¹³ “But the tax collector, standing far off,^(A) would not even raise his eyes to heaven^(B) but kept striking his chest^(C) and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me,^[a](D) a sinner!’ ^(E)

²⁵ God presented him as the mercy seat^[a](A) by his blood,^(B) through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God^(C) passed over the sins previously committed.^(D)

¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are,^(A) yet without sin.^(B)

Christ, a High Priest

5 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed in matters pertaining to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also clothed with weakness.^(A)

²⁶ For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.^{(A) 27} He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself.^{(B) 28} For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son,^(C) who has been perfected^(D) forever.

² He himself is the atoning sacrifice^[a](A) for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.^(B)

¹⁰ Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us^(A) and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice^[a](B) for our sins.