Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech: Hebrews | Page 5

blessing on him to
whom the promises belong. 007:007 And beyond all dispute it is
always the inferior who is blessed by the superior. 007:008 Moreover
here frail mortal men receive tithes: there one receives them about
whom there is evidence that he is alive. 007:009 And Levi too--if I may
so speak--pays tithes through Abraham: 007:010 for Levi was yet in the
loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met Abraham. 007:011 Now
if the crowning blessing was attainable by means of the Levitical
priesthood--for as resting on this foundation the people received the
Law, to which they are still subject-- what further need was there for a
Priest of a different kind to be raised up belonging to the order of
Melchizedek instead of being said to belong to the order of Aaron?
007:012 For when the priesthood changes, a change of Law also of
necessity takes place. 007:013 He, however, to whom that prophecy

refers is associated with a different tribe, not one member of which has
anything to do with the altar. 007:014 For it is undeniable that our Lord
sprang from Judah, a tribe of which Moses said nothing in connection
with priests. 007:015 And this is still more abundantly clear when we
read that it is as belonging to the order of Melchizedek that a priest of a
different kind is to arise, 007:016 and hold His office not in obedience
to any temporary Law, but by virtue of an indestructible Life. 007:017
For the words are in evidence, "Thou art a priest for ever, belonging to
the order of Melchizedek." 007:018 On the one hand we have here the
abrogation of an earlier code because it was weak and ineffective--
007:019 for the Law brought no perfect blessing--but on the other hand
we have the bringing in of a new and better hope by means of which we
draw near to God. 007:020 And since it was not without an oath being
taken-- 007:021 for these men hold office without any oath having been
taken, but He holds it attested by an oath from Him who said to Him,
"The Lord has sworn and will not recall His words, Thou art a Priest
for ever"-- 007:022 so much the more also is the Covenant of which
Jesus has become the guarantor, a better covenant. 007:023 And they
have been appointed priests many in number, because death prevents
their continuance in office: 007:024 but He, because He continues for
ever, has a priesthood which does not pass to any successor. 007:025
Hence too He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God
through Him, seeing that He ever lives to plead for them. 007:026
Moreover we needed just such a High Priest as this-- holy, guileless,
undefiled, far removed from sinful men and exalted above the heavens;
007:027 who, unlike other High Priests, is not under the necessity of
offering up sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and
afterwards for those of the people; for this latter thing He did once for
all when He offered up Himself. 007:028 For the Law constitutes men
High Priests--men with all their infirmity--but the utterance of the oath,
which came later than the Law, constitutes High Priest a Son who has
been made for ever perfect. 008:001 Now in connexion with what we
have been saying the chief point is that we have a High Priest who has
taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God's Majesty in the
heavens, 008:002 and ministers in the Holy place and in the true
tabernacle which not man, but the Lord pitched. 008:003 Every High
Priest, however, is appointed to offer both bloodless gifts and sacrifices.

Therefore this High Priest also must have some offering to present.
008:004 If then He were still on earth, He would not be a priest at all,
since here there are already those who present the offerings in
obedience to the Law, 008:005 and serve a copy and type of the
heavenly things, just as Moses was divinely instructed when about to
build the tabernacle. For God said, "See that you make everything in
imitation of the pattern shown you on the mountain." 008:006 But, as a
matter of fact, the ministry which Christ has obtained is all the nobler a
ministry, in that He is at the same time the negotiator of a sublimer
covenant, based upon sublimer promises. 008:007 For if that first
Covenant had been free from imperfection, there would have been no
attempt to introduce another. 008:008 For, being dissatisfied with His
people, God says, "`There are days coming,' says the Lord, `When I
will establish with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a
new Covenant-- 008:009 a