For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God,
met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed
him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He
is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and
then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is
without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of
days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a
priest forever.
See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a
tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the
priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from
the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are
descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent
from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the
promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the
superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in
the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One
might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes
through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when
Melchizedek met him.
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical
priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further
need would there have been for another priest to arise after the
order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of
Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is
necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these
things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has
ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was
descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said
nothing about priests.
This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the
likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis
of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power
of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside
because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing
perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced,
through which we draw near to God.
And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became
priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a
priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’”
This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
The former priests were many in number, because they were
prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his
priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently,
he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God
through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest,
holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted
above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to
offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those
of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up
himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high
priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law,
appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
