Christ’s Eternal Priesthood

1Now the sum of the things that have been said is this, that we have such an high-priest, who is sat down at the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens; 2a minister of holy things, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord hath raised, and not man. 3For every high-priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; wherefore it was necessary that He also should have something to offer. 4For if He were on earth, He could not be a priest, seeing there are priests already that offer gifts according to the law: 5who worship under the representation and shadow of heavenly things; as Moses was ordered by God, when he was about to finish the tabernacle. For see, saith He, that thou make all according to the model shewn thee in the mount.

The New Covenant

6But now He hath obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which is established upon better promises.

7For if the first covenant had been unexceptionable, there had been no room for a second:

8as we see there was, for after complaining of them, He adds, "Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

9not according to 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; for they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

10But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their mind, and I will inscribe them on 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 neighbour, and every one his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the lest even to the greatest of them.

12For I will forgive their crimes, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more."

13Now by saying, a new covenant, He hath antiquated the first: and what is antiquated, and groweth old, is near it's exit.