1 F or this Melchizedek, 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 translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “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 genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains 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, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a 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 indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from 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 genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who 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 N ow beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.

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

8 H ere mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.

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 E ven Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak,

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

10 f or he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. Need for a New Priesthood

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

11 T herefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to 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, of necessity there is also a change 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 belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated 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 arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke 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 if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest

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

16 w ho has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to 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 testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

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

18 F or on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness,

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

19 f or the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Greatness of the New Priest

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 He was not made priest without an oath

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

21 ( for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The L ord has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’” ),

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 more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

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

23 A lso there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.

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 He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

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

25 T herefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives 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 a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become 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 does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all 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 appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

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.