The law that was given to the people called for the priestly system. That system began with Levi. Suppose the priestly system could have made people perfect. Then why was there still a need for another priest to come? And why did he need to be like Melchizedek? Why wasn’t he from Aaron’s family line?

从前百姓在利未人祭司职任以下受律法，倘若藉这职任能得完全，又何用另外兴起一位祭司，照麦基洗德的等次，不照亚伦的等次呢？

那么，如果百姓藉着利未人的祭司职任能达到完全—因为百姓是在这职分下领受律法的—为什么还需要按照麦基洗德的体系另外兴起一位祭司，而不按照亚伦的体系呢？

那么，如果百姓藉着利未人的祭司职任能达到完全—因为百姓是在这职分下领受律法的—为什么还需要按照麦基洗德的体系另外兴起一位祭司，而不按照亚伦的体系呢？

犹太人在利未祭司制度的基础上承受了律法，如果通过这个祭司制度可以达到纯全，又何必照麦基洗德的模式而不是亚伦的模式，另外兴起一位祭司呢？

这样看来，如果藉着利未人的祭司制度能达到完全的地步（人民是在这制度下领受律法的），为什么还需要照着麦基洗德的体系，另外兴起一位祭司，而不照着亚伦的体系呢？

既然如此，如果藉着利未人的祭司职份能达到完全——子民本来在这职份下领受了律法——那么，为什么还需要照着麦基洗德的等级，而不照着所谓“亚伦的等级”兴起另一位祭司呢？

從前百姓在利未人祭司職任以下受律法，倘若藉這職任能得完全，又何用另外興起一位祭司，照麥基洗德的等次，不照亞倫的等次呢？

那麼，如果百姓藉着利未人的祭司職任能達到完全－因為百姓是在這職分下領受律法的－為甚麼還需要按照麥基洗德的體系另外興起一位祭司，而不按照亞倫的體系呢？

那麼，如果百姓藉着利未人的祭司職任能達到完全－因為百姓是在這職分下領受律法的－為甚麼還需要按照麥基洗德的體系另外興起一位祭司，而不按照亞倫的體系呢？

猶太人在利未祭司制度的基礎上承受了律法，如果通過這個祭司制度可以達到純全，又何必照麥基洗德的模式而不是亞倫的模式，另外興起一位祭司呢？

這樣看來，如果藉著利未人的祭司制度能達到完全的地步（人民是在這制度下領受律法的），為甚麼還需要照著麥基洗德的體系，另外興起一位祭司，而不照著亞倫的體系呢？

這樣看來，倘若藉着利未人的祭司職分能有完全勝任的資格（而人民之領受了律法倒是以這職分為基本），哪裏還需要另一種的一位祭司興起來、是照麥基洗德的等次、而不稱為照亞倫的等次呢？

既然如此，如果藉著利未人的祭司職份能達到完全——子民本來在這職份下領受了律法——那麼，為什麼還需要照著麥基洗德的等級，而不照著所謂「亞倫的等級」興起另一位祭司呢？

昔民在利未人祭司職下受律、若由之而得完全、則何須別興一祭司依麥基洗德之班、而不謂之依亞倫班乎、

昔民受律例時、利未子孫任祭司職、若人賴此、罔有缺乏、則毋庸別設一祭司、依麥基洗德班聯、不依亞倫班聯、

昔民受律法、即在利未子孫得祭司職之時、若賴此祭司之職、能得成全、何用別設一祭司、循麥基洗德之等次、而不循亞倫之等次乎、又作人若賴利未子孫所得祭司之職能得成全何須別設一祭司循麥基洗德之等次而非循亞倫之等次乎民所受之律法與此祭司之職實有關係

夫斯民之受律法也、乃在利未子孫為司祭之時。假使陳制而能躋人於純全之域、則何須復有異軍突起之司祭；而且此司祭何不與亞倫同一支派、而獨與麥基德同一班次耶？

If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood— and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood— why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?

Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood( for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?

So if the priesthood of Levi, on which the law was based, could have achieved the perfection God intended, why did God need to establish a different priesthood, with a priest in the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Levi and Aaron?

Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood( for on the basis of it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron?

So if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood( for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood( for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?

Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood( for under it hath the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron?

If then, perfection came through the Levitical priesthood( for under it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?

If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood,( for under it the people received the law,) what further need[ was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood– for on that basis the people received the law– what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?

Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood( for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

Suppose nothing had been wrong with that first covenant. Then no one would have looked for another covenant.

I do not get rid of the grace of God. What if a person could become right with God by obeying the law? Then Christ died for nothing!

In another place God said,“ You are a priest forever, just like Melchizedek.”( Psalm 110:4)

Scripture says,“ You are a priest forever, just like Melchizedek.”( Psalm 110:4)The old rule is set aside. It was weak and useless.The law didn’t make anything perfect. Now a better hope has been given to us. That hope brings us near to God.

But now you know God. Even better, God knows you. So why are you turning back to those weak and worthless powers? Do you want to be slaves to them all over again?

Because you belong to Christ, you have been made complete. He is the ruler over every power and authority.When you received Christ, your circumcision was not done by human hands. Instead, your circumcision was done by Christ. He put away the person you used to be. At that time, sin’s power ruled over you.When you were baptized, you were buried together with Christ. And you were raised to life together with him when you were baptized. You were raised to life by believing in God’s work. God himself raised Jesus from the dead.At one time you were dead in your sins. Your desires controlled by sin were not circumcised. But God gave you new life together with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.He wiped out what the law said that we owed. The law stood against us. It judged us. But he has taken it away and nailed it to the cross.He took away the weapons of the powers and authorities. He made a public show of them. He won the battle over them by dying on the cross.So don’t let anyone judge you because of what you eat or drink. Don’t let anyone judge you about holy days. I’m talking about special feasts and New Moons and Sabbath days.They are only a shadow of the things to come. But what is real is found in Christ.

That is where Jesus has gone. He went there to open the way ahead of us. He has become a high priest forever, just like Melchizedek.

But suppose another priest like Melchizedek appears. Then what we have said is even more clear.

It is the same with us. When we were children, we were slaves to the basic spiritual powers of the world.

But Jesus became a priest with a promise. God said to him,“ The Lord has given his word and made a promise. He will not change his mind. He has said,‘ You are a priest forever.’ ”( Psalm 110:4)

This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds. I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God. And they will be my people.People will not teach their neighbor anymore. They will not say to one another,‘ Know the Lord.’ That’s because everyone will know me. From the least important to the most important, all of them will know me.I will forgive their evil ways. I will not remember their sins anymore.”( Jeremiah 31:31–34)God called this covenant“ new.” So he has done away with the first one. And what is out of date and has been done away with will soon disappear.

God appointed him to be the high priest, just like Melchizedek.

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming. It is not the real things themselves. The same sacrifices have to be offered over and over again. They must be offered year after year. That’s why the law can never make perfect those who come near to worship.If the law could, wouldn’t the sacrifices have stopped being offered? The worshipers would have been made“ clean” once and for all time. They would not have felt guilty for their sins anymore.But those offerings remind people of their sins every year.It isn’t possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.