I, the LORD God of Israel, promised in the past that your family and your clan would serve me as priests for all time. But now I say that I won't have it any longer! Instead, I will honor those who honor me, and I will treat with contempt those who despise me.

Then Solomon dismissed Abiathar from serving as a priest of the LORD, and so made come true what the LORD had said in Shiloh about the priest Eli and his descendants.

The descendants of Eleazar from generation to generation are as follows: Phinehas, Abishua,

Zerahiah, Meraioth,

Zadok, Ahimaaz,

Azariah (the one who served in the Temple which King Solomon built in Jerusalem),

Zadok, Shallum,

Seraiah, Jehozadak.

This is the line of Aaron's descendants: Eleazar, Phinehas, Abishua,

Meraioth, Amariah, Ahitub,

Then anoint them, just as you anointed their father, so that they can serve me as priests. This anointing will make them priests for all time to come."

And you will be known as the priests of the LORD, The servants of our God. You will enjoy the wealth of the nations And be proud that it is yours.

and that there will always be priests from the tribe of Levi to serve me and to offer burnt offerings, grain offerings, and sacrifices."

I will increase the number of descendants of my servant David and the number of priests from the tribe of Levi, so that it will be as impossible to count them as it is to count the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore."

It was on the basis of the levitical priesthood that the Law was given to the people of Israel. Now, if the work of the levitical priests had been perfect, there would have been no need for a different kind of priest to appear, one who is in the priestly order of Melchizedek, not of Aaron.

For the scripture says, "You will be a priest forever, in the priestly order of Melchizedek."

The old rule, then, is set aside, because it was weak and useless.

Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.

But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvelous light.

and made us a kingdom of priests to serve his God and Father. To Jesus Christ be the glory and power forever and ever! Amen.

He answered, " LORD God Almighty, I have always served you---you alone. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed all your prophets. I am the only one left---and they are trying to kill me!"

He answered, " LORD God Almighty, I have always served you---you alone. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed all your prophets. I am the only one left---and they are trying to kill me."

My devotion to your Temple burns in me like a fire; the insults which are hurled at you fall on me.

This has been remembered in his favor ever since and will be for all time to come.

My anger burns in me like a fire, because my enemies disregard your commands.

His disciples remembered that the scripture says, "My devotion to your house, O God, burns in me like a fire."

"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up here in Jerusalem as a student of Gamaliel. I received strict instruction in the Law of our ancestors and was just as dedicated to God as are all of you who are here today.

The High Priest and the whole Council can prove that I am telling the truth. I received from them letters written to fellow Jews in Damascus, so I went there to arrest these people and bring them back in chains to Jerusalem to be punished.

I can assure you that they are deeply devoted to God; but their devotion is not based on true knowledge.

For Christ has brought the Law to an end, so that everyone who believes is put right with God.

The next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a terrible sin. But now I will again go up the mountain to the LORD; perhaps I can obtain forgiveness for your sin."

This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They retreat from them because they themselves have now been condemned to destruction! I will not stay with you any longer unless you destroy the things you were ordered not to take!

So David summoned the people of Gibeon and said to them, "What can I do for you? I want to make up for the wrong that was done to you, so that you will bless the LORD's people."

This means that he had to become like his people in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in his service to God, so that the people's sins would be forgiven.

And Christ himself is the means by which our sins are forgiven, and not our sins only, but also the sins of everyone.