16. He was not made a priest by human rules and laws. He became a priest through the power of his life, which continues forever.
17. In the Scriptures, this is said about him:“You are a priest forever,a priest like Melchizedek.” Psalm 110:4
18. The old rule is now set aside because it was weak and useless.
19. The law of Moses could not make anything perfect. But now a better hope has been given to us. And with this hope we can come near to God.
20. Also, it is important that God made an oath when he made Jesus high priest. When the others became priests, there was no oath.
21. But Christ became a priest with God’s oath. God said:“The Lord has made a promiseand will not change his mind.‘You are a priest forever.’” Psalm 110:4
22. So this means that Jesus is the guarantee of a better agreement from God to his people.
23. Also, when one of the other priests died, he could not continue being a priest. So there were many priests.
24. But Jesus lives forever. He will never stop serving as priest.
25. So he is always able to save those who come to God through him. He can do this, because he always lives, ready to help those who come before God.
26. So Jesus is the kind of high priest that we need. He is holy; he has no sin in him. He is pure and not influenced by sinners. And he is raised above the heavens.
27. He is not like the other priests. They had to offer sacrifices every day, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people. But Christ does not need to do that. He offered his sacrifice only once and for all time. Christ offered himself!
28. The law chooses high priests who are men with all their weaknesses. But the word of God’s oath came later than the law. It made God’s Son to be the high priest. And that Son has been made perfect forever.