Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech: Hebrews | Page 5

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 Covenant unlike the one which I made