7:1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,
7:2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”
7:3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.
7:4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!
7:5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people–that is, their brothers–even though their brothers are descended from Abraham.
7:6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7:7 And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.
7:8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.
7:9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham,
7:10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
7:11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come–one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?
7:12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law.
7:13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.
7:14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
7:15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,
7:16 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.
7:17 For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
7:18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless
7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
7:20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath,
7:21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’”
7:22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
7:23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office;
7:24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.
7:25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
7:26 Such a high priest meets our need–one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
7:27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
7:28 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.
7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
7:2 To whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all; first being interpreted king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace;
7:3 Being without father, without mother, without genealogy; having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but likened to the Son of God, abides a priest perpetually.
7:4 And consider how great this one was, to whom the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the choice spoils.
7:5 And they of the sons of Levi, who received the priestly service, have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brothers, though they have come forth from the loins of Abraham.
7:6 But he whose genealogy is not counted from them has taken tithes from Abraham and has blessed him who has the promises.
7:7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.
7:8 And here men, who die, receive tithes; but there, one of whom it is testified that he lives.
7:9 And, so to speak, through Abraham, Levi also, he who receives tithes, has been made to pay tithes,
7:10 For he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
7:11 If indeed then perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what need was there still that a different Priest should arise according to the order of Melchizedek and that He should not be said to be according to the order of Aaron?
7:12 For since the priesthood is transferred, of necessity there comes into being a transfer of law also.
7:13 For He of whom these things are said belongs to a different tribe, from which no one has attended to the altar.
7:14 For it is evident that our Lord has risen out of Judah, concerning which tribe Moses spoke nothing about priests.
7:15 And it is still more abundantly evident since it is according to the likeness of Melchizedek that a different Priest arises,
7:16 Who has been appointed not according to the law of a fleshy commandment but according to the power of an indestructible life.
7:17 For it is testified, “You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
7:18 For there is, on the one hand, the setting aside of the preceding commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness
7:19 (For the law perfected nothing), and, on the other hand, the bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
7:20 And inasmuch as He was not made a Priest without the taking of an oath
7:21 (For they are appointed priests without the taking of an oath, but He, with the taking of an oath by Him who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn and will not regret it, You are a Priest forever”),
7:22 By so much Jesus has also become the surety of a better covenant.
7:23 And they are appointed priests many in number because death prevents them from continuing;
7:24 But He, because He abides forever, has His priesthood unalterable.
7:25 Hence also He is able to save to the uttermost those who come forward to God through Him, since He lives always to intercede for them.
7:26 For such a High Priest was also fitting to us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners and having become higher than the heavens,
7:27 Who does not have daily need, as the high priests do, to offer up sacrifices first for his own sins and then for those of the people; for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
7:28 For the law establishes men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which was after the law, establishes the Son, perfected forever.