Hebrews 7:14–28

¹⁴For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.^*

¹⁵It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek, ¹⁶one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent but through the power of an indestructible life.^{* 17}For it is attested of him,

“You are a priest forever,

according to the order of Melchizedek.”^*

¹⁸There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual^{* 19}(for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope through which we approach God.^*

²⁰This was confirmed with an oath, for others have become priests without an oath, ²¹but this one became a priest with an oath because of the one who said to him,

“The Lord has sworn

and will not change his mind,

‘You are a priest forever’ ”^s*

²²accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantor of a better covenant.^*

²³Furthermore, the former priests were many in number because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, ²⁴but he holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever. ²⁵Consequently, he is able for all time to save^t those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.^*

²⁶For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.^{* 27}Unlike the other^u high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself.^{* 28}For the law appoints as high priests humans, who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.^*