Heb 5:0-10:18 | ESV | STEP | For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God , to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins .

1 For every high priest chosen from among men ^ais appointed to act on behalf of men ^bin relation to God, ^cto offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 ^dHe can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself ^eis beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins ^fjust as he does for those of the people. 4 And ^gno one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, ^hjust as Aaron was.

5 So also Christ ⁱdid not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

^j“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place,

^k“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
7 In the days of his flesh, ^lJesus ^{▼▼Greek he} offered up prayers and supplications, ⁿwith loud cries and tears, to him ^owho was able to save him from death, and ^phe was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although ^qhe was a son, ^rhe learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And ^sbeing made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest ^tafter the order of Melchizedek.

Warning Against Apostasy

11 About this we have much to say, and it is ^uhard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again ^vthe basic principles of the oracles of God. You need ^wmilk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is ^xa child. 14 But solid food is for ^ythe mature, for those who have their powers ^zof discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 6

1 Therefore ^aalet us leave ^abthe elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance ^acfrom dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of ^adinstruction about washings, ^{▼▼Or baptisms (that is, cleansing rites)} ^afthe laying on of hands, ^agthe resurrection of the dead, and ^aheternal judgment. 3 And this we will do ^aiif God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those ^ajwho have once been enlightened, who have tasted ^akthe heavenly gift, and ^alhave shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and ^amhave tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and ^anthen have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since ^aothey are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For ^apland that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But ^aqif it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, ^arand its end is to be burned.

9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For ^asGod is not unjust so as to overlook ^atyour work and the love that you have shown for his name in ^auserving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance ^avof hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but ^awimitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

The Certainty of God’s Promise

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, ^axhe swore by himself, 14 saying, ^ay“Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, ^{▼▼Greek he} ^bahaving patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes ^bban oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to ^bcthe heirs of the promise ^bdthe unchangeable character of his purpose, ^behe guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which ^bfit is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope ^bgset before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into ^bhthe inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone ^bias a forerunner on our behalf, ^bjhaving become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

1 For this ^bkMelchizedek, king of ^blSalem, priest of ^bmthe 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 ^bnor 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 ^bothe patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And ^bpthose 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 ^brwho does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed ^bshim 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 ^btof whom it is testified that ^buhe 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 ^bvNow 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 ^bwfrom 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,

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

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

26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, ^cjholy, innocent, unstained, ^ckseparated from sinners, and ^clexalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, ^cmfirst for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this ^cnonce for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men ^coin their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made ^cpperfect 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, ^cqone who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in ^crthe true tent ^{▼▼Or tabernacle; also verse 5} that the Lord ^ctset up, not man. 3 For ^cuevery high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus ^cvit 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 ^cwa copy and ^cxshadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, ^cy“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 ^daas much more excellent than the old as ^dbthe covenant ^dche mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 ^ddFor 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}

^df“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 ^dgFor 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 ^dhwrite 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 ^diall know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,
^djand I will remember their sins no more.”
13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And ^dkwhat 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 ^dlan earthly place of holiness. 2 For ^dma tent ^{▼▼Or tabernacle; also verses 11, 21} was prepared, the first section, in which were ^dothe lampstand and ^dpthe table and ^dqthe bread of the Presence. ^{▼▼Greek the presentation of the loaves} It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind ^dsthe second curtain was a second section ^{▼▼Greek tent; also verses 6, 8} called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden ^dualtar of incense and ^dvthe ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^dwa golden urn holding the manna, and ^dxAaron’s staff that budded, and ^dythe tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were ^dzthe cherubim of glory overshadowing ^eathe mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 These preparations having thus been made, ^ebthe priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only ^ecthe high priest goes, and he but ^edonce a year, and not without taking blood, ^eewhich he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that ^efthe 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 ^ehthat cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with ^eifood and drink and ^ejvarious 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 ^ekof the good things that have come, ^{▼▼Some manuscripts good things to come} then through ^emthe greater and more perfect tent ( ^ennot made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he ^eoentered ^eponce for all into the holy places, not by means of ^eqthe blood of goats and calves but ^erby means of his own blood, ^esthus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if ^etthe blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with ^euthe 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 ^ewthe blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit ^exoffered himself without blemish to God, ^eypurify our ^{▼▼Some manuscripts your} conscience ^fafrom dead works ^fbto serve the living God.

15 Therefore he is ^fcthe mediator of a new covenant, so that ^fdthose who are called may ^fereceive the promised eternal inheritance, ^ffsince 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 ^fha 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 ^fiwithout blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took ^fjthe blood of calves and goats, ^fkwith water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, ^fl“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both ^fmthe tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and ^fnwithout the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

23 Thus it was necessary for ^fothe 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 ^fpmade with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God ^fqon our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as ^frthe high priest enters ^fsthe 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, ^fthe has appeared ^fuonce for all ^fvat the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as ^fwit is appointed for man to die once, and ^fxafter that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once ^fyto bear the sins of ^fzmany, will appear ^gaa second time, ^gbnot to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly ^gcwaiting for him.

Hebrews 10:1-18

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

1 For since the law has but ^gda shadow ^geof the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, ^gfit 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 ^ggin these sacrifices ^ghthere is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For ^giit is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

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

^gl“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 ^gmsacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, ^gn“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 ^gowe have been sanctified through the offering of ^gpthe body of Jesus Christ ^gqonce for all.

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

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

16 ^gy“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,

^gz“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.