1Melchizedek was the king of Salem. He was the priest of God Most High. He met Abraham, who was returning from winning a battle over some kings. Melchizedek blessed him.2Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means ‘king of what is right.’ Also, ‘king of Salem’ means ‘king of peace.’3Melchizedek has no father or mother. He has no family line. His days have no beginning. His life has no end. He remains a priest for ever. In this way, he is like the Son of God.4Think how great Melchizedek was! Even our father Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had captured.5Now the law lays down a rule for the sons of Levi who become priests. They must collect a tenth from the people. They must collect it from the other Israelites. They must do this, even though all of them belong to the family line of Abraham.6Melchizedek did not trace his family line from Levi. But he collected a tenth from Abraham. Melchizedek blessed the one who had received the promises.7Without a doubt, the more important person blesses the less important one.8In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die. But in the other case, it is collected by the one who is said to be living.9Levi collects the tenth. But we might say that Levi paid the tenth through Abraham.10That’s because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in Abraham’s body.
Jesus is like Melchizedek
11The law that was given to the people called for the priestly system. That system began with Levi. Suppose the priestly system could have made people perfect. Then why was there still a need for another priest to come? And why did he need to be like Melchizedek? Why wasn’t he from Aaron’s family line?12A change of the priestly system requires a change of law.13We are talking about a priest who is from a different tribe. No one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.14It is clear that our Lord came from the family line of Judah. Moses said nothing about priests who were from the tribe of Judah.15But suppose another priest like Melchizedek appears. Then what we have said is even more clear.16He has not become a priest because of a rule about his family line. He has become a priest because of his powerful life. His life can never be destroyed.17Scripture says, ‘You are a priest for ever, just like Melchizedek.’ (Ps 110:4)18The old rule is set aside. It was weak and useless.19The law didn’t make anything perfect. Now a better hope has been given to us. That hope brings us near to God.20The change of priestly system was made with a promise. Others became priests without any promise.21But Jesus became a priest with a promise. God said to him, ‘The Lord has given his word and made a promise. He will not change his mind. He has said, “You are a priest for ever.” ’ (Ps 110:4)22Because God gave his word, Jesus makes certain the promise of a better covenant.23There were many priests in Levi’s family line. Death kept them from continuing in office.24But Jesus lives for ever. So he always holds the office of priest.25People now come to God through him. And he is able to save them completely and for all time. Jesus lives for ever. He prays for them.26A high priest like that really meets our need. He is holy, pure and without blame. He isn’t like other people. He does not sin. He is lifted high above the heavens.27He isn’t like the other high priests. They need to offer sacrifices day after day. First they bring offerings for their own sins. Then they do it for the sins of the people. But Jesus gave one sacrifice for the sins of the people. He gave it once and for all time. He did it by offering himself.28The law appoints as high priests men who are weak. But God’s promise came after the law. By his promise the Son was appointed. The Son has been made perfect for ever.
Hebrews 7
English Standard Version
The Priestly Order of Melchizedek
1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, (Ge 14:18; Nu 24:16; De 32:8; Ps 76:2)2and 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.3He 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. (Heb 7:6)4See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! (Ac 2:29; Ac 7:8)5And 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,[1] though these also are descended from Abraham. (Nu 18:21; Nu 18:26; 2Ch 31:4)6But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. (Ro 4:13; Heb 7:3)7It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.8In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. (Joh 6:57; Heb 5:6; Heb 6:20; Re 1:17)9One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,10for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
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? (Ga 2:21; Heb 7:18; Heb 8:7)12For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.13For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.14For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. (Isa 11:1; Mic 5:2; Mt 1:3; Lu 3:33; Re 5:5)15This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,16who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.17For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” (Ps 110:4; Heb 5:6; Heb 6:20; Heb 7:21)18For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (Ro 8:3; Ga 4:9)19(for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. (Le 10:3; Le 16:16; Ac 13:39; Heb 4:16; Heb 6:18; Heb 7:25; Heb 9:9; Heb 10:1)20And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,21but 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.’” (Heb 7:17)22This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. (Heb 8:6)23The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,24but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. (Heb 7:21; Heb 7:28)25Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost[2] those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Joh 14:6; Ro 8:34; Heb 7:19; Heb 9:24)26For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. (Ps 16:10; Mr 1:24; Heb 4:14; Heb 4:15; Heb 8:1; Re 15:4; Re 16:5)27He 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. (Heb 5:3; Heb 9:12; Heb 9:28; Heb 10:10)28For 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. (Heb 2:10; Heb 5:2; Heb 5:9)