[[Hebrews 6|<< Hebrews 6]] | [[Hebrews|Hebrews]] | [[Hebrews 8|Hebrews 8 >>]] ### Hebrews 7 1 FOR this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; ^1 2 To 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; ^2 3 Without 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. ^3 4 Now consider how great this man _was_, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. ^4 5 And 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 come out of the loins of Abraham: ^5 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. ^6 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. ^7 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he _receives_ _them_, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. ^8 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham. ^9 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. ^10 11 If 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 Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? ^11 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. ^12 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. ^13 14 For _it_ _is_ evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. ^14 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there arises another priest, ^15 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. ^16 17 For he testifies, Thou _art_ a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. ^17 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. ^18 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope _did;_ by the which we draw nigh unto God. ^19 20 And inasmuch as not without an oath _he_ _was_ _made_ _priest:_ ^20 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 repent, Thou _art_ a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) ^21 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. ^22 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: ^23 24 But this _man_, because he continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood. ^24 25 Wherefore 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. ^25 26 For such an high priest became us, _who_ _is_ holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; ^26 27 Who 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. ^27 28 For the law makes men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, _makes_ the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. ^28