Hebrews 7
The Priestly Order of
Melchizedek |
1 |
For this Melchiz'edek, king of Salem,
priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the
slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
|
2 |
to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of
all; Gen. 14.17-20 first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and
after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
|
3 |
without father, without mother, without
descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made
like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
|
4 |
Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of
the spoils.
|
5 |
And verily they that are of the sons of
Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment
to take tithes of the people Num. 18.21 according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they
come out of the loins of Abraham:
|
6 |
but he whose descent is not counted from
them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the
promises.
|
7 |
And without all contradiction the less is
blessed of the better.
|
8 |
And here men that die receive tithes; but
there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he
liveth.
|
9 |
And as I may so say, Levi also, who
receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.
|
10 |
For he was yet in the loins of his
father, when Melchiz'edek met him.
|
11 |
If therefore perfection were by the
Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,)
what further need was there that another priest should rise
after the order of Melchiz'edek, and not be called after the order
of Aaron?
|
12 |
For the priesthood being changed, there
is made of necessity a change also of the law.
|
13 |
For he of whom these things are spoken
pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the
altar.
|
14 |
For it is evident that our Lord
sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning
priesthood.
|
15 |
And it is yet far more evident: for
that after the similitude of Melchiz'edek there ariseth another
priest,
|
16 |
who is made, not after the law of a
carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless
life.
|
17 |
For he testifieth,
|
Thou art a priest for ever |
after the order of Melchiz'edek. Ps.
110.4 |
|
|
18 |
For there is verily a disannulling of the
commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness
thereof.
|
19 |
For the law made nothing perfect, but the
bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh
unto God.
|
20 |
And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
|
21 |
(for those priests were made without an
oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him,
|
The Lord sware and will not repent, |
Thou art a priest for ever |
after the order of Melchiz'edek: Ps.
110.4 ) |
|
|
22 |
by so much was Jesus made a surety of a
better testament.
|
23 |
And they truly were many priests,
because they were not suffered to continue by reason of
death:
|
24 |
but this man, because he
continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
|
25 |
Wherefore he is able also to save them to
the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to
make intercession for them.
|
26 |
For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and
made higher than the heavens;
|
27 |
who needeth not daily, as those high
priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for
the people's: Lev. 9.7 for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
|
28 |
For the law maketh men high priests which
have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for
evermore.
|