Hebrews 7

1verseFor this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2verseto 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”,

3versewithout 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.

4verseNow consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth out of the best plunder.

5verseThey 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,

6versebut he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.

7verseBut without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

8verseHere people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives.

9verseWe can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,

10versefor he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.

11verseNow 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?

12verseFor the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.

13verseFor he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.

14verseFor it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

15verseThis is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,

16versewho has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life;

17versefor it is testified, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

18verseFor there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

19verse(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

20verseInasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath

21verse(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.’”

22verseBy so much, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

23verseMany, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.

24verseBut he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable.

25verseTherefore 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.

26verseFor such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27versewho 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.

28verseFor 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.