1 ARST Here is the main idea that I am writing about: a ruling priest like the one I have described is serving for us. He has gone to be with God{ the Father} in the heavenly places, and he has begun to rule. BSB BSB: The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
2 ARST He serves in the Most Holy Place and in the most real sacred tent. The Lord{ God}, not any human, made{ this sanctuary}. BSB BSB: and who ministers in the sanctuary and true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.
3 ARST Now God makes people ruling priests so that they can present sacrifices. Because{ that is what ruling priests do}, Jesus too needed to present a sacrifice. BSB BSB: And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer.
4 ARST So, because the priests{ who are descendants of Levi already} present sacrifices{ on earth} as God commanded, Jesus would not be serving as a priest were he on earth{ right now}. BSB BSB: Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law.
5 ARST Those priests do what God requires{ in a sanctuary that} models the heavenly{ sanctuary}.{ You can tell that this is true,} because God revealed it to Moses when Moses was going to have the Israelites construct the sacred tent.{ At that time,} God spoke to him,“Make sure that everything{ about the sacred tent} matches the original{ sanctuary} that I revealed to you{ when you were with me} on Mount Sinai!” BSB BSB: The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
6 ARST But here is what is true{ about Jesus}: he serves in a much better way{ than the descendants of Levi do}. In the same way, the agreement that God has made with his people through Jesus is greater{ than the agreement that God made with the Israelites}. That is because God promised greater things when he made this new agreement. BSB BSB: Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.
7 ARST Now{ you can tell that} the agreement that God made with the Israelites was not perfect, because God chose to make another agreement. BSB BSB: For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second.
9 ARST { That agreement will} not be like the agreement that I made with their ancestors when I lovingly delivered them from the land of Egypt. Here is what I say:{ It will not be like that agreement,} because they did not keep it, so I abandoned them. BSB BSB: It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not abide by My covenant, and I disregarded them, declares the Lord.
10 ARST This is the kind of agreement that I will make with my people, the Israelites, very soon. Here is what I say: I will enable them to understand and obey my laws. I will be the God whom they worship, and they will be the people whom I care for. BSB BSB: For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people.
11 ARST No one will ever have to instruct another Israelite,‘Trust and worship the Lord God.’{ That is} because all my people will trust and worship me, no matter how important or unimportant they are. BSB BSB: No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest.
12 ARST { That will happen} because I will mercifully forgive them for the wrong things that they have done. I will never again punish them for the sins that they have committed.” BSB BSB: For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”
13 ARST When God uses the word“new,” he means that the earlier{ agreement with the Israelites} is now old. Further, what is old will soon cease to exist. BSB BSB: By speaking of a new covenant, He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.