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 the Son of God), remains 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, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best plunder.

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.

They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body 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 has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.

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

But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

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.

Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes 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.

We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has 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 body 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 were perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called 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 of necessity a change made also in 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 belongs to another tribe, from which no one 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 evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

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

This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises 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 has been made, not after the law of a fleshly 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 testified, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

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

For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness 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 made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

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

Inasmuch as he was not made priest 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 says of him, “The Lord swore and will not 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.

By so much, Jesus has become the collateral 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.

Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.

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

But he, because he lives forever, has 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.

Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever 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 was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, 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 doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this 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 appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the law appoints a Son forever who has been perfected.