Hebrews 7

¹For this Melchizedek—the king of Salem and priest of the Most High God—is the one who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him. ²It was to him that Abraham apportioned a tenth of everything. His name is translated first as "King of Justice," and then also "King of Salem," which means "King of Peace." ³With no father, no mother, and no recorded genealogy, having neither a beginning of days nor an end of life, but having been made to resemble the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.

⁴Now, observe how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth from the very best of the spoils. ⁵To be sure, those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment according to the law to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their own brothers—even though they are all biologically descended from Abraham. ⁶But this man, who does not trace his descent from them, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who held the promises. ⁷Now, beyond all dispute, the lesser is blessed by the greater. ⁸Furthermore, in the one case, mortal men receive tenths; but in the other, it is one who is witnessed to be alive. ⁹And one might even say that through Abraham, even Levi—the receiver of tenths—has paid a tenth, ¹⁰for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

¹¹Now, if ultimate completion were possible through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people were given 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? ¹²For when the priesthood is transformed, of necessity a transformation of the law occurs as well. ¹³For the one of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. ¹⁴For it is common knowledge that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priests.

¹⁵This becomes even more strikingly clear if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶one who has become so not by a law of physical requirement, but by the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷For it is witnessed of him: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

¹⁸On the one hand, a previous commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹(for the law brought nothing to completion); on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. ²⁰And this was not without a sworn oath. For while those others became priests without an oath, ²¹he became one with an oath through the one saying to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’” ²²Because of this oath, Jesus has become the legal guarantor of a better covenant.

²³Furthermore, the former priests were many in number because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; ²⁴but because he remains forever, he holds a priesthood that is untransferable. ²⁵Therefore, he is able to save utterly those who approach God through him, since he is always alive to intercede on their behalf.

²⁶For such a high priest was indeed appropriate for us: devout, without malice, pure, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. ²⁷He has no daily necessity, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices first for his own sins and then for those of the people; for he did this once for all when he offered up himself. ²⁸For the law appoints men as high priests who have weaknesses, but the word of the sworn oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been brought to ultimate completion forever.