The Unique Priesthood of Melchizedek

Hebrews 7

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him. Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. His name means first, “king of righteousness” and 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, he remains a priest forever.

Now y’all consider how great he was. Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of his plunder. Indeed, the sons of Levi who become priests have a commandment according to the law to collect tithes from the people— that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they too descended from the body of Abraham. But Melchizedek, who doesn’t share their ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. In one case humans who die receive tithes, but in another case, by one declared to be alive. It can be said that even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes through Abraham, for Levi was still in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.

The Unique Priesthood of Jesus

Now if perfection was possible through the Levitical priesthood—for on the basis of it the people received the law—what further need was there for another priest to arise, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, it is necessary for the law to change as well. For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord descended from Judah, but Moses didn’t say anything about priests in this tribe. And this is even more clear if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has been made priest, not by the law regulation of physical descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is testified,

“You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”+Psa 110:4

Indeed, the former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness for the law made nothing perfect, and a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. And it was not done without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, but Jesus did so through an oath by the one who said to him,

“The Lord [YHWH] swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’”+Psa 110:4

Accordingly, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

The former priests were greater in number because death hindered them from continuing, but because he lives forever, Jesus has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is also able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, because he lives forever to intercede for them.

For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He is not like those high priests, who need to offer sacrifices daily, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests humans who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son made perfect forever.