¹⁸ Then Melchizedek^(A) king of Salem^(B) brought out bread^(C) and wine.^(D) He was priest of God Most High,^(E)

²⁰ where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.^(A) He has become a high priest^(B) forever, in the order of Melchizedek.^(C)

Melchizedek the Priest

7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem^(D) and priest of God Most High.^(E) He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,^{(F) 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,^(G) without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God,^(H) he remains a priest forever.

⁶ And he says in another place,

¹⁰ and was designated by God to be high priest^(A) in the order of Melchizedek.^(B)

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^(A) established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,^(B) one in the order of Melchizedek,^(C) 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,^(D) and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.^{(E) 14} For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,^(F) 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^{(H) 19} (for the law made nothing perfect),^(I) and a better hope^(J) is introduced, by which we draw near to God.^(K)

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.^(N)

¹⁷ She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God,^(A) who are telling you the way to be saved.”

²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it^(A) and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

²⁷ Then he took a cup,^(B) and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the^[a] covenant,^(C) which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.^{(D) 29} I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you^(E) in my Father’s kingdom.”