Melchizedek Meets Abraham
7 1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High, our Father, met Abraham as he returned from defeating the kings, and blessed him. a a v1 The 'Most High God' is the name by which Melchizedek and Abraham knew our Father in Genesis 14 — the same Father revealed throughout Scripture. 2 To him Abraham apportioned a tenth of everything. His name first means "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, that is, "king of peace." 3 He is without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of our Father, he remains a priest forever.
4 See how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 Now those of the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood are commanded by the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their own brothers, though these too are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man, who does not trace his descent from them, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who held the promises. 7 It is beyond all dispute that the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case tithes are received by men who die; but in the other case, by one who is testified to be alive. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in his ancestor's body when Melchizedek met him.
11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood—for under it the people received the law—what further need would there have been for another priest to arise in the order of Melchizedek, rather than one from the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood changes, the law must change as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are said belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord descended from Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests from that tribe. 15 And this becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of physical descent but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is testified about him, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
18 On the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, a better hope has come, through which we draw near to our Father. 20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests did so without an oath,
21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "Our Father has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'" b b v21 The 'one who said' the oath is our Father, who established Jesus's eternal priesthood. Psalm 110 is the most-quoted psalm in the New Testament — every quotation points to Jesus.
22 To that same degree, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 The former priests were many, because death prevented them from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who draw near to our Father through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.
26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest—holy, innocent, unstained, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, for he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son, who has been made perfect forever.