Book of Common Prayer

He compares the priesthood of Christ to Melchizedek, but declares it to be far more excellent.

7 This Melchizedek, king of Salem (who, being priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² to whom also Abraham gave tithes of all the spoils) is by translation of his name, king of righteousness. After that, he is king of Salem; that is to say, king of peace. ³ Without father, without mother, without kin, and having neither a beginning of his days nor yet end of his life, he is likened to the Son of God and continues a priest forever.

⁴ Consider what a man this was, to whom the patriarch Abraham gave tithes of the spoils. ⁵ And now, those children of Levi that received the office of the priests have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law; that is to say from their brethren, yea though they came out of the loins of Abraham. ⁶ But he whose kindred is not counted among them received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises. ⁷ And without argument, he who is less receives blessing from him who is greater. ⁸ And here, men who die receive tithes. But there, he receives tithes of whom it is witnessed that he lives. ⁹ And to say the truth, Levi himself also, who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. ¹⁰ For he was yet in the loins of his father Abraham when Melchizedek met him.

¹¹ If now therefore perfection came by the priesthood of the Levites (for under that priesthood the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not after the order of Aaron? ¹² Now no doubt if the priesthood is translated, then of necessity the law must be translated also. ¹³ For he of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, of which no man ever served at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, of which tribe Moses said nothing concerning priesthood.

¹⁵ And it is yet a more evident thing if another priest in the similitude of Melchizedek arises, ¹⁶ who is not made priest by the law of the carnal commandment, but by the power of the endless life. ¹⁷ For he testifies: You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, Go and call your husband, and come here. ¹⁷ The woman answered and said to him, I have no husband. Jesus said to her, You have well said, I have no husband. ¹⁸ For you have had five husbands, and he whom you now have is not your husband. This you have said truly.

¹⁹ The woman said to him, Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. ²⁰ Our fathers worshipped in this mountain, but you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.

²¹ Jesus said to her, Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. ²² You Samaritans worship you know not what. We know what we worship, for salvation comes of the Jews. ²³ But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth. For indeed, the Father seeks such to worship him. ²⁴ God is a spirit, and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and truth.

²⁵ The woman said to him, I know well the Messiah will come, who is called Christ. When he is come, he will tell us all things.

²⁶ Jesus said to her, I who speak to you am he.