The Greatness of Melchizedek

7 For this Melchizedek—

remains a priest forever.

⁴ Now consider how great this man was—even Abraham the patriarch^(B) gave a tenth of the plunder to him! ⁵ The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people^(C)—that is, from their brothers—though they have also descended from Abraham.^{[a] 6} But one without this^[b] lineage collected tenths from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.^{(D) 7} Without a doubt,^[c] the inferior is blessed by the superior. ⁸ In the one case, men who will die receive tenths, but in the other case, Scripture testifies that he lives.^{(E) 9} And in a sense Levi himself, who receives tenths, has paid tenths through Abraham, ¹⁰ for he was still within his ancestor^[d] when Melchizedek met him.

A Superior Priesthood

¹¹ If then, perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law^(F)), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?^{(G) 12} For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well. ¹³ For the One these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar. ¹⁴ Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah,^(H) and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests.

¹⁵ And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, ¹⁶ who did not become a priest based on a legal command concerning physical^[e] descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it has been testified:

¹⁸ So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable^{(J) 19} (for the law perfected^(K) nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.^(L)

²⁰ None of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, ²¹ but He became a priest with an oath made by the One who said to Him:

²² So Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.^(N)

²³ Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. ²⁴ But because He remains forever, He holds His priesthood permanently. ²⁵ Therefore, He is always able to save^[h] those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede^(O) for them.

²⁶ For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.^{(P) 27} He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all when He offered Himself.^{(Q) 28} For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son,^(R) who has been perfected^(S) forever.