The Greatness of His Ministry
1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 2 a minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 5 who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8 For finding fault with them, he saith,
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord,
When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 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 continued not in my covenant,
And I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, saith the Lord;
I will put my laws into their mind,
And write them in their hearts:
And I will be to them a God,
And they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour,
And every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord:
For all shall know me,
From the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,
And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.