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Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means ‘king of righteousness’, then also, ‘king of Salem’, meaning ‘king of peace’. 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he remains a priest forever.
4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the plunder! 5 The descendants of Levi who receive the office of priesthood have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brothers, even though their brothers are also descended from Abraham. 6 But this man, who did not trace his ancestry from Levi, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 So beyond dispute, the lesser person is blessed by the greater person. 8 In the one case, tithes are collected by men who will die; but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who received tithes, has paid tithes through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still within the body of his forefather.
11 Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise in the order of Melchizedek, and not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. 13 For the One of whom these things are spoken belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing concerning the priesthood. 15 And this becomes even clearer if another priest like Melchizedek arises, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a legal command concerning his own ancestry, but based on the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
18 So the former regulation is set aside because it was weak and unprofitable 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), but a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20 And none of this happened without an oath! For others became priests without any oath, 21 but He became a priest with an oath made by the One who said to Him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change His mind:
‘You are a priest forever’.”
22 So Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 Now there have formally been many priests, since they were prevented by death from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, He holds his office of priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is always able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.
26 It is fitting that we have such a high priest: holy, blameless, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He did this once for all when He offered Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are subject to weaknesses, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.