Deu 18:15, 18-19, Act 26:22, Rom 10:4, Heb 7-10 | ESV | STEP | The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers —it is to him you shall listen

18 ^bI will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. ^cAnd I will put my words in his mouth, and ^dhe shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 ^eAnd whoever will ^fnot listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.

Acts 26:22

22 ^gTo this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so ^hI stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what ⁱthe prophets and Moses said would come to pass:

Romans 10:4

4 For ^jChrist is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. ^{▼▼Or end of the law, that everyone who believes may be justified}

Hebrews 7

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

1 For this ^lMelchizedek, king of ^mSalem, priest of ⁿthe 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 ^oor 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 ^pthe patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And ^qthose 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 ^swho does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed ^thim 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 ^uof whom it is testified that ^vhe 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 ^wNow 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 ^xfrom 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,

^y“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside ^zbecause of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for ^aathe law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, ^aba better hope is introduced, through which ^acwe 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:

^ad“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’”
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of ^aea 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 ^afforever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost ^{▼▼That is, completely; or at all times} ^ahthose who draw near to God ^aithrough him, since he always lives ^ajto make intercession for them.

26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, ^akholy, innocent, unstained, ^alseparated from sinners, and ^amexalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, ^anfirst for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this ^aoonce for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men ^apin their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made ^aqperfect 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, ^arone who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in ^asthe true tent ^{▼▼Or tabernacle; also verse 5} that the Lord ^auset up, not man. 3 For ^avevery high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus ^awit 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 ^axa copy and ^ayshadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, ^az“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 ^bbas much more excellent than the old as ^bcthe covenant ^bdhe mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 ^beFor 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}

^bg“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 ^bhFor 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 ^biwrite 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 ^bjall know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
^bkand I will remember their sins no more.”
13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And ^blwhat 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 ^bman earthly place of holiness. 2 For ^bna tent ^{▼▼Or tabernacle; also verses 11, 21} was prepared, the first section, in which were ^bpthe lampstand and ^bqthe table and ^brthe bread of the Presence. ^{▼▼Greek the presentation of the loaves} It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind ^btthe second curtain was a second section ^{▼▼Greek tent; also verses 6, 8} called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden ^bvaltar of incense and ^bwthe ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^bxa golden urn holding the manna, and ^byAaron’s staff that budded, and ^bzthe tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were ^cathe cherubim of glory overshadowing ^cbthe mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 These preparations having thus been made, ^ccthe priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only ^cdthe high priest goes, and he but ^ceonce a year, and not without taking blood, ^cfwhich he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that ^cgthe 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 ^cithat cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with ^cjfood and drink and ^ckvarious 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 ^clof the good things that have come, ^{▼▼Some manuscripts good things to come} then through ^cnthe greater and more perfect tent ( ^conot made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he ^cpentered ^cqonce for all into the holy places, not by means of ^crthe blood of goats and calves but ^csby means of his own blood, ^ctthus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if ^cuthe blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with ^cvthe 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 ^cxthe blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit ^cyoffered himself without blemish to God, ^czpurify our ^{▼▼Some manuscripts your} conscience ^dbfrom dead works ^dcto serve the living God.

15 Therefore he is ^ddthe mediator of a new covenant, so that ^dethose who are called may ^dfreceive the promised eternal inheritance, ^dgsince 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 ^dia 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 ^djwithout blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took ^dkthe blood of calves and goats, ^dlwith water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, ^dm“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both ^dnthe tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and ^dowithout the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

23 Thus it was necessary for ^dpthe 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 ^dqmade with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God ^dron our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as ^dsthe high priest enters ^dtthe 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, ^duhe has appeared ^dvonce for all ^dwat the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as ^dxit is appointed for man to die once, and ^dyafter that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once ^dzto bear the sins of ^eamany, will appear ^eba second time, ^ecnot to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly ^edwaiting for him.

Hebrews 10

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

1 For since the law has but ^eea shadow ^efof the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, ^egit 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 ^ehin these sacrifices ^eithere is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For ^ejit is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

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

^em“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 ^ensacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, ^eo“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 ^epwe have been sanctified through the offering of ^eqthe body of Jesus Christ ^eronce for all.

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

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

16 ^ez“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,

^fa“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 ^fbTherefore, brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters} since we have confidence to enter ^fdthe holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by ^fethe new and living way that he opened for us through ^ffthe curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have ^fga great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts ^fhsprinkled clean ^fifrom an evil conscience and our bodies ^fjwashed with pure water. 23 ^fkLet us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for ^flhe who promised is faithful. 24 And ^fmlet us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 ^fnnot neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and ^foall the more as you see ^fpthe Day drawing near.

26 For ^fqif we go on sinning deliberately ^frafter receiving the knowledge of the truth, ^fsthere no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 ^ftbut a fearful expectation of judgment, and ^fua fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 ^fvAnyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy ^fwon the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one ^fxwho has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned ^fythe blood of the covenant ^fzby which he was sanctified, and has ^gaoutraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, ^gb“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, ^gc“The Lord will judge his people.” 31 ^gdIt is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But recall the former days when, after ^geyou were enlightened, you endured ^gfa hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being ^ggpublicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For ^ghyou had compassion on those in prison, and ^giyou joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had ^gja better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has ^gka great reward. 36 For ^glyou have need of endurance, so that ^gmwhen you have done the will of God you may ^gnreceive what is promised. 37 For,

^go“Yet a little while,
and ^gpthe coming one will come and will not delay;
38 ^gqbut 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.