1 N ow the important thing is this: We have such a Religious Leader Who has made the way for man to go to God. He is the One Who sits at the right side of the All-powerful God in the heavens.

Now the main point of what we have to say is this: We have such a High Priest, One Who is seated at the right hand of the majestic in heaven,

2 H e is the Religious Leader of that holy place in heaven which is the true place of worship. It was built by the Lord and not by men’s hands.

As officiating Priest, a Minister in the holy places and in the true tabernacle which is erected not by man but by the Lord.

3 E very religious leader of the Old Way of Worship had the work of killing animals and of giving gifts on the altar to God. So Christ had to have something to give also.

For every high priest is appointed to offer up gifts and sacrifices; so it is essential for this to have some offering to make also.

4 I f Christ were on the earth, He would not be a religious leader such as these. The religious leaders on earth give gifts like the Law says.

If then He were still living on earth, He would not be a priest at all, for there are who offer the gifts in accordance with the Law.

5 T heir work shows us only a picture of the things in heaven. When Moses was putting up the tent to worship in, God told him, “Be sure you make the tent for worship like I showed you on Mount Sinai.”

service as a pattern and as a foreshadowing of the heavenly sanctuary. For when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he was warned by God, saying, See to it that you make it all according to the copy (the model) which was shown to you on the mountain.

6 B ut Christ has a more perfect work. He is the One Who goes between God and man in this new and better way. The New Way of Worship promises better things.

But as it now is, He has acquired a ministry which is as much superior and more excellent as the covenant (the agreement) of which He is the Mediator (the Arbiter, Agent) is superior and more excellent, it is enacted and rests upon more important (sublimer, higher, and nobler) promises.

7 I f the Old Way of Worship had been perfect, there would have been no need for another one.

For if that first covenant had been without defect, there would have been no room for another one or an attempt to institute another one.

8 G od was not happy how the people lived by the Old Way of Worship. He said, “The day will come when I will make a New Way of Worship for the Jews and those of the family group of Judah.

However, He finds fault with them when He says, Behold, the days will come, says the Lord, when I will make and ratify a new covenant or agreement with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

9 T he New Way of Worship will not be like the Old Way of Worship I gave to their early fathers. That was when I took them by the hand and led them out of Egypt. But they did not follow the Old Way of Worship. And so I turned away from them.

It will not be like the covenant that I made with their forefathers on the day when I grasped them by the hand to help and relieve them and to lead them out from the land of Egypt, for they did not abide in My agreement with them, and so I withdrew My favor and disregarded them, says the Lord.

10 T his is the New Way of Worship that I will give to the Jews. When that day comes, says the Lord, I will put My Laws into their minds. And I will write them in their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will imprint My laws upon their minds, even upon their innermost thoughts and understanding, and engrave them upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

11 N o one will need to teach his neighbor or his brother to know the Lord. All of them will already know Me from the least to the greatest.

And it will nevermore be necessary for each one to teach his neighbor and his fellow citizen or each one his brother, saying, Know (perceive, have knowledge of, and get acquainted by experience with) the Lord, for all will know Me, from the smallest to the greatest of them.

12 I will show loving-kindness to them and forgive their sins. I will remember their sins no more.”

For I will be merciful and gracious toward their sins and I will remember their deeds of unrighteousness no more.

13 W hen God spoke about a New Way of Worship, He showed that the Old Way of Worship was finished and of no use now. It will never be used again.

When God speaks of a new, He makes the first one obsolete (out of use). And what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether.