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;
02 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;
03 Without father, without mother, without
descent, having neither beginning of days, nor
end of life; but made like unto the Son of God;
abideth a priest continually.
04 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom
even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the
spoils.
05 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:
06 But he whose descent is not counted from them
received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that
had the promises.
07 And without all contradiction the less is
blessed of the better.
08 And here men that die receive tithes; but
there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed
that he liveth.
09 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth
tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father,
when Melchisedec met him.
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?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is
made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken
pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave
attendance at the altar.
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14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of
Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing
concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after
the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth
another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal
commandment, but after the power of an endless
life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever
after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the
commandment going before for the weakness and
unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the
bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we
draw nigh unto God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was
made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath;
but this with an oath by him that said unto him,
The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a
priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better
testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they
were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath
an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the
uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he
ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is
holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,
and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth 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.
28 For the law maketh men high priests which have
infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was
since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated
for evermore.
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