Hebrews:7

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* For this man , Melchizedek , King of Salem and priest of the Most High God –he who when Abraham was returning after defeating the kings met him and pronounced a blessing on him – * to whom also Abraham presented a tenth part of all –being first , as his name signifies , King of righteousness , and secondly King of Salem , that is , King of peace : * with no father or mother , and no record of ancestry : having neither beginning of days nor end of life , but made a type of the Son of God –this man Melchizedek remains a priest for ever . * Now think how great this priest-king must have been to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth part of the best of the spoil . * And those of the descendants of Levi who receive the priesthood are authorized by the Law to take tithes from the people , that is , from their brethren , though these have sprung from Abraham . * But , in this instance , one who does not trace his origin from them takes tithes from Abraham , and pronounces a blessing on him to whom the promises belong . * And beyond all dispute it is always the inferior who is blessed by the superior . * Moreover here frail mortal men receive tithes : there one receives them about whom there is evidence that he is alive . * And Levi too –if I may so speak – pays tithes through Abraham : * for Levi was yet in the loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met Abraham . * Now if the crowning blessing was attainable by means of the Levitical priesthood –for as resting on this foundation the people received the Law , to which they are still subject – what further need was there for a Priest of a different kind to be raised up belonging to the order of Melchizedek instead of being said to belong to the order of Aaron ? * For when the priesthood changes , a change of Law also of necessity takes place . * He , however , to whom that prophecy refers is associated with a different tribe , not one member of which has anything to do with the altar . * For it is undeniable that our Lord sprang from Judah , a tribe of which Moses said nothing in connection with priests . * And this is still more abundantly clear when we read that it is as belonging to the order of Melchizedek that a priest of a different kind is to arise , * and hold His office not in obedience to any temporary Law , but by virtue of an indestructible Life . * For the words are in evidence , * On the one hand we have here the abrogation of an earlier code because it was weak and ineffective – * for the Law brought no perfect blessing –but on the other hand we have the bringing in of a new and better hope by means of which we draw near to God . * And since it was not without an oath being taken – * for these men hold office without any oath having been taken , but He holds it attested by an oath from Him who said to Him , »The Lord has sworn and will not recall His words , Thou art a Priest for ever « – * so much the more also is the Covenant of which Jesus has become the guarantor , a better covenant . * And they have been appointed priests many in number , because death prevents their continuance in office : * but He , because He continues for ever , has a priesthood which does not pass to any successor . * Hence too He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him , seeing that He ever lives to plead for them . * Moreover we needed just such a High Priest as this –holy , guileless , undefiled , far removed from sinful men and exalted above the heavens ; * who , unlike other High Priests , is not under the necessity of offering up sacrifices day after day , first for His own sins , and afterwards for those of the people ; for this latter thing He did once for all when He offered up Himself . * For the Law constitutes men High Priests –men with all their infirmity – but the utterance of the oath , which came later than the Law , constitutes High Priest a Son who has been made for ever perfect .

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