Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

The office of Christ is more worthy than the office of the priests under the old law, which was imperfect, and was therefore abrogated.

8 Of the things which we have spoken, this is the pith: that we have such a high priest as sits on the right hand of the seat of majesty in heaven, ² and is a minister of holy things, and of the very tabernacle that God pitched, and not man.

³ For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices, and therefore it is necessary that this man also have something to offer. ⁴ For he would not be a priest if he were on the earth, where are the priests who offer gifts according to the law. ⁵ Such priests serve in the figure and shadow of heavenly things, in accordance with the oracle of God given to Moses when he was about to make the tabernacle: Take heed (said he) that you fashion all things according to the pattern shown to you in the mount.

⁶ Now he has obtained a more excellent office, inasmuch as he is the mediator of a better testament, which was made for better promises. ⁷ For if that first testament had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for the second.