1Sa 12:7, Isa 1:18, Act 24:25, 28:23, Heb 7-10 | ESV | STEP | Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers .

7 Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers.

Isaiah 1:18

18 “Come now, ^alet us reason ^{▼▼Or dispute} together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as ^cwhite as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.

Acts 24:25

25 And as he reasoned ^dabout righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. ^eWhen I get an opportunity I will summon you.”

Acts 28:23

23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening ^fhe expounded to them, testifying to ^gthe kingdom of God and ^htrying to convince them about Jesus ⁱboth from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

Hebrews 7

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

1 For this ^jMelchizedek, king of ^kSalem, priest of ^lthe Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother ^mor genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham ⁿthe patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And ^othose descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man ^qwho does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed ^rhim who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one ^sof whom it is testified that ^the lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

Jesus Compared to Melchizedek

11 ^uNow if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended ^vfrom Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,

^w“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside ^xbecause of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for ^ythe law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, ^za better hope is introduced, through which ^aawe draw near to God.

20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

^ab“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’”
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of ^aca better covenant.

23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues ^adforever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost ^{▼▼That is, completely; or at all times} ^afthose who draw near to God ^agthrough him, since he always lives ^ahto make intercession for them.

26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, ^aiholy, innocent, unstained, ^ajseparated from sinners, and ^akexalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, ^alfirst for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this ^amonce for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men ^anin their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made ^aoperfect forever.

Hebrews 8

Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant

1 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, ^apone who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in ^aqthe true tent ^{▼▼Or tabernacle; also verse 5} that the Lord ^asset up, not man. 3 For ^atevery high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus ^auit is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve ^ava copy and ^awshadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, ^ax“See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ ^{▼▼Greek he} has obtained a ministry that is ^azas much more excellent than the old as ^bathe covenant ^bbhe mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 ^bcFor if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

8 For he finds fault with them when he says: ^{▼▼Some manuscripts For finding fault with it he says to them}

^be“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah,
9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers
on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
For they did not continue in my covenant,
and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.
10 ^bfFor this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds,
and ^bgwrite them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for they shall ^bhall know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
^biand I will remember their sins no more.”
13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And ^bjwhat is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Hebrews 9

The Earthly Holy Place

1 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and ^bkan earthly place of holiness. 2 For ^bla tent ^{▼▼Or tabernacle; also verses 11, 21} was prepared, the first section, in which were ^bnthe lampstand and ^bothe table and ^bpthe bread of the Presence. ^{▼▼Greek the presentation of the loaves} It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind ^brthe second curtain was a second section ^{▼▼Greek tent; also verses 6, 8} called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden ^btaltar of incense and ^buthe ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^bva golden urn holding the manna, and ^bwAaron’s staff that budded, and ^bxthe tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were ^bythe cherubim of glory overshadowing ^bzthe mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 These preparations having thus been made, ^cathe priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only ^cbthe high priest goes, and he but ^cconce a year, and not without taking blood, ^cdwhich he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that ^cethe way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). ^{▼▼Or which is symbolic for the age then present} According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered ^cgthat cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with ^chfood and drink and ^civarious washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest ^cjof the good things that have come, ^{▼▼Some manuscripts good things to come} then through ^clthe greater and more perfect tent ( ^cmnot made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he ^cnentered ^coonce for all into the holy places, not by means of ^cpthe blood of goats and calves but ^cqby means of his own blood, ^crthus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if ^csthe blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with ^ctthe ashes of a heifer, sanctify ^{▼▼Or For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies} for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will ^cvthe blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit ^cwoffered himself without blemish to God, ^cxpurify our ^{▼▼Some manuscripts your} conscience ^czfrom dead works ^dato serve the living God.

15 Therefore he is ^dbthe mediator of a new covenant, so that ^dcthose who are called may ^ddreceive the promised eternal inheritance, ^desince a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. ^{▼▼The Greek word means both covenant and will; also verses 16, 17} 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For ^dga will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated ^dhwithout blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took ^dithe blood of calves and goats, ^djwith water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, ^dk“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both ^dlthe tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and ^dmwithout the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

23 Thus it was necessary for ^dnthe copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places ^domade with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God ^dpon our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as ^dqthe high priest enters ^drthe holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, ^dshe has appeared ^dtonce for all ^duat the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as ^dvit is appointed for man to die once, and ^dwafter that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once ^dxto bear the sins of ^dymany, will appear ^dza second time, ^eanot to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly ^ebwaiting for him.

Hebrews 10

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

1 For since the law has but ^eca shadow ^edof the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, ^eeit can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But ^efin these sacrifices ^egthere is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For ^ehit is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 Consequently, ^eiwhen Christ ^{▼▼Greek he} came into the world, he said,

^ek“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in ^elsacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, ^em“Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will ^enwe have been sanctified through the offering of ^eothe body of Jesus Christ ^eponce for all.

11 And every priest stands ^eqdaily at his service, ^eroffering repeatedly the same sacrifices, ^eswhich can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ ^{▼▼Greek this one} had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he ^eusat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time ^evuntil his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering ^ewhe has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

16 ^ex“This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws on their hearts,
and write them on their minds,”
17 then he adds,

^ey“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

The Full Assurance of Faith

19 ^ezTherefore, brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} since we have confidence to enter ^fbthe holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by ^fcthe new and living way that he opened for us through ^fdthe curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have ^fea great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts ^ffsprinkled clean ^fgfrom an evil conscience and our bodies ^fhwashed with pure water. 23 ^fiLet us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for ^fjhe who promised is faithful. 24 And ^fklet us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 ^flnot neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and ^fmall the more as you see ^fnthe Day drawing near.

26 For ^foif we go on sinning deliberately ^fpafter receiving the knowledge of the truth, ^fqthere no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 ^frbut a fearful expectation of judgment, and ^fsa fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 ^ftAnyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy ^fuon the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one ^fvwho has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned ^fwthe blood of the covenant ^fxby which he was sanctified, and has ^fyoutraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, ^fz“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, ^ga“The Lord will judge his people.” 31 ^gbIt is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But recall the former days when, after ^gcyou were enlightened, you endured ^gda hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being ^gepublicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For ^gfyou had compassion on those in prison, and ^ggyou joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had ^gha better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has ^gia great reward. 36 For ^gjyou have need of endurance, so that ^gkwhen you have done the will of God you may ^glreceive what is promised. 37 For,

^gm“Yet a little while,
and ^gnthe coming one will come and will not delay;
38 ^gobut my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.