1 F or this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who did meet Abraham turning back from the smiting of the kings, and did bless 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 a tenth of all did Abraham divide, (first, indeed, being interpreted, `King of righteousness,' and then 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 genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, and being made like to the Son of God, doth remain 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 A nd see how great this one, to whom also a tenth Abraham the patriarch did give out of the best 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 those, indeed, out of the sons of Levi receiving the priesthood, a command have to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, their brethren, even though they came forth 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 a nd he who was not reckoned by genealogy of them, received tithes from Abraham, and him having the promises he hath blessed,

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 apart from all controversy, the less by the better is blessed --

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

8 a nd here, indeed, men who die do receive tithes, and there, who is testified to that he was living,

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 so to speak, through Abraham even Levi who is receiving tithes, hath paid tithes,

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 the father when Melchisedek met him.

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

11 I f indeed, then, perfection were through the Levitical priesthood -- for the people under it had received law -- what further need, according to the order of Melchisedek, for another priest to arise, and not to 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 also, of the law a change doth come,

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 said in another tribe hath had part, of whom no one 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 evident that out of Judah hath arisen our Lord, in regard to 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 more abundantly most evident, if according to the similitude of Melchisedek there doth arise another priest,

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

16 w ho came not according to the law of a fleshly command, 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 doth testify -- `Thou a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;'

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

18 f or a disannulling indeed doth come of the command going before because of its weakness, and unprofitableness,

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

19 ( for nothing did the law perfect) and the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw nigh to 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 apart from oath, (for those indeed apart from oath are become priests,

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

21 a nd he with an oath through Him who is saying unto him, `The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou a priest -- to the age, according to the order of Melchisedek;')

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 of a better covenant hath Jesus become surety,

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

23 a nd those indeed are many who have become priests, because by death they are hindered from remaining;

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 a nd he, because of his remaining -- to the age, hath the priesthood not transient,

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

25 w hence also he is able to save to the very end, those coming through him unto God -- ever living 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 chief priest did become us -- kind, harmless, undefiled, separate from the sinners, and 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 hath no necessity daily, as the chief priests, first for his own sins to offer up sacrifice, then for those of the people; for this he did once, having 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 doth appoint men chief priests, having infirmity, but the word of the oath that after the law the Son -- to the age having been perfected.

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.