Hebrews 7:18-28

Contemporary English Version

¹⁸ In this way a weak and useless command was put aside, ¹⁹ because the Law cannot make anything perfect. At the same time, we are given a much better hope, and it can bring us close to God.

^20-21 (A) God himself made a promise when this priest was appointed. But he did not make a promise like this when the other priests were appointed. The promise he made is,

²² This means that Jesus guarantees us a better agreement with God. ²³ There have been a lot of other priests, and all of them have died. ²⁴ But Jesus will never die, and so he will be a priest forever! ²⁵ He is forever able to save^[a] the people he leads to God, because he always lives to speak to God for them.

²⁶ Jesus is the high priest we need. He is holy and innocent and faultless, and not at all like us sinners. Jesus is honored above all beings in heaven, ^27 (B) and he is better than any other high priest. Jesus doesn't need to offer sacrifices each day for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. He offered a sacrifice once for all, when he gave himself. ²⁸ The Law appoints priests who have weaknesses. But God's promise, which came later than the Law, appoints his Son. And he is the perfect high priest forever.