Quotes About Sacrifice

But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on.

And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.

Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?

For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.

He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,

one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.

For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,

but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ëYou are a priest forever.í”

Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.

Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.

For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,

And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer.

Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law.

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.

But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation.

He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean,