Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A new order of priesthood

¹¹ So, you see, if it had been possible to arrive at complete perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for the people received the law by that means), what further need would there have been to speak of another priesthood being established “according to the order of Melchizedek,” rather than “according to the order of Aaron”? ¹² Change the priesthood, after all, and you’re bound to change the law— ¹³ especially when you consider that the one of whom these things are spoken comes from another tribe altogether, one from which nobody is recruited to serve at the altar. ¹⁴ It’s obvious, isn’t it, that our Lord was descended from Judah, and Moses never made any connection between that tribe and the priesthood.

¹⁵ This is even clearer when another priest arises “according to the order of Melchizedek,” ¹⁶ who attains this rank not because of a law concerning physical descent but through the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. ¹⁷ What scripture says about him, after all, is, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” ¹⁸ What is happening here is that the previous commandment is being set aside. It was, after all, weak and useless; ¹⁹ the law brought nothing to perfection, did it? Instead, what appears is a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

The permanent priesthood of Jesus

²⁰ This is all the more so when you consider that an oath was sworn. The Levitical priests, you see, become priests without an oath, ²¹ but the Messiah attains his priesthood with an oath, through what was said to him:

²² Jesus has thus, additionally, become the guarantee of a better covenant.