Hebrews 7
A Priest Forever, After the Order of Melchizedek
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Melchizedek, King of Salem
7:1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him.
7:2Abraham also apportioned to him a tenth of everything. His name is interpreted first as king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.
7:3Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither a beginning of days nor an end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest continually.
7:4Consider how great this man was, to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth from the choice spoils.
7:5Those from the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment, according to the law, to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—although they too have come from Abraham’s loins.
7:6But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them has received a tenth from Abraham and has blessed the one who had the promises.
7:7And beyond every dispute, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
7:8Here, dying human beings receive tenths; but there, one of whom it is testified that he lives.
7:9And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who receives tenths, has paid a tenth,
7:10for he was still in his father’s loins when Melchizedek met him.
A Priest After the Order of Melchizedek
7:11Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood—for on its basis the people received the law—what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not to be spoken of according to the order of Aaron?
7:12For when the priesthood is changed, a change of law necessarily takes place as well.
7:13For the One concerning whom these things are said has belonged to another tribe, from which no one has attended to the altar.
7:14For it is evident that our Lord has sprung from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priests.
7:15And it is still more evident if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,
7:16who has become a priest, not according to a law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an indestructible life.
7:17For it is testified, “You are a priest for the age, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
7:18For there is a setting aside of the preceding commandment because of its weakness and uselessness,
7:19for the law perfected nothing; and there is the introduction of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
A Priest Made with an Oath
7:20And insofar as this was not without an oath—for those became priests without an oath,
7:21but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord swore and will not change His mind: You are a priest for the age”—
7:22to that extent Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
7:23And those became priests in greater numbers because death prevented them from continuing,
7:24but He, because He remains for the age, has a permanent priesthood.
7:25Therefore He is also able to save completely those who approach God through Him, since He always lives to intercede on their behalf.
A High Priest Holy and Undefiled
7:26For such a high priest was indeed fitting for us: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and having become higher than the heavens.
7:27He has no daily need, as the high priests do, to offer sacrifices first for His own sins and then for those of the people; for He did this once for all when He offered Himself.
7:28For the law appoints as high priests human beings who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, perfected for the age.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.