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 Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings,
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.”
and blessed him, to whom also Abraham divided the tenth of all his spoils; being in the first place, by interpretation of his name, king of righteousness, and moreover king of Salem, which is 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 recorded, nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, remaineth 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 a man this was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
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.
And those indeed of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment according to the law to take tithes of the people, that is, of their brethren, though they came out of the loins 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 pedigree is not reckoned among them, took tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 There's no argument that the lesser person is blessed by the one who is greater.
Now without all contradiction the inferior is blessed by the superior:
8 In the one case tithes are received by men who die, but in the other by one who is said to be living.
besides, here men that die receive tithes; but there he of whom it is testified that he liveth.
9 So you could say that Levi, the one who receives tithes, has paid tithes through being a descendant of Abraham,
And (as one may say) even Levi, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham:
10 for he was yet to be born from his father when Melchizedek met Abraham.
for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec 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 were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law) what farther need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec, and not 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 also of 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.
Now He, of whom these things are said, is of another tribe, of which none ever attended 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 sprang from Judah, as to which tribe Moses spake nothing about the priesthood.
15 What makes it even clearer is when another priest appears who is similar to Melchizedek,
And it is yet more abundantly evident, that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth 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 is made not according to the law of a temporary command, but according to 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 He testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. (aiōn g165)
18 So the previous rule has been set aside because it was powerless and didn't work,
For there is indeed a disannulling of the preceding command, on account of it's weakness and unprofitableness;
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, but the introducing of a better hope did, by which we draw near to God.
20 This was not without an oath, even though those who become priests do so without an oath.
Moreover inasmuch as He was not made priest without 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 are become priests without the solemnity of an oath; but He with an oath, by Him who said unto Him, "The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:") (aiōn g165)
22 This is how Jesus became the guarantee of an agreed relationship with God that is so much better.
by so much is Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.
23 There have been many priests because death prevented them from being able to continue;
And they were many priests, because they were by death hindered from continuing in their office;
but He, because He abideth for ever, hath a priesthood that passeth not to any other: (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.
wherefore also He is able to save to the uttermost, those that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth 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 an high-priest was meet for us, who was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and 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 hath no need, as the Levitical high-priests had, daily to offer sacrifices first for his own sins, and then for those of the people: for this He did once for all, in offering 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 appointeth men high-priests, who have infirmity; but the oath, recorded since the law, appointeth the Son to be priest for ever, being fully perfected for it. (aiōn g165)
