A Heavenly Priesthood

1Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,a 2a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man.a 3For every high priest is appointed to offer giftsa and sacrifices; therefore, it was necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4Now if he were on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest, since there are thoseA offering the gifts prescribed by the law. 5These serve as a copy and shadowa of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For God said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain.b c 6But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediatora of a better covenant,b which has been established on better promises.c

A Superior Covenant

7For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. 8But finding fault with his people,A he says:B

See, the days are coming, says the Lord,

when I will make a new covenant

with the house of Israel

and with the house of Judah —

9not like the covenant

that I made with their ancestors

on the day I took them by the hand

to lead them out of the land of Egypt.

I showed no concern for them, says the Lord,

because they did not continue in my covenant.

10For this is the covenant

that I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, says the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds

and write them on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.a

11And each person will not teach his fellow citizen,A

and each his brother or sister, saying, “Know the Lord,”

because they will all know me,

from the least to the greatest of them.a

12For I will forgive their wrongdoing,

and I will never again remember their sins.a a b

13By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.a