This Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him,
and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth of everything. His name first means “king of righteousness,” and then he is also “king of Salem,” that is, king of peace.
Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
See how great he is! Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils.
And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their kindred, though these also are descendants of Abraham.
But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.
It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
In the one case, tithes are received by mortal men; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.
One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham,
for he was still in the body of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood—for the people received the law under it—what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek rather than one according to the order of Aaron?
For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
Now the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
It is even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,
who has become a priest not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning physical descent but through the power of an indestructible life.
For it is attested of him, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
So a former command is set aside because it was weak and useless
(for the law made nothing perfect); but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
And this was confirmed with an oath; for others became priests without an oath,
but he became a priest with an oath through the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’”
Accordingly, Jesus has also become the guarantor of a better covenant.
Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,
but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.
Therefore he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.
For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; he did this once for all when he offered himself.
For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
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