1Melchizedek, the king of Salem and priest of God Most High, met Abraham when Abraham was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him.
2Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. First, Melchizedek’s name means "king of righteousness," and then "king of Salem" means "king of peace."
3He had no father, no mother, no family tree, no beginning of life, and no end of life. He is like the Son of God and remains a priest permanently.
4Think about how important this man was! Even Abraham, the patriarch, gave him a tenth of the best spoils of war.
5The priests who are from the tribe of Levi are commanded by law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their own relatives, even though their relatives are also descendants of Abraham.
6But Melchizedek, who was not from their family line, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed Abraham, who had received the promises from God.
7There is no doubt that the person who is less important is blessed by the person who is more important.
8In the case of the Levitical priests, mortal men collect a tenth. But in Melchizedek's case, someone who is testified to be living collects a tenth.
9You could even say that Levi, whose descendants later collected a tenth, paid a tenth through Abraham,
10because Levi was still in his ancestor Abraham's body when Melchizedek met him.
11If the Levitical priesthood had been perfect (for the people received the Law under that system), why was there still a need for a different priest to come, one like Melchizedek, not like Aaron?
12Because when the priesthood changes, the law must also change.
13The one being spoken about belongs to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.
14It is clear that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priests.
15This point becomes even clearer if another priest arises who is like Melchizedek,
16who became a priest not by a physical rule but by the power of an endless life.
17For it is said about him, "You are a priest forever, just like Melchizedek."
18So the former command is set aside because it was weak and useless.
19because the old law didn't make anything perfect, but it brought in a better hope through which we can come near to God.
20This was different because he became a priest with an oath.
21Others became priests without an oath, but Jesus became a priest with an oath from God, who said to him, 'The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek." '
22Because of this, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better agreement.
23Many priests served before him because death kept them from continuing in their role.
24But Jesus lives forever, so his priesthood never ends.
25Therefore, he is able to completely save those who come to God through him, because he lives forever to plead with God on their behalf.
26We needed a high priest like this: holy, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, and raised higher than the heavens.
27Unlike other high priests, he doesn't need to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. He did this once and for all when he offered himself as a sacrifice.
28The law appoints men who are weak as high priests, but the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son who is made perfect forever.