16. one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.
17. For it is declared:‘You are a priest for ever,in the order of Melchizedek.’
18. The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless
19. (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath,
21. but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:‘The Lord has swornand will not change his mind:“You are a priest for ever.” ’
22. Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office;
24. but because Jesus lives for ever, he has a permanent priesthood.
25. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26. Such a high priest truly meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.