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A Better Ministry

Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a ahigh priest, who has taken His seat at bthe right hand of the throne of the cMajesty in the heavens, a aminister 1in the sanctuary and 2in the btrue 3tabernacle, which the Lord cset up, not man. For every ahigh priest is appointed bto offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are 1those who aoffer the gifts according to the Law; who serve aa copy and bshadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses 1was cwarned by God when he was about to erect the 2tabernacle; for, “dSEE,” He says, “THAT YOU MAKE all things BY THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN TO YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, to the extent that He is also the amediator of ba better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

A New Covenant

For aif that first covenant had been free of fault, no 1circumstances would have been sought for a second. For in finding fault with 1the people, He says,aBEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD,2WHEN I WILL BRING ABOUT bA NEW COVENANTWITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND THE HOUSE OF JUDAH,

9 aNOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERSON THE DAY I TOOK THEM BY THE HANDTO BRING THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT;FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT,AND I DID NOT CARE ABOUT THEM, SAYS THE LORD.10 aFOR THIS IS THE COVENANT WHICH I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAELAFTER THOSE DAYS, DECLARES THE LORD:1I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,AND WRITE THEM bON THEIR HEARTS.AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.11 aAND THEY WILL NOT TEACH, EACH ONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,AND EACH ONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’FOR bTHEY WILL ALL KNOW ME,FROM 1THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.12 aFOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TOWARD THEIR WRONGDOINGS,bAND THEIR SINS I WILL NO LONGER REMEMBER.”

13 1When He said, “aA new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. bBut whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is 2about to disappear.

Jesus, High Priest of a New Covenant

Now the main point in what is being said is this: we have such a ahigh priest, who sat down at bthe right hand of the throne of the cMajesty in the heavens, a aminister 1in the 2holy places and 3in the btrue 4tabernacle, which the Lord cpitched, not man. For every ahigh priest is appointed bto offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who aoffer the gifts according to the Law; who serve aa copy and bshadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses 1was cwarned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “dSEE,” He says, “THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the amediator of ba better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. For aif that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. For finding fault with them, He says,aBEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE 1LORD,2WHEN I WILL COMPLETE bA NEW COVENANTWITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;

9 aNOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERSIN THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HANDTO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT;FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT,AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE 1LORD.10 aFOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAELAFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE 1LORD:2I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,AND bUPON THEIR HEARTS I WILL WRITE THEM.AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.11 aAND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’FOR bALL WILL KNOW ME,FROM 1THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.12 aFOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES,bAND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.”

13 1When He said, “aA new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. bBut whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is 2ready to disappear.

A Better Ministry

Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a ahigh priest, who has taken His seat at bthe right hand of the throne of the cMajesty in the heavens, a aminister 1in the sanctuary and 2in the btrue 3tabernacle, which the Lord cpitched, not man. For every ahigh priest is appointed bto offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who aoffer the gifts according to the Law; who serve aa copy and bshadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses 1was cwarned by God when he was about to erect the 2tabernacle; for, “dSEE,” He says, “THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the amediator of ba better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

A New Covenant

For aif that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. For finding fault with them, He says,aBEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD,1WHEN I WILL EFFECT bA NEW COVENANTWITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;

9 aNOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERSON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HANDTO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT;FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT,AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD.10 aFOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAELAFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:1I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,AND I WILL WRITE THEM bON THEIR HEARTS.AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.11 aAND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’FOR bALL WILL KNOW ME,FROM 1THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.12 aFOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES,bAND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.”

13 1When He said, “aA new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. bBut whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is 2ready to disappear.

A Better Ministry

Now the main point of what we have to say is this: we have such a aHigh Priest, the Christ who is seated in the place of honor at bthe right hand of the throne of the cMajesty (God) in heaven, Ps 110:1 a aMinister (Officiating Priest) in the holy places and in the btrue tabernacle, which is cerected not by man, but by the Lord. For every ahigh priest is appointed bto offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is essential for this One also to have something to offer. Now if He were still living on earth, He would not be a priest at all, for there are priests who aoffer the gifts to God in accordance with the Law. They serve as aa pattern and bforeshadowing of what has its true existence and reality in the heavenly things (sanctuary) . For when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he was cwarned by God, saying, “dSEE THAT YOU MAKE it all exactly ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN TO YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.” Ex 25:40 But as it is, Christ has acquired a priestly ministry which is more excellent than the old Levitical priestly ministry, for He is the aMediator (Arbiter) of ba better covenant uniting God and man, which has been enacted and rests on better promises.

A New Covenant

For aif that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one or an attempt to institute another one the new covenant. However, God finds fault with them showing its inadequacy when He says,aBEHOLD, THE DAYS WILL COME, SAYS THE LORD,WHEN I WILL MAKE and RATIFY bA NEW COVENANTWITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH;

9 aNOT LIKE THE COVENANT THAT I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERSON THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HANDTO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT;FOR THEY DID NOT ABIDE IN MY COVENANT,AND SO I WITHDREW MY FAVOR and DISREGARDED THEM, SAYS THE LORD.10 aFOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAELAFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:I WILL IMPRINT MY LAWS UPON THEIR MINDS even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding,AND ENGRAVE THEM bUPON THEIR HEARTS effecting their regeneration.AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.11 aAND IT WILL NOT BE necessary FOR EACH ONE TO TEACH HIS FELLOW CITIZEN,OR EACH ONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW by experience, have knowledge of THE LORD,’FOR bALL WILL KNOW Me by experience and have knowledge of ME,FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.12 aFOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL and GRACIOUS TOWARD THEIR WICKEDNESS,bAND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.” Jer 31:31-34

13 When God speaks of “aA new covenant,” He makes the first one obsolete. bAnd whatever is becoming obsolete (out of use, annulled) and growing old is ready to disappear.

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