Christ’s Eternal Priesthood

1Now concerning the things that have been spoken, the principal point is this: We have such a high priest, who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2a minister of the holy places, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 3For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore, it is necessary that this one also have something which he may offer. 4For if he were on earth, he could not be a priest; because there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 5and these serve the copy and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: See now, says he, that you make all things according to the pattern shown you in the mount.

The New Covenant

6But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as he is the mediator of a better covenant, which is established with reference to better promises.

7For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second.

8For, finding fault with them, he says: Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will ratify a new covenant for the house of Israel, and for the house of Judah:

9not like the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt: because they continued not in my covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord.

10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, says the Lord; putting my laws into their understanding, I will also write them upon their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people;

11and they shall not teach, every one his citizen, and every one his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest;

12because I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more.

13In saying, A new covenant, he has regarded the first as out of use. Now, that which is out of use, and has become old, is ready to disappear.