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 God Most High, who met Abraham returning 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.

to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is 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, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually.

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

Now consider how great this man was, unto whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the chief 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 they indeed of the sons of Levi that receive the priest's office have commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though these have come out of the loins of 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 he whose genealogy is not counted from them hath taken tithes of Abraham, and hath blessed him that hath the promises.

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

But without any dispute the less is blessed of the better.

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.

And here men that die receive tithes; but there one, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

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

And, so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who receiveth tithes, hath paid tithes;

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

for he was yet in the loins of his father, 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 there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron?

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

For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

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 he of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance 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 evident that our Lord hath sprung out of Judah; as to which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priests.

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

And what we say is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,

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 hath been made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life:

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

for it is witnessed of him, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.

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

For there is a disannulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness

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 made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through which we draw nigh unto God.

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

And inasmuch as it is 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 they indeed have been made priests without an oath; but he with an oath by him that saith of him, The Lord sware and will not repent himself, Thou art a priest for ever);

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

by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.

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.

And they indeed have been made priests many in number, because that by death they are hindered from continuing:

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

but he, because he abideth for ever, hath his priesthood unchangeable.

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.

Wherefore also he is able to save to the uttermost them that draw near unto God through him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession 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.

For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made 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.

who needeth not daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people: for this he did once for all, when he offered up himself.

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 appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, appointeth a Son, perfected for evermore.