Christ, a priest after the order of Melchisedec, is proved to be of a more excellent order than that of Aaron, 1from the character of Melchisedec, and his confessed superiority to Abraham and Levi; 11from the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood, which induced the necessity of a change to one more perfect; 20from the confirmation of Christ's priesthood by an oath; 23from the unchangeableness, 26and spotless innocence, of the person.
1FOR this aMelchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
a Ge. 14.17-20. Ps. 76.2; 57.2; 78.35,56. Da. 4.2; 5.18,21. Mi. 6.6. Mar. 5.7. Ac. 16.17. Ge. 16.14-16. Is. 41.2,3.
2To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation bKing of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
b Is. 32.1,2; 9.6,7. Ps. 45.6,7; 72.1-17. Je. 23.5,6; 33.15,16. Mi. 5.2. Ep. 2.14.
3Without father, without mother, without 1descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made clike unto the Son of God; abideth a priest dcontinually.
1Gr. pedigree.
c Is. 7.14. Je. 31.22. Lu. 1.34,35. Ps. 2.7. Jn. 1.14. Ro. 8.3. 1Ti. 1.17. v.17,25-28. ch. 1.2. d ch. 10.1,12,14.
4Now consider ehow great this man was , unto whom even the fpatriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
e Ge. 14.20. v.2,6,8. f Ac. 2.29; 7.8.
5And *verily gthey 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 hthe law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
*verily-indeed, truly.
g Nu. 18.21-26. De. 18.1. Jos. 14.2. 2Ch. 31.4,5,6. Ne. 13.10-12. h Jn. 10.34. Ro. 3.21.
6But he whose 2descent is not counted from them ireceived tithes of Abraham, and jblessed him that had the promises.
2Gr. pedigree.
i Ge. 14.20. j Ge. 12.2,3; 13.14-17. Ro. 4.13; 9.4. Ga. 3.16. Ac. 3.25.
7And without all contradiction kthe less is blessed of the better.
k Ge. 27; 49. De. 33. Ep. 1.3. ch. 1.4.
8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them , lof whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
l v.3,16. ch. 5.6. Re. 1.18.
9And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, mpayed tithes in Abraham.
m Ge. 14.20. Ac. 7.8.
10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
11nIf 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 oafter the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
n v.18,19. ch. 10.1,2; 8.7,8,10. Ga. 2.21; 3.21. o Ps. 110.4. ch. 5.6,10; 6.20. v.3,15,17,21. Ge. 14.17-20. Ex. 28. Le. 8; 9; 1-16. Nu. 15; 28; 29.
12For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of pJuda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
p Ge. 49.10. Is. 7.14; 11.1. Je. 23.5,6; 33.15,16. Mat. 1.3,16. Lu. 3.33. Ro. 1.3. 2Ti. 2.8. Re. 5.5; 22.16. Mi. 5.2.
15And it is yet far more evident: qfor that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
q Ps. 110.4. ch. 5.6,10; 6.20. v.3,11,17,21.
16Who is made, not after rthe law of a carnal commandment, but safter the power of an endless life.
r ch. 9.9,10,13; 10.1. Col. 2.5,14,20. Ep. 2.15. Ga. 4.3,9. s v.3,17,21,25,28. Re. 1.18.
17For he testifieth, tThou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
t Ps. 110.4. ch. 3.6,10; 6.20. v.1-3,21. Ge. 14.17-20.
18uFor there is *verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
*verily-indeed, truly.
u v.11,12,19. ch. 8.7,8,13; 10.1-9. Ga. 4.9. Ro. 8.3. Ps. 51.16. Is. 1.11-16; 66.3.
19vFor the law made nothing perfect, 3but the bringing in of wa better hope did ; by the which we xdraw nigh unto God.
3Or, but it was the bringing in. Ga. 3.24.
v ch. 10.1,2; 9.9. Ac. 13.39; 15.10. Ro. 3.20; 8.3. Ga. 2.16; 3.21,24. w ch. 11.40; 2.3,4; 4.14. v.3,20-28. Ga. 2.16. Ro. 8.3. Jn. 1.17. ch. 8.2,6. 1Ti. 1.1. Col. 1.27. x Ro. 5.2. Ep. 2.13,18; 3.12. ch. 4.16; 6.18-20; 10.19-22. Jn. 14.6.
20And inasmuch as not 4without an oath he was made priest :
4Or, without swearing of an oath.
21(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, yThe Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
y Ps. 110.4. v.11,17,28.
22By so much was Jesus made za surety of aa better testament.
z Ps. 40.6-8. Is. 53.4-6,10-12. Da. 9.24,26. Mat. 20.28. 2Co. 5.21. 1Pe. 2.24; 3.18. a ch. 8.6; 9.15; 12.24; 11.40.
23And bthey truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
b 1Ch. 6; 24. Ezr. 2.36-39. Ne. 7.39-42; 10.2-8; 11.10-14; 12.1-21.
24But this man , cbecause he continueth ever, hath 5an unchangeable priesthood.
5Or, a priesthood which passeth not from one to another.
c Is. 9.6,7. 1Ti. 1.17. Ro. 9.5; 6.9. Re. 1.18. Jn. 12.34. v.1,3,17,21,25,28. Ps. 110.4. 1Sa. 2.25. ch. 13.8.
25Wherefore dhe is able also to save them 6to the uttermost ethat come unto God by him, fseeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
6Or, evermore.
d Is. 45.22; 63.1. Jude 24. Jn. 10.7,9,10; 14.6. Ep. 2.13,18. 1Ti. 2.5. Jn. 6.37,40-57. e ch. 11.6. f Ro. 8.34. ch. 9.24. 1Jn. 2.1,2. Re. 8.3,4.
26gFor such an high priest became us, who is hholy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, iand made higher than the heavens;
g Ex. 28.36; 29.1. Le. 8; 9; 21; 22.4-6. Is. 53.9. Lu. 1.35. Ac. 3.14; 4.27. 2Co. 5.21. 1Pe. 2.22; 1.19. ch. 3.1; 4.15; 9.12,14. h Re. 15.4. i Mar. 16.19. Lu. 24.51. Ac. 1.9; 3.21. Ro. 8.34. ch. 1.3; 4.14,15; 2.10; 8.1; 9.24; 10.12-14. 1Pe. 3.22. Ep. 1.20-22.
27Who needeth not daily, as jthose high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for kthis he did lonce, when he offered up himself.
j Le. 9.7; 4.3; 16.6,11. Ro. 6.10. ch. 1.3; 5.3; 8.3; 9.7,12,28; 10.11,12,14. 1Pe. 2.24; 3.18. 2Co. 5.21. k ch. 9.14. l ch. 10.10.
28For the law maketh men high priests mwhich have infirmity; but the word of nthe oath, which was since the law, maketh othe Son, who is 7consecrated for evermore.
7Gr. perfected. Le. 21.10. ch. 5.9.
m ch. 5.1,2. Le. 4.3; 9.7; 21. n v.21. o ch. 1.2; 2.10; 4.14; 5.6,9,10; 7.3,17,21,25. Ps. 110.4.