| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version |
| 1[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, |
| 2[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 2and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." |
| 3[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 3Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. |
| 4[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 4Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! |
| 5[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 5Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, from their fellow Israelites--even though they also are descended from Abraham. |
| 6[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. |
| 7[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 7And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. |
| 8[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 8In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. |
| 9[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, |
| 10[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 10because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. |
| 11[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 11If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood--and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood--why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? |
| 12[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 12For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. |
| 13[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. |
| 14[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. |
| 15[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 15And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, |
| 16[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 16one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. |
| 17[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 17For it is declared: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." |
| 18[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless |
| 19[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. |
| 20[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 20And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, |
| 21[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 21but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever.'" |
| 22[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. |
| 23[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; |
| 24[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 24but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. |
| 25[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. |
| 26[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 26Such a high priest truly meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. |
| 27[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. |
| 28[an error occurred while processing this directive] | 28For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. |
| [an error occurred while processing this directive] | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
|
