1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth of everything. First, his name is translated ‘king of righteousness,’ and then also ‘king of Salem,’ that is, ‘king of peace.’
3Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.
4Consider now how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils.
5Now those of the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have a commandment to collect a tenth from the people according to the law—that is, from their brothers—though these also have come from the loins of Abraham.
6But this man, whose genealogy is not traced from them, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.
7And beyond all dispute, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8And in the one case mortal men receive tenths, but in the other, one of whom it is testified that he lives.
9And, so to speak, even Levi, who receives tenths, has paid a tenth through Abraham,
10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
11Now if perfection had been through the Levitical priesthood—for on the basis of it the people had been given the law—what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not to be designated according to the order of Aaron?
12For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity a change of law also takes place.
13For the one of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
14For it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe concerning which Moses said nothing about priests.
15And this is even more abundantly clear, if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,
16who has become such not according to a law of fleshly commandment but according to the power of an indestructible life.
17For it is testified: ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.’
18For a setting aside of the former commandment takes place because of its weakness and uselessness—
19for the law made nothing perfect—and there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
20And insofar as this was not without an oath—for those men have become priests without an oath,
21but he with an oath through the one who said to him, ‘The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever’—
22by so much also Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23And the former have become priests in greater numbers, because they were prevented by death from continuing;
24but he, because he remains forever, holds his priesthood permanently.
25Therefore he is also able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede on their behalf.
26For such a high priest was indeed fitting for us: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens;
27who has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices day by day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; for this he did once for all when he offered up himself.
28For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.
Open in the interactive reader →