The Messiah is Superior to Melchizedek

1Now this man Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, met Abraham and blessed him when he was returning from defeating the kings. 2Abraham gave Melchizedeka a tenth of everything.b In the first place, his name means “king of righteousness,” and then he is also king of Salem, that is, “king of peace.” 3He has no father, mother, or genealogy, no birth date recorded for him, nor a date of death.c Like the Son of God, he continues to be a priest forever.

4Just look at how great this man was! Even Abraham—the patriarch himself—gave him a tenth of what he had captured! 5The descendants of Levi who accept the priesthood have a commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their own brothers, even though they are also descendants of Abraham. 6But this man, whose descent is not traced from them, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the man who had received the promises. 7It is beyond dispute that the less important person is blessed by the more important person. 8Mortal men collect tithes, but we are informed by Scriptured thate Melchizedekf keeps on living. 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10because Levig was still inside his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

11Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—for on this basis the people received the Law—what further need would there be to speak of appointing another kind of priest according to the order of Melchizedek, not one according to the order of Aaron? 12When a change in the priesthood takes place, there must also be a change in the Law. 13For the person we are talking about belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever servedh at the altar. 14Furthermore, it is obvious that our Lord was a descendant of Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests coming from that tribe. 15This point is even more obvious in that another priest who is like Melchizedek has appeared 16who was appointed to be a priest,i not on the basis of a genealogical registry, but rather on the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is declared about him,

“You are a priest forever

according to the order of Melchizedek.”j

18Indeed, because it was weak and ineffective, the former commandment has been annulled, 19since the Law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is presented, by which we approach God.

20Now none of this happened without an oath. Others became priests without any oath, 21but Jesusk became a priestl with an oath when Godm told him,

“The Lordn has taken an oath

and will not change his mind.

You are a priest forever.”o

22In this way, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

23There have been many priests, since each one of them had to stop serving in office when he died. 24But because Jesusp lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore, because he always lives to intercede for them, he is able to save completelyq those who come to God through him.

26We need such a high priest—one who is holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27He has no need to offer sacrifices every day like high priests do, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he sacrificed himself. 28For the Law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promised oath, which came after the Law, results in a Son who is eternally perfect.