The Epistle to the Hebrews

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- Kapitel 7 -

(Genesis 14:17–24)

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

It was to him that Abraham gave a tenth of everything. His name “Melchizedek” means “king of righteousness.” His other title is “king of Salem,” that is, “king of peace.”

He is without father, without mother, without ancestors, with neither beginning of days nor end of life. Instead, he resembles the Son of God, because he remains a priest forever.

See how great this man was. Our ancestor Abraham gave a tenth of the things that he had taken in battle.

On one hand, the sons of Levi who receive the priesthood have a command from the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, even though they, too, have come from Abraham’s body.

But on the other hand, Melchizedek, whose descent was not traced from them, received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him, the one who had the promises.

There is no denying that the lesser person is blessed by the greater person.

In this case, mortal men receive tithes, but in that case it is testified that he lives on.

And, in a manner of speaking, Levi, who received tithes, also paid tithes through Abraham,

because Levi was in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met Abraham.

A Superior Priesthood

Now if perfection were possible through the Levitical priesthood, for under it the people received the law, what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the manner of Melchizedek, and not be considered to be after the manner of Aaron?

For when the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed.

For the one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.

Now clearly, it is from Judah that our Lord was born, a tribe that Moses never mentioned concerning priests.

And what we say is clearer yet if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek.

It was not on the basis of the law of fleshly descent that he became a priest, but instead on the basis of the power of an indestructible life.

For scripture witnesses about him: “You are a priest forever after the manner of Melchizedek.”

For there was a cancellation of the former commandment because it was weak and useless.

For the law made nothing perfect. However, there is the introduction of a better confidence for the future through which we approach God.

And this did not happen without the taking of an oath. On one hand, those others become priests without any oath.

But on the other hand, this one, Jesus, became a priest with an oath sworn by the one who said to him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’”

By this also Jesus has given the guarantee of a better covenant.

On one hand, many become priests because by death they are kept from continuing on.

On the other hand, because Jesus remains forever, he has a permanent priesthood.

Therefore, he is also able to completely save those who approach God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

For such a high priest is suitable for us. He is sinless, blameless, pure, separated from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens.

He does not need, unlike the high priests, to offer up daily sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He did this once for all, when he offered himself.

For the law appoints as high priests men who have weaknesses. But the word of the oath, which came after the law, appointed a Son, who has been made perfect forever.

(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.

Fußnoten

(a)7:17 ℘ Psalms 110:4

(b)7:21 ℘ Psalms 110:4