1 M elchizedek 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.

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2 A braham 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.

And Abraham gave to him a tenth portion of all. He is primarily, as his name when translated indicates, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace.

3 M elchizedek 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.

Without father or mother or ancestral line, neither with beginning of days nor ending of life, but, resembling the Son of God, he continues to be a priest without interruption and without successor.

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

Now observe and consider how great this was to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils.

5 T he 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.

And it is true that those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to take tithes from the people—which means, from their brethren—though these have descended from Abraham.

6 M elchizedek 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.

But this person who has not their Levitical ancestry received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who possessed the promises.

7 T he one who shows respect is always greater than the one who receives it.

Yet it is beyond all contradiction that it is the lesser person who is blessed by the greater one.

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

Furthermore, here tithes are received by men who are subject to death; while there, they are received by one of whom it is testified that he lives.

9 W e might say that Levi, who receives one-tenth part, paid one-tenth part through Abraham.

A person might even say that Levi himself, who received tithes (the tenth), paid tithes through Abraham,

10 L evi was not yet born. He was still inside Abraham’s body when Abraham paid Melchizedek.

For he was still in the loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met him.

11 T he 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.

Now if perfection (a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper) had been attainable by the Levitical priesthood—for under it the people were given the Law—why was it further necessary that there should arise another and different kind of Priest, one after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed after the order and rank of Aaron?

12 F or when the family group of religious leaders changed, the Law had to be changed also.

For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity an alteration of the law as well.

13 T hese 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.

For the One of Whom these things are said belonged to another tribe, no member of which has officiated at the altar.

14 O ur 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

For it is obvious that our Lord sprang from the tribe of Judah, and Moses mentioned nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.

15 W e can see that a different Religious Leader has come. This One is like Melchizedek.

And this becomes more plainly evident when another Priest arises Who bears the likeness of Melchizedek,

16 C hrist 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.

Who has been constituted a Priest, not on the basis of a bodily legal requirement, but on the basis of the power of an endless and indestructible Life.

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

For it is witnessed of Him, You are a Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek.

18 G od put the Law of Moses aside. It was weak and could not be used.

So a previous physical regulation and command is cancelled because of its weakness and ineffectiveness and uselessness—

19 F or 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.

For the Law never made anything perfect—but instead a better hope is introduced through which we come close to God.

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

And it was not without the taking of an oath,

21 G od 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.”

For those who formerly became priests received their office without its being confirmed by the taking of an oath by God, but this One was designated and addressed and saluted with an oath, The Lord has sworn and will not regret it or change His mind, You are a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

22 C hrist makes this New Way of Worship sure for us because of God’s promise.

In keeping with, Jesus has become the Guarantee of a better (stronger) agreement.

23 T here 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.

was made up of many, because they were each prevented by death from continuing;

24 B ut Jesus lives forever. He is the Religious Leader forever. It will never change.

But He holds His priesthood unchangeably, because He lives on forever.

25 A nd 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.

Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them.

26 W e 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.

the High Priest to our needs, as was fitting—holy, blameless, unstained by sin, separated from sinners, and exalted higher than the heavens.

27 C hrist 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.

He has no day by day necessity, as high priests, to offer sacrifice first of all for his own sins and then for those of the people, because He once for all when He brought Himself which He offered up.

28 T he 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.

For the Law sets up men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of oath, which after the institution of the Law,, a Son Who has been made perfect forever.