Hebrews 7
1 Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham who was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him.
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2 Abraham gave him a tithe of all that he had won. Melchizedek's name means “king of right” while king of Salem means “king of peace.”
to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, “king of righteousness”, and then also “king of Salem”, which means “king of peace”,
3 We don't have any information about his father or his mother or his family tree. We don't know when he was born or when he died. Like the Son of God he continues as a priest forever.
without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a priest continually.
4 Think how great this man was for Abraham the patriarch to give him a tithe of what was won in battle.
Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth out of the best plunder.
5 Yes, the sons of Levi who are priests were commanded by the law to receive a tithe from the people, their brothers and sisters, who are descended from Abraham.
They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham,
6 But Melchizedek who doesn't share their ancestry received tithes from Abraham, and blessed the one who had God's promises.
but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.
7 There's no argument that the lesser person is blessed by the one who is greater.
But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8 In the one case tithes are received by men who die, but in the other by one who is said to be living.
Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives.
9 So you could say that Levi, the one who receives tithes, has paid tithes through being a descendant of Abraham,
We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,
10 for he was yet to be born from his father when Melchizedek met Abraham.
for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.
11 Now if perfection could have been achieved through the priesthood of Levi (for that's how the law was received), what was the need for another priest to come following the order of Melchizedek, and not following the order of Aaron?
Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 If the priesthood is changed, then the law needs to be changed too.
For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.
13 The one we're talking about comes from a different tribe, a tribe that has never provided priests to serve at the altar.
For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
14 It's clear that our Lord is a descendant of Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests coming from this tribe.
For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
15 What makes it even clearer is when another priest appears who is similar to Melchizedek,
This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,
16 and who didn't become a priest by virtue of his human ancestry but by the power of a life that cannot be ended.
who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life;
17 That's why it says, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn g165)
for it is testified, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” (aiōn g165)
18 So the previous rule has been set aside because it was powerless and didn't work,
For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
19 (for the law didn't make anything perfect). But now it's been replaced by a better hope by which we can come close to God.
(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
20 This was not without an oath, even though those who become priests do so without an oath.
Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath
21 But he became a priest with an oath because God told him, “The Lord has taken a solemn vow and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever.” (aiōn g165)
(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’” (aiōn g165)
22 This is how Jesus became the guarantee of an agreed relationship with God that is so much better.
By so much, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 There have been many priests because death prevented them from being able to continue;
Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.
But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable. (aiōn g165)
25 As a result he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, living always to plead their case on their behalf.
Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
26 He is exactly the high priest we need: holy and without fault, pure and separate from sinners, and given a place in the highest heavens.
For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Unlike those human high priests, he doesn't need to offer a daily sacrifice for his sins and then the sins of the people. He did this once, and for everyone, when he offered himself.
who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.
28 The law appoints imperfect men as high priests, but God gave his solemn vow after the law, and appointed his Son, perfect forever. (aiōn g165)
For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son forever who has been perfected. (aiōn g165)
