Hebrews 7

Melchizedek’s Priesthood like Christ’s

1For this 1Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the 2Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. 3Without father, without mother, 3without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like 4the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

4Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the 5patriarch, 6gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5And those indeed of 7the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment 8in the Law to collect 9a tenth from the people, that is, from their countrymen, although they 10are descended from Abraham. 6But the one 11whose genealogy is not traced from them 12collected 13a tenth from Abraham and 1415blessed the one who 16had the promises. 7But without any dispute the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, 17of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, has paid tithes, 10for he was still in the loins of his 18forefather when Melchizedek met him.

1119So if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it 20the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise 21according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 12For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13For 22the one about whom 23these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14For it is evident that our Lord 24was 25descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses said nothing concerning priests. 15And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of 2627physical requirement, but according to the power of 28an indestructible life. 17For it is attested of Him, “29You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” 18For, on the one hand, there is the nullification of a former commandment 30because of its weakness and uselessness 19(for 31the Law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, there is the introduction of a better 32hope, through which we 33come near to God. 20And to the extent that it was not without an oath 21(for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “34The Lord has sworn And 35will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest 36forever’”); 22by the same extent Jesus also has become the 3738guarantee of 39a better covenant.

2340The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; 2441Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues 42forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25Therefore He is also able to 43save 44forever those who 45come to God through Him, since He always lives to 46make intercession for them.

26For it was fitting for us to have such a 47high priest, 48holy, 49innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and 50exalted above the heavens; 27who has no daily need, like those high priests, to 51offer up sacrifices, 52first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this 53once for all time when He 54offered up Himself. 28For the Law appoints men as high priests 55who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints 56a Son, who has been 57made perfect forever.