Melchizedek the Priest

7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem^(A) and priest of God Most High.^(B) He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,^{(C) 2} and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” ³ Without father or mother, without genealogy,^(D) without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God,^(E) he remains a priest forever.

⁴ Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch^(F) Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!^{(G) 5} Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people^(H)—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. ⁶ This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed^(I) him who had the promises.^{(J) 7} And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. ⁸ In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.^{(K) 9} One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, ¹⁰ because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

Jesus Like Melchizedek

¹¹ If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people^(L) established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,^(M) one in the order of Melchizedek,^(N) not in the order of Aaron? ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. ¹³ He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe,^(O) and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.^{(P) 14} For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,^(Q) and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. ¹⁵ And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, ¹⁶ one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is declared:

¹⁸ The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless^{(S) 19} (for the law made nothing perfect),^(T) and a better hope^(U) is introduced, by which we draw near to God.^(V)

²⁰ And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, ²¹ but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

²² Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.^(Y)

²³ Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; ²⁴ but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.^{(Z) 25} Therefore he is able to save^(AA) completely^[c] those who come to God^(AB) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.^(AC)

²⁶ Such a high priest^(AD) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,^(AE) exalted above the heavens.^{(AF) 27} Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices^(AG) day after day, first for his own sins,^(AH) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all^(AI) when he offered himself.^{(AJ) 28} For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;^(AK) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,^(AL) who has been made perfect^(AM) forever.

²³ It was necessary, then, for the copies^(A) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;^(B) he entered heaven itself,^(C) now to appear for us in God’s presence.^{(D) 25} Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place^(E) every year with blood that is not his own.^{(F) 26} Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.^(G) But he has appeared^(H) once for all^(I) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.^{(J) 27} Just as people are destined to die once,^(K) and after that to face judgment,^{(L) 28} so Christ was sacrificed once^(M) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,^(N) not to bear sin,^(O) but to bring salvation^(P) to those who are waiting for him.^(Q)

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 The law is only a shadow^(R) of the good things^(S) that are coming—not the realities themselves.^(T) For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect^(U) those who draw near to worship.^{(V) 2} Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.^{(W) 3} But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.^{(X) 4} It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats^(Y) to take away sins.^(Z)

⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world,^(AA) he said:

⁸ First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”^(AE)—though they were offered in accordance with the law. ⁹ Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”^(AF) He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy^(AG) through the sacrifice of the body^(AH) of Jesus Christ once for all.^(AI)

¹¹ Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,^(AJ) which can never take away sins.^{(AK) 12} But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,^(AL) he sat down at the right hand of God,^{(AM) 13} and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.^{(AN) 14} For by one sacrifice he has made perfect^(AO) forever those who are being made holy.^(AP)

¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies^(AQ) to us about this. First he says:

¹⁷ Then he adds:

¹⁸ And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.