1 It|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" this|strong="G3778" Melchizedek|strong="G3198", king|strong="G3588" of|strong="G2316" Salem|strong="G4532" and|strong="G2532" priest|strong="G2409" of|strong="G2316" the|strong="G2532" Most|strong="G5310" High|strong="G5310" God|strong="G2316", who|strong="G3588" met|strong="G4876" Abraham returning|strong="G5290" from|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" slaughter|strong="G2871" of|strong="G2316" the|strong="G2532" kings|strong="G3588", and|strong="G2532" gave|strong="G2532" him|strong="G3588" his|strong="G2532" blessing|strong="G2127";
2 and|strong="G2532" it|strong="G2532" was|strong="G1510" to|strong="G2532" him|strong="G3739" that|strong="G3739" Abraham allotted|strong="G3307" a|strong="G2532" tithe of|strong="G2532" all|strong="G3956" the|strong="G2532" spoil. The|strong="G2532" meaning of|strong="G2532" his|strong="G3956" name|strong="G3739" is|strong="G1510" “king of|strong="G2532" righteousness|strong="G1343",” and|strong="G2532" besides|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3739", he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G1510" also|strong="G2532" king of|strong="G2532" Salem|strong="G4532", which|strong="G3739" means|strong="G1510" “king of|strong="G2532" peace|strong="G1515".”
3 There|strong="G1161" is|strong="G3588" no|strong="G3383" record of|strong="G5207" his|strong="G1519" father, or|strong="G3383" mother, or|strong="G3383" lineage, nor|strong="G3383" again|strong="G1519" of|strong="G5207" any|strong="G2192" beginning of|strong="G5207" his|strong="G1519" days|strong="G2250", or|strong="G3383" end|strong="G5056" of|strong="G5207" his|strong="G1519" life|strong="G2222". In|strong="G1519" this|strong="G3588" he|strong="G1161" resembles the|strong="G1519" Son|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" God|strong="G2316", and|strong="G1161" stands before|strong="G1519" us|strong="G1519" as|strong="G1519" a|strong="G2192" priest|strong="G2409" whose|strong="G3588" priesthood is|strong="G3588" continuous.
4 Consider|strong="G2334", then|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" importance of|strong="G1537" this|strong="G3778" Melchizedek, to|strong="G2532" whom|strong="G3739" even|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" patriarch|strong="G3966" Abraham himself gave|strong="G1325" a|strong="G2532" tithe of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G2532" choicest spoils.
5 Those|strong="G3588" descendants|strong="G5207" of|strong="G1537" Levi|strong="G3017", who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G1510" from|strong="G1537" time to|strong="G2532" time appointed to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" priesthood|strong="G2405", are|strong="G1510" directed to|strong="G2532" collect|strong="G2983" tithes from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G2532" people|strong="G2992" in|strong="G2596" accordance|strong="G2596" with|strong="G1537" the|strong="G2532" Law|strong="G3551" – that|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" from|strong="G1537" their|strong="G2532" own kindred, although|strong="G2539" they|strong="G2532" also|strong="G2532" are|strong="G1510" descended|strong="G1831" from|strong="G1537" Abraham.
6 But|strong="G1161" Melchizedek|strong="G1075", although|strong="G1161" not|strong="G3361" of|strong="G1537" this|strong="G3588" lineage, received|strong="G2192" tithes|strong="G1183" from|strong="G1537" Abraham, and|strong="G2532" gave|strong="G2532" his|strong="G2192" blessing|strong="G2127" to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" man|strong="G3361" who|strong="G3588" had|strong="G2192" God|strong="G2532"’s|strong="G2192" promises|strong="G1860".
7 Now|strong="G1161" no|strong="G3956" one|strong="G3956" can dispute that|strong="G3588" it|strong="G1161" is|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3956" superior who|strong="G3588" blesses the|strong="G3956" inferior.
8 In|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" one|strong="G3303" case|strong="G5602" the|strong="G2532" tithes|strong="G1181" are|strong="G2532" received|strong="G2983" by|strong="G2532" people|strong="G2983" who|strong="G3748" are|strong="G2532" mortal; in|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" other|strong="G1161" case|strong="G5602" by|strong="G2532" one|strong="G3303" about|strong="G3754" whom|strong="G1161" there|strong="G1563" is|strong="G3748" the|strong="G2532" statement that|strong="G3754" his|strong="G2983" life|strong="G2198" still continues.
9 Moreover|strong="G2532", in|strong="G2532" a|strong="G5613" sense, even|strong="G2532" Levi|strong="G3018", who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G3588" the|strong="G2532" receiver of|strong="G1223" the|strong="G2532" tithes|strong="G1181", has|strong="G2532", through|strong="G1223" Abraham, paid|strong="G1183" tithes|strong="G1181";
10 for|strong="G1063" Levi was|strong="G1510" still|strong="G2089" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G1722" body of|strong="G3962" his|strong="G1722" ancestor|strong="G3962" when|strong="G3753" Melchizedek|strong="G3198" met|strong="G4876" Abraham.
11 If|strong="G1487", then|strong="G3767", perfection|strong="G5050" had|strong="G2532" been|strong="G1510" attainable through|strong="G1223" the|strong="G2532" Levitical|strong="G3020" priesthood|strong="G2420" – and|strong="G2532" it|strong="G2532" was|strong="G1510" under|strong="G1909" this|strong="G3588" priesthood|strong="G2420" that|strong="G3588" the|strong="G2532" people|strong="G2992" received|strong="G3549" the|strong="G2532" Law|strong="G3549" – why|strong="G5101" was|strong="G1510" it|strong="G2532" still|strong="G2089" necessary|strong="G5532" that|strong="G3588" a|strong="G2532" priest|strong="G2409" of|strong="G1223" a|strong="G2532" different|strong="G2087" order|strong="G5010" should|strong="G3588" appear|strong="G1510", a|strong="G2532" priest|strong="G2409" of|strong="G1223" the|strong="G2532" order|strong="G5010" of|strong="G1223" Melchizedek|strong="G3198" and|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3756" of|strong="G1223" the|strong="G2532" order|strong="G5010" of|strong="G1223" Aaron?
12 With|strong="G1537" the|strong="G2532" change|strong="G3331" of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G2532" priesthood|strong="G2420" a|strong="G1096" change|strong="G3331" of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G2532" Law|strong="G3551" became|strong="G1096" a|strong="G1096" necessity.
13 And|strong="G3588" he|strong="G3739" of|strong="G1909" whom|strong="G3739" all|strong="G3588" this|strong="G3778" is|strong="G3588" said|strong="G3004" belonged to|strong="G1909" quite a|strong="G1909" different|strong="G2087" tribe|strong="G5443", no|strong="G3762" member of|strong="G1909" which|strong="G3739" has|strong="G3739" ever|strong="G3762" served at|strong="G1909" the|strong="G1909" altar|strong="G2379".
14 For|strong="G1063" it|strong="G3754" is|strong="G3588" plain that|strong="G3754" our|strong="G2962" Lord|strong="G2962" had|strong="G3739" sprung from|strong="G1537" the|strong="G1519" tribe|strong="G5443" of|strong="G1537" Judah|strong="G2455", though|strong="G3754" of|strong="G1537" that|strong="G3754" tribe|strong="G5443" Moses|strong="G3475" said|strong="G2980" nothing|strong="G3762" about|strong="G4012" their|strong="G4012" being|strong="G3739" priests|strong="G2409".
15 All|strong="G2532" this|strong="G3588" becomes even|strong="G2532" yet|strong="G2089" plainer when|strong="G2532" we|strong="G2532" remember that|strong="G3588" a|strong="G2532" new priest|strong="G2409" has|strong="G1510" appeared, resembling Melchizedek|strong="G3198",
16 and|strong="G1411" that|strong="G3739" he|strong="G3739" was|strong="G1096" appointed, not|strong="G3756" under|strong="G3756" a|strong="G1096" Law|strong="G3551" regulating only|strong="G3756" earthly matters, but|strong="G3551" by|strong="G2596" virtue|strong="G1411" of|strong="G3551" a|strong="G1096" life|strong="G2222" beyond|strong="G2596" the|strong="G2596" reach of|strong="G3551" death;
17 for|strong="G1063" that|strong="G3754" is|strong="G3588" the|strong="G1519" meaning of|strong="G2596" the|strong="G1519" declaration –
18 On|strong="G4254" the|strong="G2532" one|strong="G3588" hand|strong="G3303", we|strong="G1063" have|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" abolition of|strong="G1223" a|strong="G1096" previous regulation|strong="G1785" as|strong="G2532" being|strong="G1096" both|strong="G2532" inefficient and|strong="G2532" useless
19 (for|strong="G1063" the|strong="G1161" Law|strong="G3551" never|strong="G3762" brought|strong="G1161" anything|strong="G3762" to|strong="G1161" perfection); and|strong="G1161", on|strong="G1161" the|strong="G1161" other|strong="G1161" hand|strong="G1448", we|strong="G3739" have|strong="G3588" the|strong="G1161" introduction of|strong="G1223" a|strong="G1161" better|strong="G2909" hope|strong="G1680", which|strong="G3739" enables us to|strong="G1161" draw|strong="G1448" near|strong="G1448" to|strong="G1161" God|strong="G2316".
20 Then|strong="G2532" again|strong="G2532", the|strong="G2532" appointment of|strong="G2532" this|strong="G3588" new priest|strong="G2409" was|strong="G1510" ratified by|strong="G2596" an|strong="G2532" oath|strong="G3728", which|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" so|strong="G2532" with|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" Levitical priests|strong="G2409",
21 but|strong="G1161" his|strong="G1223" appointment was|strong="G3588" ratified by|strong="G1223" an|strong="G2532" oath|strong="G3728", when|strong="G1161" God|strong="G3004" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G1519" him|strong="G3588" –
22 And|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" oath shows the|strong="G2532" corresponding superiority of|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" covenant|strong="G1242" of|strong="G2532" which|strong="G2532" Jesus|strong="G2424" is|strong="G1096" appointed the|strong="G2532" surety|strong="G1450".
23 Again|strong="G2532", new Levitical priests|strong="G2409" are|strong="G1510" continually|strong="G1223" being|strong="G1510" appointed, because|strong="G1223" death|strong="G2288" prevents|strong="G2967" their|strong="G2532" remaining in|strong="G2532" office;
24 but|strong="G1161" Jesus remains|strong="G3306" for|strong="G1519" all|strong="G1161" time, and|strong="G1161" therefore|strong="G1223" the|strong="G1519" priesthood|strong="G2420" that|strong="G3588" he|strong="G1161" holds|strong="G2192" will|strong="G2192" never pass to|strong="G1519" another|strong="G3588".
25 And|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3588" is|strong="G3588" why|strong="G1223" he|strong="G2532" is|strong="G3588" able|strong="G1410" to|strong="G1519" save|strong="G4982" perfectly those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" come|strong="G4334" to|strong="G1519" God|strong="G2316" through|strong="G1223" him|strong="G3588", living|strong="G2198" for|strong="G1519" ever|strong="G3842", as|strong="G1519" he|strong="G2532" does|strong="G2316", to|strong="G1519" intercede|strong="G1793" on|strong="G1519" their|strong="G2532" behalf|strong="G5228".
26 This|strong="G3588" was|strong="G1096" the|strong="G2532" high|strong="G5308" priest that|strong="G3588" we|strong="G1063" needed – holy|strong="G3741", innocent, spotless, withdrawn from|strong="G2532" sinners, exalted|strong="G5308" above|strong="G5308" the|strong="G2532" highest heaven|strong="G3772",
27 one|strong="G3739" who|strong="G3739" has|strong="G2192" no|strong="G3756" need|strong="G2192" to|strong="G2596" offer|strong="G4374" sacrifices|strong="G2378" daily|strong="G2250" as|strong="G5618" those|strong="G3588" high priests have|strong="G2192", first|strong="G4386" for|strong="G1063" their|strong="G1438" own|strong="G2398" sins, and|strong="G2250" then|strong="G1899" for|strong="G1063" those|strong="G3588" of|strong="G2250" the|strong="G2596" people|strong="G2992". For|strong="G1063" this|strong="G3778" he|strong="G3739" did|strong="G4160" once|strong="G2178" and|strong="G2250" for|strong="G1063" all|strong="G2596", when|strong="G3739" he|strong="G3739" offered|strong="G4374" himself|strong="G1438" as|strong="G5618" the|strong="G2596" sacrifice|strong="G2378".
28 The|strong="G1519" Law|strong="G3551" appoints|strong="G2525" as|strong="G1519" high priests men|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3588" weak, but|strong="G1161" the|strong="G1519" words|strong="G3056" of|strong="G5207" God|strong="G1519"’s|strong="G2192" oath|strong="G3728", which|strong="G3588" was|strong="G3588" later|strong="G3326" than the|strong="G1519" Law|strong="G3551", name the|strong="G1519" Son|strong="G5207" as|strong="G1519", for|strong="G1063" all|strong="G1161" time, the|strong="G1519" perfect|strong="G5048" priest.