Melchizedek and Abraham
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham while returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him one-tenth of everything. First, his name, by interpretation, means “king of righteousness.” Then he is also “king of Salem” which means “king of peace.” 3 He is without father, without mother, and without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, and remains a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave one-tenth out of the best plunder. 5 And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to collect tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brothers, though they too have come from the body of Abraham, 6 but Melchizedek, whose genealogy is not counted with them, accepted tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Without dispute, the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 It could be said that the Levites, the ones who collect the tithes, paid a tithe to Melchizedek when Abraham, their ancestor paid a tithe to him,10 for he was yet seed in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Jesus a Priest Like Melchizedek
11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, it is necessary to also change the law.
13 For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord has sprung from Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
15 This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is testified,
You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek. a
18 So the former commandment is annulled because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is brought in, by which we draw near to God. 20 And indeed, Christ was not made priest without the taking of an oath, 21 for those Levites had indeed been made priests without the taking of an oath, but Christ was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him,
The Lord swore and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.’ b
22 By so much more Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 There were many Levitical priests, because they were hindered by death from continuing in office. 24 But Christ, because he lives forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore Christ is also able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, because he lives forever to intercede for them.
26 For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens, 27 who does not need, like the Levitcal high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men as high priests who have weaknesses, but the word of the oath which came after the law appoints a Son forever who has been perfected.