Open English Translation HEB Chapter 7

7 This Melchizedek was the king of the city of Salem and a priest of God, the highest one.[ref] He met Abraham who was returning from slaughtering several kings and Melchizedek blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of all the captured goods. The name Melchizedek means ‘king of righteousness’ and then king of Salem also means ‘king of peace’. 3 There’s no record of his father or mother, no genealogical background, and no record of his being born or dying, but he’s likened to God’s son in that he continually remains as a priest.

4 Notice how great this Melchizedek was, because the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the best of the captured goods. 5 On one hand, the tithing commandment from Moses’ law makes the people give a tenth to Levi’s descendants who inherit the priestly office, even though they’re their brothers as fellow descendants of Abraham.[ref] 6 On the other hand, Abraham tithed to Melchizedek who can’t be traced as one of them, and he blessed Abraham who had received God’s promises. 7 There’s no doubt that it’s the lessor person that gets blessed by someone greater. 8 So in the first case, the tenth is received by people who die, but in the second case by someone who it’s only testified that he lives. 9 You could even say that even Levi (whose descendants receive the tenths) gave a tenth to Melchizedek through Abraham 10 because Levi’s sperm was still part of his father’s body when Melchizedek met Abraham.

11 Indeed if perfection came from the priesthood from Levi’s tribe which was legislated to help the people, why would there have still been a need for another to rise up as a priest in the order of Melchizedek and not just from the order of Aaron? 12 Because if the priesthood is changed, then that law would also need to be changed. 13 The one that we’re talking about here is from another tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served as a priest at the altar.

14 So it’s quite evident that our master came from Judah’s tribe but Moses never mentioned priests coming from that tribe, 15 and it’s even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek rose up 16 who didn’t live by the physical law (of death) but according to the power of indestructible life! 17 Because it’s been testified:[ref]

‘You are priest to this age,

according to the order of Melchizedek.’

18 In the first case, the commandment is annulled because it’s weak and unprofitable 19 (because the law made nothing perfect), and in the second case we have the introduction of a better hope by means of which we can approach God.

20 And it wasn’t done without an oath, because although men become priests without an oath, 21 but Yeshua became a priest by an oath from the one that said:[ref]

‘The master made an oath

and won’t rescind it.

You are priest for this age.’

22 Because of that oath, Yeshua became the guarantor of a better agreement.

23 in the first case, there have been many of those priests because death doesn’t allow them to continue on, 24 but in the second case, because Yeshua stays alive for all the age, he can hold the office of priest permanently 25 and thus he’s able to save those who approach God through him—save them to the full extent because he always lives to intercede of their behalf.

26 Such a high priest exactly meets our needs: one who is godly, innocent, pure, set apart from sinners, and honoured above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, it’s not necessary for him to first make a sacrifice for his own sins before doing it for the sins of the people,[ref] because he offered himself—once for everyone. 28 The law appoints those with weaknesses as high priests, but the message from the oath which followed after the law, appointed the son who has been perfected for the age.