Hebrews 7

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

7For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,G1063G3778G3198G935G4532G2409G5310G2316G3588G4876G11G5290G575G2871G935G2532G2127G8462and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.G3739G2532G11G3307G1181G575G3956G4412G3303G2059G935G1343G1161G1899G2532G935G4532G3603G935G15153He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.G540G282G35G2192G3383G746G2250G3383G5056G2222G1161G871G5207G2316G3306G2409G1519G13364See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!G1161G2334G4080G3778G3739G2532G3966G11G1325G1181G1537G2055And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.G2532G3303G1537G5207G3017G3588G2983G2405G2192G1785G586G2992G2596G3551G5123G846G80G2539G1831G1537G3751G116But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.G1161G1075G3361G1075G1537G846G1183G11G2532G2127G2192G18607It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.G1161G5565G3956G485G1640G2127G5259G29098In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.G2532G5602G3303G444G599G2983G1181G1161G1563G3140G3754G21989One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,G2532G5613G2031G2036G3017G2532G3588G2983G1181G1183G1223G1110for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.G1063G2258G2089G1722G3751G3962G3753G3198G4876G846

Jesus Compared to Melchizedek

11Now 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?G1487G3303G3767G5050G2258G1223G3020G2420G1063G1909G846G2992G3549G5101G2089G5532G2087G2409G450G2596G5010G3198G2532G3756G3004G2596G5010G212For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.G1063G2420G3346G1096G1537G318G3331G2532G355113For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.G1063G1909G3739G5023G3004G3348G2087G5443G575G3739G3762G4337G237914For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.G1063G4271G3754G2257G2962G393G1537G2455G1519G3739G5443G3475G2980G3762G4012G242015This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,G2532G2076G2089G4054G2612G1487G2596G3665G3198G450G2087G240916who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.G3739G1096G3756G2596G3551G4559G1785G235G2596G1411G179G222217For it is witnessed of him, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek."G1063G3140G3754G4771G2409G1519G165G2596G5010G319818For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessnessG1063G1096G3303G115G1785G4254G1223G772G2532G512G84619(for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.G1063G3551G5048G3762G5048G1161G1898G2909G1680G1223G3739G1448G231620And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,G2532G2596G3745G3756G5565G372821but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'"G1063G2409G3303G1526G1096G5565G3728G1161G3326G3728G1223G3004G4314G846G2962G3660G2532G3338G3756G3338G4771G2409G1519G165G2596G5010G319822This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.G2596G5118G1096G2424G1096G1450G2909G124223The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,G2532G1526G3303G1526G1096G4119G2409G2967G3887G1223G228824but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.G1161G1223G846G3306G1519G165G2192G531G242025Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.G3606G1410G2532G4982G1519G3838G4334G2316G1223G846G3842G2198G1519G1793G5228G84626For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.G1063G5108G749G4241G2254G3741G172G283G5563G575G268G2532G1096G5308G377227He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.G3739G2192G318G3756G2596G2250G5618G749G399G2378G4386G5228G2398G266G1899G2992G1063G5124G4160G2178G399G143828For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.G1063G3551G2525G444G749G2192G769G1161G3056G3728G3588G3326G3551G5207G5048G1519G165