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   17 (Ps 110:4; Heb 5:6) For He testifies:   
   "You are a priest forever,   
   in the order of Melchizedek."(Ps 110:4.)   
   18 (Ro 8:3; Gal 4:9) For there is then an annulling of the previous   
   commandment due to its weakness and uselessness.   
   19 (Ac 13:39; Heb 4:16) For the law made nothing perfect, but now   
   a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.   
   20 And He was not made a priest without an oath.   
   21 (Ps 110:4; Heb 7:17) (Other priests were made without an oath,   
   but this One with an oath by the One who said to Him:   
   "The Lord has sworn   
   and will not relent,   
   'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.' " (Nu 23:19;   
   1Sa 15:29; Ps 110:4.))   
   22 Through this oath Jesus became the guarantor of a better covenant.   
   23 And the former priests were numerous because they were hindered   
   from serving because of death.   
   24 (Heb 7:28; Jn 12:34) But He, because He lives forever,   
   has an everlasting priesthood.   
   25 (Ro 8:34; Heb 7:19; Jn 14:6) Therefore He is able to save to the uttermost   
   those who come to God through Him, because He at all times lives to make   
   intercession for them.   
   26 (Heb 8:1; 2Co 5:21) For such a High Priest was fitting for us,   
   for He is holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners,   
   and is higher than the heavens.   
   27 (Heb 9:28; 5:3; 9:12) Unlike those high priests, He does not need to   
   offer daily sacrifices-first for His own sins and then for the people's,   
   for He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.   
   28 (Heb 2:10; 1:2) For the law appoints men who are weak as high priests,   
   but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son who is   
   made perfect forever.   
      
   [1] For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who   
   met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;   
   [2] To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by   
   interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem,   
   which is, King of peace;   
   [3] Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither   
   beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God;   
   abideth a priest continually.   
   [4] Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch   
   Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.   
   [5] And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of   
   the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to   
   the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of   
   Abraham:   
   [6] But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of   
   Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.   
   [7] And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.   
   [8] And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of   
   whom it is witnessed that he liveth.   
   [9] And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in   
   Abraham.   
   [10] For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.   
   [11] If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it   
   the people received the law,) what further need was there that another   
   priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after   
   the order of Aaron?   
   [12] For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change   
   also of the law.   
   [13] For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of   
   which no man gave attendance at the altar.   
   [14] For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe   
   Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.   
   [15] And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of   
   Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,   
   [16] Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the   
   power of an endless life.   
   [17] For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of   
   Melchisedec.   
   [18] For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for   
   the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.   
   [19] For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope   
   did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.   
   [20] And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:   
   [21] (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by   
   him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a   
   priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)   
   [22] By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.   
   [23] And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to   
   continue by reason of death:   
   [24] But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable   
   priesthood.   
   [25] Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto   
   God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.   
   [26] For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled,   
   separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;   
   [27] Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice,   
   first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once,   
   when he offered up himself.   
   [28] For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word   
   of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for   
   evermore.   
      
   Hebrews 8   
      
   Jesus Our High Priest   
      
   1 (Heb 1:3; Col 3:1) Now this is the main point of the things that we are   
   saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand   
   of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,   
   2 a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle, which the Lord,   
   not man, set up.   
   3 (Heb 5:1; Eph 5:2) For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts   
   and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this priest also have   
   something to offer.   
   4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest,   
   since there are priests that offer gifts according to the law.   
   5 (Ex 25:40; Col 2:17) They serve in a sanctuary that is an example   
   and shadow of the heavenly one, as Moses was instructed   
   by God when he was about to make the tabernacle,   
   "See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you   
   on the mountain."-6 (Pr 3:11-12.)   
   6 (Heb 7:22; 12:24; 2Co 3:6-11) But now He has obtained a more excellent   
   ministry, because He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was   
   established on better promises.   
   7 (Heb 7:11; 7:18) For if that first covenant had been faultless,   
   then no occasion would have been sought for a second.   
   8 (Jer 31:31-34; Lk 22:20) For finding fault with them, God says:   
   "Surely the days are coming, says the Lord,   
   when I will make a new covenant   
   with the house of Israel   
   and with the house of Judah,   
   9 (Dt 5:2-3; Jer 31:32) not according to the covenant   
   that I made with their fathers   
   in the day when I took them by the hand   
   to lead them out of the land of Egypt;   
   because they did not continue in My covenant,   
   and I rejected them, says the Lord.   
   10 (Jer 31:33; 2Co 3:3) This is the covenant that I will make   
   with the house of Israel   
   after those days, says the Lord:   
   I will put My laws into their minds   
   and write them on their hearts;   
   and I will be their God,   
   and they shall be My people.   
   11 (Isa 54:13; Jn 6:45; 1Jn 2:27) No longer shall every man teach   
   his neighbour,   
   and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,'   
   for all shall know Me,   
   from the least of them to the greatest. (Isa 54:13.)   
   12 (Ro 11:27; Isa 43:25) For I will be merciful toward their unrighteousness,   
   and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."   
   13 (2Co 5:17) In speaking of a new covenant He has made the first one old.   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)