Melchizedek Was Greater than Abraham

1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

3Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abides a priest continually.

4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

5And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they are descendants of Abraham:

6But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.

9And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.

10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

Jesus Is a Priest Like Melchizedek

11If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

13For he of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, of which no man has ever served at the altar.

14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

15And it is yet far more evident: that after the similitude of Melchizedek there arises another priest,

16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17For he testifies, You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

18For there is verily an annulment of the previous commandment because of the weakness and uselessness thereof.

19For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by which we draw near unto God.

20And since it was not without an oath he was made priest:

21(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord swore and will not change, you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek:)

22By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better covenant.

23And they truly were many priests, because they were not allowed to continue by reason of death:

24But this man, because he continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

25Therefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

26For such a high priest was befitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27Who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

28For the law makes men high priests who have weakness; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, makes the Son, who is consecrated forevermore.