Hebrews 7 — TNTC
7Verse 1Now this Melchizedek—king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,Verse 2to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all (first, his name means ‘king of righteousness’, and then again ‘king of Salem’, which means ‘king of peace’),Verse 3without father, without mother, without genealogy; having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but having been made like the Son of God+—remains a priest continually.
according to the order of Melchizedek”+Verse 22—by so much Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.Verse 23Also, there have been many priests because death prevented them from continuing in office;Verse 24while He[S], because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.Verse 25Therefore He is able to save absolutely+those who come to God through Him, since He always lives and can intercede on their behalf.Verse 26Now such a High Priest was fitting for us—holy, innocent, undefiled, having been set apart from sinners, and having become higher than the heavens—Verse 27who, unlike those high priests, does not need to offer up daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; because He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.Verse 28The Law appoints as high priest men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, that came after the Law, appointed Son, forever perfect.+
Melchizedek greater than Abraham
Verse 4Now consider how great this personage was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils:+Verse 5You see, those of the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have a command, according to the Law, to collect a tithe from the people—that is, from their brothers—even though they too came out of Abraham's body;Verse 6but he whose descent is not counted among them collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.Verse 7Now without dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.Verse 8Also, here men who die receive tithes, but there he of whom it is testified that he livesVerse 9—in a word, even Levi, who receives tithes, paid the tithe through Abraham,Verse 10because he was still in the reproductive system of his forefather when Melchizedek met him.+Melchizedek greater than Aaron
Verse 11Now then, if there could be perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people had received the Law), what further need would there be for a different kind of priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than being called according to the order of Aaron?Verse 12(Because when the priesthood is changed there is also a change of law, of necessity.)Verse 13For He of whom these things are said belongs to a different tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.Verse 14For it is evident that our Lord arose out of Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.Verse 15And it all becomes clearer still if a different kind of priest, in the likeness of Melchizedek, appears,Verse 16who has come, not on the basis of a law about a physical rule but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.+Verse 17Because He testifies:“You are a priest foreveraccording to the order of Melchizedek.”Verse 18You see, there is an annulling of the former rule because of its weakness and uselessnessVerse 19(for the Law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.Our eternal High Priest represents us eternally
Verse 20Further, inasmuch as it was not without the taking of an oathVerse 21—they indeed had become priests without an oath-taking, but He[S] with an oath by Him[F] who said to Him[S]:“The Lord has sworn and will not change His[F] mind;you are a priest foreveraccording to the order of Melchizedek”+Verse 22—by so much Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.Verse 23Also, there have been many priests because death prevented them from continuing in office;Verse 24while He[S], because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.Verse 25Therefore He is able to save absolutely+those who come to God through Him, since He always lives and can intercede on their behalf.Verse 26Now such a High Priest was fitting for us—holy, innocent, undefiled, having been set apart from sinners, and having become higher than the heavens—Verse 27who, unlike those high priests, does not need to offer up daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; because He did this once for all when He offered up Himself.Verse 28The Law appoints as high priest men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, that came after the Law, appointed Son, forever perfect.+