Hebrews 7

The Nature of Melchizedek’s Priesthood

1 Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him.s2 To himt also Abraham apportioned a tithetof everything.s His name first meanst king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace.3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time.4 But see how great he must be, ift Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithet of his plunder.5 And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly officet have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen,t although they too are descendants of Abraham.t6 But Melchizedekt who does not share their ancestryt collected a tithet from Abraham and blesseds the one who possessed the promise.7 Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior,8 and in one case tithes are received by mortal men, while in the other by him who is affirmed to be alive.9 And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham.

10 For he was still in his ancestor Abraham’s loinsts when Melchizedek met him.

Jesus and the Priesthood of Melchizedek

11 So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basist the people received the law – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?12 For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must comet as well.13 Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs tot a different tribe, and no one from that tribet has ever officiated at the altar.14 For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.15 And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,16 who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descentt but by the power of an indestructible life.17 For here is the testimony about him:t “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”s18 On the one hand a former command is set asidet because it is weak and useless,t19 for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.20 And sinces this was not done without a sworn affirmation – for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation,21 but Jesust did sot with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’”s –22 accordingly Jesus has become the guaranteet of a better covenant.23 And the otherst who became priests were numerous, because death prevented themt from continuing in office,t24 but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever.25 So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.26 For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.27 He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all.

28 For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness,s but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.

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.