< Hebrews 7 >
1 It was this Melchisedek, King of Salem and Priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him;
2 and it was to him that Abraham apportioned a tithe of all the spoil. He was first, as his name signifies, King of righteousness, and then King of Salem, that is, King of Peace;
3 without father or mother, without lineage, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest in perpetuity.
4 But observe how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the Patriarch, gave a tenth part of the spoils.
5 Now those of the sons of Levi who are appointed to the priesthood, are authorized by the Law to take tithes of the people, that is, of their brothers, and that too, although these are descended from Abraham.
6 But this man who had no Levitical genealogy actually took tithes of Abraham, and blessed him to whom the promises belong.
7 Now it is beyond all controversy that the inferior is always blessed by the superior.
8 Again it is mortal men who receive tithes in the one case; while in the other it is he of whom it is attested, "He lives."
9 And even Levi, who is the receiver of tithes, so to speak, paid tithes through Abraham;
10 for Levi was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedek met Abraham.
11 Now if there were perfection through the Levitical priesthood, (and it was under it that the people received the Law) why was it still necessary for another kind of priest to arise, after the order of Melchisedek, instead of being reckoned according to the order of Aaron?
12 For when the priesthood changes, of necessity the law also changes.
13 He who is thus described belonged to another tribe, not one member of which has ever served at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe of which Moses said nothing concerning the priesthood.
15 And this is yet more abundantly clear if, after the likeness of Melchisedek, there arises another Priest,
16 who has become such, not according to the law of a transitory enactment, but according to the energy of an indissoluble life.
17 For the words are in evidence, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchisedek. (aiōn )
18 For there is a setting aside of a foregoing commandment, because of its weakness and unprofitableness
19 (for the Law brought nothing to perfection); and there is the bringing in of a better hope by which we draw near to God;
20 mightier because it was not promised apart from an oath.
21 For although those priests became such without an oath, He had an oath form God who said to him, The Lord hath sworn and will not change, Thou art a priest forever. (aiōn )
22 And by so much Jesus becomes the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 And they indeed have been made priests, many in number, because they have been prevented by death from continuing;
24 but he, because of his abiding forever, holds his priesthood inviolable. (aiōn )
25 Hence also he is able to continue saving to the uttermost those who are ever drawing near to God through him, seeing that he is ever living to intercede for them.
26 For we needed just such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens;
27 one who has no need, like the high priests, to offer up daily sacrifices, first for his own sins, then for those of the people. For his sacrifice was made once for all, when he offered up himself.
28 For the Law appoints human beings to be high priests, men with all their weakness; but the word of the oath, which was later than the Law, appoints a Son, perfected forevermore. (aiōn )
