The Epistle to the Hebrews

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- Chapter 7 -

(Genesis 14:17–24)

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham, as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him.

And Abraham divided to him a tenth part of everything. And in translation his name is first, indeed, king of justice, and next also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.(a)

Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, he is thereby likened to the Son of God, who remains a priest continuously.(b)

(c)

Next, consider how great this man is, since the Patriarch Abraham even gave tithes to him from the principal things.

And indeed, those who are from the sons of Levi, having received the priesthood, hold a commandment to take tithes from the people in accord with the law, that is, from their brothers, even though they also went forth from the loins of Abraham.

But this man, whose lineage is not enumerated with them, received tithes from Abraham, and he blessed even the one who held the promises.

Yet this is without any contradiction, for what is less should be blessed by what is better.

And certainly, here, men who receive tithes still die; but there, he bears witness that he lives.

And so it may be said that even Levi, who received tithes, was himself a tithe through Abraham.

For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

A Superior Priesthood

Therefore, if consummation had occurred through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), then what further need would there be for another Priest to rise up according to the order of Melchizedek, one who was not called according to the order of Aaron?

For since the priesthood has been transferred, it is necessary that the law also be transferred.

For he about whom these things have been spoken is from another tribe, in which no one attends before the altar.

For it is evident that our Lord arose out of Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priests.

And yet it is far more evident that, according to the likeness of Melchizedek, there rises up another priest,

who was made, not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the virtue of an indissoluble life.

For he testifies: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Certainly, there is a setting aside of the former commandment, because of its weakness and lack of usefulness.

For the law led no one to perfection, yet truly it introduced a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Moreover, it is not without an oath. For certainly, the others were made priests without an oath.

But this man was made a priest with an oath, by the One who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and he will not repent. You are a priest forever.”

By so much, Jesus has been made the sponsor of a better testament.

And certainly, so many of the others became priests because, due to death, they were prohibited from continuing.(d)

But this man, because he continues forever, has an everlasting priesthood.

And for this reason, he is able, continuously, to save those who approach God through him, since he is ever alive to make intercession on our behalf.(e)

For it was fitting that we should have such a High Priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted higher than the heavens.

And he has no need, daily, in the manner of other priests, to offer sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people. For he has done this once, by offering himself.

For the law appoints men as priests, though they have infirmities. But, by the word of the oath that is after the law, the Son has been perfected for eternity.

Footnotes

(a)7:2 The name Melchizedek means ‘my king is righteous.’ The word ‘Salem’ means ‘peace,’ as in the word ‘Shalom.’(Conte)

(b)7:3 Melchizedek is presented to us without any information about his father, mother, genealogy, or the beginning or end of his life; he certainly had all these things. But in being presented without this information, he becomes likened to the Son of God, who has existed always and who has always been the same in his immutable Divine nature. Of course, even Christ, in his human nature, has a mother and a genealogy, and a beginning and end of his human life.(Conte)

(c)7:3 Without father, etc:Not that he had no father, etc., but that neither his father, nor his pedigree, nor his birth, nor his death, are set down in scripture.(Challoner)

(d)7:23 Many priests, etc:The apostle notes this difference between the high priests of the law, and our high priest Jesus Christ; that they being removed by death, made way for their successors; whereas our Lord Jesus is a priest for ever, and has no successor; but lives and concurs for ever with his ministers, the priests of the new testament, in all their functions. Also, that no one priest of the law, nor all of them together, could offer that absolute sacrifice of everlasting redemption, which our one high priest Jesus Christ has offered once, and for ever.(Challoner)

(e)7:25 Make intercession:Christ, as man, continually makes intercession for us, by representing his passion to his Father.(Challoner)

(Genesis 14:17–24)

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, “king of righteousness”, and then also “king of Salem”, which means “king of peace”,

without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a priest continually.

Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth out of the best plunder.

They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham,

but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.

But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives.

We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,

for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.

A Superior Priesthood

Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.

For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.

For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,

who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life;

for it is testified, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”(a)

For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath

(for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’”(b)

By so much, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.

But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable.

Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.

For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.

For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son forever who has been perfected.

Footnotes

(a)7:17 ℘ Psalms 110:4

(b)7:21 ℘ Psalms 110:4