7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
7:2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.
7:3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.
7:4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.
7:5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment ①in the Law to collect ②a tenth from the people, that is, from their countrymen, although they ③are descended from Abraham.
▷ ①Lit according to ②Or tithes ③Lit have come out of the loins of
7:6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected ①a tenth from Abraham and ②blessed the one who had the promises.
▷ ①Or tithes ②Lit has blessed
7:7 But without any dispute the lesser person is blessed by the greater.
7:8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.
7:9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, has paid tithes,
7:10 for he was still in the loins of his ①forefather when Melchizedek met him.
▷ ①Lit father
7:11 So if perfection was 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 according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?
7:12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.
7:13 For the one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
7:14 For it is evident that our Lord ①was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses said nothing concerning priests.
▷ ①Lit has arisen from
7:15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,
7:16 who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of ①physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.
▷ ①Lit fleshly commandment; i.e., to be a descendant of Levi
7:17 For it is attested of Him,
“YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER
ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
7:18 For, on the one hand, there is the nullification of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
7:19 (for the Law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, there is the introduction of a better hope, through which we come near to God.
7:20 And to the extent that it was not without an oath
7:21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but 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’ ”);
7:22 by the same extent Jesus also has become the ①guarantee of a better covenant.
▷ ①Or guarantor
7:23 ①The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing;
▷ ①Lit The greater number have become priests...
7:24 ①Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.
▷ ①Lit He
7:25 Therefore He is also able to save ①forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
▷ ①Or completely
7:26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens;
7:27 who has no daily need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all time when He offered up Himself.
7:28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has been made perfect forever.