Hebrews
Summary
Paul summarizes the argument by identifying Jesus as our "great High Priest" who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. Christ serves in a "more excellent ministry" in a heavenly sanctuary, serving as the "mediator of a better covenant" grounded in better promises. The chapter quotes lengthily from the prophet Jeremiah to declare the transition from the old covenant, which was finding fault and passing away, to the "new covenant" inscribed on the hearts and minds of God's people, where the Lord promises to be their God and to remember their sins no more.
Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is seated on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: therefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
For if He were on earth, He should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests who offer gifts according to the law:
Who serve to the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, "See," He says, "that you make all things according to the pattern showed to you in the mount."
But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
For finding fault with them, He says, "Behold, the days come," says the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in My covenant, and I regarded them not," says the Lord.
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people:
And they shall not teach every one his neighbour, and every one his brother, saying, "Know the Lord": for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more.
In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first old. Now that which decays and grows old is ready to vanish away.