7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

7:2 to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, “king of righteousness”, and then also “king of Salem”, which means “king of peace”,

7:3 his genealogy is not recorded, nor the beginning of his days or the end of his life, and he remained a priest throughout his life.

7:4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth out of the best plunder.

7:5 They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham,

7:6 but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.

7:7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

7:8 Here people who die receive tithes, but there one received tithes whose death is not recorded.

7:9 We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,

7:10 for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.

7:11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another messenger to arise in the way of Melchizedek, and not be called after the way of Aaron?

7:12 For when the ministry changes, God renews His guidance as He decrees.

7:13 For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has served at the altar.

7:14 For it is evident that our master Jesus has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

7:15 This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another messenger,

7:16 who has been made, not by a fleshly commandment of descent, but by the power of God, whose honor endures;

7:17 for it is testified, “You are a servant forever, according to the way of Melchizedek.”

7:18 For God sets aside a foregoing commandment and replaces it with a better one, according to the needs of the people.

7:19 (for no law makes anyone perfect except through devotion to God), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

7:20 Inasmuch as he was not made a messenger without a covenant from God

7:21 (for they indeed have been made priests without such a covenant), but he with a covenant from Him who says of him, “God has decreed, and it will not change: You are a servant forever, according to the way of Melchizedek.”

7:22 By so much, Jesus has become a witness to a better covenant.

7:23 Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.

7:24 But he, because God has raised him and he lives with God, has a ministry that remains.

7:25 Therefore he guides to the uttermost those who draw near to God by following his teaching, and any intercession is only by God’s permission.

7:26 For such a servant of God was fitting for us: righteous, guiltless, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and raised to a high station near God;

7:27 who doesn’t need, like those priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he devoted his whole life to God once for all.

7:28 For the law appoints men as priests who have weakness, but the word of the covenant, which came after the law, appoints a righteous servant forever who has been perfected.