[1] Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We have this kind of high priest. He sat down at the right side of the throne of the majesty in the heavens. [2] He’s serving as a priest in the holy place, which is the true meeting tent that God, not any human being, set up. [3] Every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices. So it’s necessary for this high priest also to have something to offer. [4] If he was located on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest because there are already others who offer gifts based on the Law. [5] They serve in a place that is a copy and shadow of the heavenly meeting tent. This is indicated when Moses was warned by God when he was about to set up the meeting tent: “See that you follow the pattern that I showed you on the mountain in every detail”. [6] But now, Jesus has received a superior priestly service just as he arranged a better covenant that is enacted with better promises. [7] If the first covenant had been without fault, it wouldn’t have made sense to expect a second. [8] But God did find fault with them, since he says, “Look, the days are coming, says the Lord, ” “when I will make a covenant with the house of Israel, ” “and I will make a new covenant with the house of Judah. ” [9] “It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors ” “on the day I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, ” “because they did not continue to keep my covenant, ” “and I lost interest in them, says the Lord. ” [10] “This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel ” “after those days, says the Lord. ” “I will place my laws in their minds, ” “and write them on their hearts. ” “I will be their God, ” “and they will be my people. ” [11] “And each person won’t ever teach a neighbor ” “or their brother or sister, saying, ” “Know the Lord,” “because they will all know me, ” “from the least important of them to the most important; ” [12] “because I will be lenient toward their unjust actions, ” “and I won’t remember their sins anymore.” [13] When it says new, it makes the first obsolete. And if something is old and outdated, it’s close to disappearing.
