Hebrews 7

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A comparison between the priesthood of Melchizedec and that of Christ

For this Melchizedek, the king of Salem, a priest of the Most High God, who gave Abraham his blessing, meeting him when he came back after putting the kings to death, For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
And to whom Abraham gave a tenth part of everything which he had, being first named King of righteousness, and then in addition, King of Salem, that is to say, King of peace; to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace;
Being without father or mother, or family, having no birth or end to his life, being made like the Son of God, is a priest for ever. without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God), remains a priest continually.

The excellence of Christ's priesthood above the Levitical priesthood is made clear

Now see how great this man was, to whom our father Abraham gave a tenth part of what he had got in the fight. Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best spoils.
And it is true that by the law, those of the sons of Levi who have the position of priests may take a tenth part of the people's goods; that is to say, they take it from their brothers though these are the sons of Abraham. They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham,
But this man, who was not of their family, took the tenth from Abraham, and gave a blessing to him to whom God had given his undertaking. but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.
But there is no doubt that the less gets his blessing from the greater. But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.
Now at the present time, men over whom death has power take the tenth; but then it was taken by one of whom it is witnessed that he is living. Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives.
And we may say that in Abraham, even Levi, who has a right to take the tenth part, gave it; We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,
Because he was still in his father's body when Melchizedek came to him. for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.

This is applied to Christ

Now if it was possible for things to be made complete through the priests of the house of Levi (for the law was given to the people in connection with them), what need was there for another priest who was of the order of Melchizedek and not of the order of Aaron? Now if there were perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
Because if the priests are changed, it is necessary to make a change in the law. For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.
For he of whom these things are said comes of another tribe, of which no man has ever made offerings at the altar. For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.
Because it is clear that our Lord comes out of Judah, and Moses said nothing about priests from that tribe. For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
And this is even more clear if a second priest has come up who is like Melchizedek, This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest,
That is to say, not made by a law based on the flesh, but by the power of a life without end: who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life:
For it has been witnessed of him, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. for it is testified, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
So the law which went before is put on one side, because it was feeble and without profit. For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
(Because the law made nothing complete), and in its place there is a better hope, through which we come near to God. (for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
And as this is not without the taking of an oath Inasmuch as he was not made priest without the taking of an oath
(For those were made priests without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by him who says of him, The Lord gave his oath, which he will not take back, that you are a priest for ever); (for they indeed have been made priests without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’”
By so much is it a better agreement which we have through Jesus. By so much, Jesus has become the collateral of a better covenant.
And it is true that there have been a great number of those priests, because death does not let them go on for ever; Many, indeed, have been made priests, because they are hindered from continuing by death.
But this priest, because his life goes on for ever, is unchanging. But he, because he lives forever, has his priesthood unchangeable.
So that he is fully able to be the saviour of all who come to God through him, because he is ever living to make prayer to God for them. Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.

The faith and hope of the church encouraged from this

It was right for us to have such a high priest, one who is holy and without evil, doing no wrong, having no part with sinners, and made higher than the heavens: For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Who has no need to make offerings for sins every day, like those high priests, first for himself, and then for the people; because he did this once and for ever when he made an offering of himself. who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.
The law makes high priests of men who are feeble; but the word of the oath, which was made after the law, gives that position to a Son, in whom all good is for ever complete. For the law appoints men as high priests who have weakness, but the word of the oath which came after the law appoints a Son forever who has been perfected.
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