Hebrews 7

1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,2 to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace;3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually.4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the chief spoils.5 And they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest’s office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of Abraham:6 but he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises.7 But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better.8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there one, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.9 And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes;10 for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.11 Now if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron?12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.13 For he of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar.14 For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests.15 And what we say is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,16 who hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life:17 for it is witnessed of him, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.

18 For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God.20 And inasmuch as it is not without the taking of an oath21 (for they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever);

22 by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.23 And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing:24 but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable.25 Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.26 For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;27 who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people: for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself.28 For the law appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, appointeth a Son, perfected for evermore.

HEBREWS 7

The Priestly Family of Melchizedek

1  t Melchizedek was both king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He was the one who went out and gave Abraham his blessing, when Abraham returned from killing the kings.

2 Then Abraham gave him a tenth of everything he had.
The meaning of the name Melchizedek is “King of Justice.” But since Salem means “peace,” he is also “King of Peace.”

3 We are not told he had a father or mother or ancestors or beginning or end. He is like the Son of God and will be a priest forever.t
4 Notice how great Melchizedek was! Our famous ancestor Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had taken from his enemies. 5 t The Law teaches that even Abraham's descendants must give a tenth of what they possess. And they are to give this to their own relatives, who are the descendants of Levi and are priests. 6 Although Melchizedek wasn't a descendant of Levi, Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had. Then Melchizedek blessed Abraham, who had been given God's promise.

7 Everyone agrees a person who gives a blessing is greater than the one who receives the blessing.
8 Priests are given a tenth of what people earn. But all priests die, except Melchizedek, and the Scriptures teach that he is alive. 9 Levi's descendants are now the ones who receive a tenth from people. We could even say that when Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth, Levi also gave him a tenth.

10 This is because Levi was born later into the family of Abraham, who gave a tenth to Melchizedek.
11 Even though the Law of Moses says the priests must be descendants of Levi, those priests cannot make anyone perfect. So there needs to be a priest like Melchizedek, rather than one from the priestly family of Aaron.t

12 And when the rules for selecting a priest are changed, the Law must also be changed.
13 The person we are talking about is our Lord, who came from a tribe that had never had anyone to serve as a priest at the altar.

14 Everyone knows he came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never said priests would come from that tribe.
15 All of this becomes clearer, when someone who is like Melchizedek is appointed to be a priest. 16 That person wasn't appointed because of his ancestors, but because his life can never end.

17 t The Scriptures say about him,
“You are a priest forever,
just like Melchizedek.”
18 In this way a weak and useless command was put aside,

19 because the Law cannot make anything perfect. At the same time, we are given a much better hope, and it can bring us close to God.

20-21  t God himself made a promise when this priest was appointed. But he did not make a promise like this when the other priests were appointed. The promise he made is,
“I, the Lord, promise that you
will be a priest forever!
And I will never
change my mind!”
22 This means that Jesus guarantees us a better agreement with God. 23 There have been a lot of other priests, and all of them have died. 24 But Jesus will never die, and so he will be a priest forever!

25 He is forever able to savet the people he leads to God, because he always lives to speak to God for them.
26 Jesus is the high priest we need. He is holy and innocent and faultless, and not at all like us sinners. Jesus is honored above all beings in heaven, 27 t and he is better than any other high priest. Jesus doesn't need to offer sacrifices each day for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. He offered a sacrifice once for all, when he gave himself. 28 The Law appoints priests who have weaknesses. But God's promise, which came later than the Law, appoints his Son. And he is the perfect high priest forever.