Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, take note of Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess,

Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.

For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.

For every high priest is taken from among the people and appointed to represent them before God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming high priest, but the one who glorified him was God, who said to him, "You are my Son! Today I have fathered you,"

as also in another place God says, "You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."

and he was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him.

Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time.

So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood -- for on that basis the people received the law -- what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron's order?

And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,

who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent but by the power of an indestructible life.

For here is the testimony about him: "You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."

but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever'" --

For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We have such a high priest, one who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. So this one too had to have something to offer.

Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.

But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation,

And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own,

And every priest stands day after day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again -- sacrifices that can never take away sins.

But when this priest had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God,

and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.