The Priestly Order of Melchizedek
1 For this Gen. 14:18-20Melchizedek, king of Ps. 76:2Salem, priest of Num. 24:16;Deut. 32:8the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and 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. 3 He is without father or mother [ver. 6]or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham [Acts 2:29;7:8,9]the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And Num. 18:21,26;2 Chr. 31:4,5those 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,7:5 Or brothers and sisters though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man [ver. 3] who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed See Rom. 4:13him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one [ch. 5:6;6:20] of whom it is testified that [John 6:57;Rev. 1:17,18]he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Jesus Compared to Melchizedek
11 ver. 18, 19;ch. 8:7;[Gal. 2:21]Now 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? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended Isa. 11:1;Mic. 5:2;Matt. 1:3;Luke 3:33;Rev. 5:5from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,
ver. 21;ch. 5:6;6:20;Cited from Ps. 110:4"You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek."
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside Rom. 8:3;Gal. 4:9because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for ch. 9:9;10:1;Lev. 16:16;See Acts 13:39the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, ch. 6:18a better hope is introduced, through which [ver. 25; Lev. 10:3]; See ch. 4:16we draw near to God.
20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
See ver. 17"The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’"
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of ch. 8:6a better covenant.
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues ver. 21, 28forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost7:25 That is, completely; or at all times[ver. 19] those who draw near to God [John 14:6] through him, since he always lives ch. 9:24;See Rom. 8:34to make intercession for them.
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, Ps. 16:10;Rev. 15:4;16:5;[Mark 1:24] holy, innocent, unstained, See ch. 4:15separated from sinners, and [ch. 8:1]; See ch. 4:14exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, See ch. 5:3first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this ch. 9:12;10:10;[ch. 9:28]once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men [ch. 5:2] 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 ch. 2:10;5:9perfect forever.