ^(EE)almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and ^(EF)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

²³ Therefore it was necessary for the ^(EG)copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these things, but ^(EH)the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ ^(EI)did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of ^(EJ)the true one, but into ^(EK)heaven itself, now ^(EL)to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as ^(EM)the high priest enters ^(EN)the Holy Place ^(EO)year by year with blood that is not his own. ²⁶ Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since ^(EP)the foundation of the world; but now ^(EQ)once at ^(ER)the consummation of the ages He has been ^(ES)revealed to put away sin ^[av](ET)by the sacrifice of Himself. ²⁷ And just as ^(EU)it is destined for people to die once, and after this ^(EV)comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ also, having been ^(EW)offered once to ^(EX)bear the sins of many, will appear ^(EY)a second time for ^(EZ)salvation ^(FA)without reference to sin, to those who ^(FB)eagerly await Him.

One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient

10 For the Law, since it has only ^(FC)a shadow of ^(FD)the good things to come and not the ^[aw]form of those things itself, ^[ax]can ^(FE)never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, ^(FF)make those who approach perfect. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had ^(FG)consciousness of sins? ³ But ^(FH)in ^[ay]those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For it is ^(FI)impossible for the ^(FJ)blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. ⁵ Therefore, ^(FK)when He comes into the world, He says,

⁸ After saying above, “^(FQ)Sacrifices and offerings and ^(FR)whole burnt offerings and offerings ^(FS)for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), ⁹ then He ^[az]said, “^(FT)Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ By ^[ba]this will, we have been ^(FU)sanctified through ^(FV)the offering of ^(FW)the body of Jesus Christ ^(FX)once for all time.

¹¹ Every priest stands daily ministering and ^(FY)offering time after time the same sacrifices, which ^(FZ)can never take away sins; ¹² but He, having offered one sacrifice ^(GA)for ^[bb]sins ^(GB)for all time, ^(GC)sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ waiting from that time onward ^(GD)until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. ¹⁴ For by one offering He has ^(GE)perfected ^(GF)for all time those who are ^[bc]sanctified. ¹⁵ And ^(GG)the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

He then says,

¹⁸ Now where there is forgiveness of these things, an offering for sin is no longer required.

A New and Living Way

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we ^(GJ)have confidence to ^(GK)enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by ^(GL)a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through ^(GM)the veil, that is, through His flesh, ²¹ and since we have ^(GN)a great priest ^(GO)over the house of God, ²² let’s ^(GP)approach God with a ^[bd]sincere heart in ^(GQ)full assurance of faith, having our hearts ^(GR)sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies ^(GS)washed with pure water. ²³ Let’s hold firmly to the ^(GT)confession of our ^(GU)hope without wavering, for ^(GV)He who promised is faithful; ²⁴ and let’s consider how ^(GW)to ^[be]encourage one another in love and ^(GX)good deeds, ²⁵ not abandoning our own ^(GY)meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but ^(GZ)encouraging one another; and all the more as you see ^(HA)the day drawing near.

Christ or Judgment

²⁶ For if we go on ^(HB)sinning willfully after receiving ^(HC)the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a terrifying expectation of ^(HD)judgment and ^(HE)the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. ^28 (HF)Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ^29 (HG)How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve ^(HH)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean ^(HI)the blood of the covenant ^(HJ)by which he was sanctified, and has ^(HK)insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “^(HL)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “^(HM)The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a ^(HN)terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the ^(HO)living God.

³² But remember ^(HP)the former days, ^[bf]when, after being ^(HQ)enlightened, you endured a great ^(HR)conflict of sufferings, ³³ partly by being ^(HS)made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming ^[bg](HT)companions with those who were so treated. ³⁴ For you ^(HU)showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted ^(HV)joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves ^(HW)a better and lasting possession. ³⁵ Therefore, do not throw away your ^(HX)confidence, which has a great ^(HY)reward. ³⁶ For you have need of ^(HZ)endurance, so that when you have ^(IA)done the will of God, you may ^(IB)receive ^[bh]what was promised.

³⁹ But ^[bi]we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.