1 F or this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

Melchizedek was king of Salem. He was a religious leader for God. When Abraham was coming back from the war where many kings were killed, Melchizedek met Abraham and showed respect to him.

2 t o whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

Abraham gave Melchizedek one-tenth part of all he had. Melchizedek’s name means king of what is right. Salem means peace. So he is king of peace.

3 w ithout 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.

Melchizedek was without a father or mother or any family. He had no beginning of life or end of life. He is a religious leader forever like the Son of God.

4 N ow consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

We can see how great Melchizedek was. Abraham gave him one-tenth part of all he had taken in the war.

5 A nd 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 according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

The Law made the family of Levi the Jewish religious leaders. The Law said that the religious leaders were to take one-tenth part of everything from their own people.

6 b ut he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

Melchizedek was not even from the family group of Levi but Abraham paid him. Melchizedek showed respect to Abraham who was the one who had received God’s promises.

7 A nd without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

The one who shows respect is always greater than the one who receives it.

8 A nd here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

Jewish religious leaders receive one-tenth part. They are men and they all die. But here Melchizedek received one-tenth part and is alive.

9 A nd as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

We might say that Levi, who receives one-tenth part, paid one-tenth part through Abraham.

10 F or he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

Levi was not yet born. He was still inside Abraham’s body when Abraham paid Melchizedek.

11 I f 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 Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

The Law was given during the time when Levi and his sons were the religious leaders. If the work of those religious leaders had been perfect in taking away the sins of the people, there would have been no need for another religious leader. But one like Melchizedek was needed and not one from the family group of Aaron.

12 F or the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

For when the family group of religious leaders changed, the Law had to be changed also.

13 F or he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

These things speak of Christ Who is from another family group. That family group never had a religious leader who killed animals and gave gifts at the altar for the sins of the people.

14 F or it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

Our Lord came from the family group of Judah. Moses did not write anything about religious leaders coming from that family group. A Different Religious Leader Has Come

15 A nd it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

We can see that a different Religious Leader has come. This One is like Melchizedek.

16 w ho is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Christ did not become a Religious Leader by coming from the family group of Levi as the Law said had to be. He became the Religious Leader by the power of a life that never ends.

17 F or he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

The Holy Writings say this about Christ, “You are a Religious Leader forever like Melchizedek.”

18 F or there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

God put the Law of Moses aside. It was weak and could not be used.

19 F or the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

For the Law of Moses could not make men right with God. Now there is a better hope through which we can come near to God.

20 A nd inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

God made a promise when Christ became the Religious Leader Who made the way for man to go to God.

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 Melchisedec:)

God did not make such a promise when Levi’s family group became religious leaders. But when Christ became a Religious Leader, this is the promise God made, “The Lord has made a promise. He will never change His mind. You will be a Religious Leader forever.”

22 b y so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

Christ makes this New Way of Worship sure for us because of God’s promise.

23 A nd they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

There had to be many religious leaders during the time of the Old Way of Worship. They died and others had to keep on in their work.

24 b ut this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

But Jesus lives forever. He is the Religious Leader forever. It will never change.

25 W herefore 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.

And so Jesus is able, now and forever, to save from the punishment of sin all who come to God through Him because He lives forever to pray for them.

26 F or such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

We need such a Religious Leader Who made the way for man to go to God. Jesus is holy and has no guilt. He has never sinned and is different from sinful men. He has the place of honor above the heavens.

27 w ho needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

Christ is not like other religious leaders. They had to give gifts every day on the altar in worship for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. Christ did not have to do that. He gave one gift on the altar and that gift was Himself. It was done once and it was for all time.

28 F or 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.

The Law makes religious leaders of men. These men are not perfect. After the Law was given, God spoke with a promise. He made His Son a perfect Religious Leader forever.