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;
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;
3 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.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
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:
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9 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.
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.

1For this Melchisedec king of Salem, Priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the Kings, and blessed him:

2To whom also Abraham gaue a tenth part of all: first being by interpretation king of righteousnesse, and after that also king of Salem, which is, king of peace.

3Without father, without mother, without descent, hauing neither beginning of dayes nor end of life: but made like vnto the Sonne of God, abideth a Priest continually.

4Now consider how great this man was, vnto whō euen the patriarch Abraham gaue the tenth of the spoiles.

5And verily they that are of the sonnes of Leui, who receiue the office of the Priesthood, haue a commandement to take Tithes of the people according to the Law, that is of their brethren, though they come out of the loines of Abraham:

6But he whose descent is not counted from them, receiued tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7And without all contradiction, the lesse is blessed of the better.

8And here men that die receiue tithes: but there hee receiueth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liueth.

9And as I may so say, Leui also who receiueth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

10For hee was yet in the loynes of his Father when Melchisedec met him.

11If therefore perfection were by the Leuiticall Priesthood (for vnder it the people receiued the Law) what further neede was there, that another Priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not bee called after the order of Aaron?

12For the Priesthood being chaunged, there is made of necessitie a change also of the Law.

13For hee of whom these things are spoken, pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gaue attendance at the Altar.

14For it is euident that our Lorde sprang out of Iuda, of which tribe Moses spake nothing cōcerning Priesthood.

15And it is yet farre more euident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another Priest,

16Who is made not after the Law of a carnall commandement, but after the power of an endles life.

17For hee testifieth; Thou art a Priest for euer, after the order of Melchisedec.

18For there is verily a disanulling of the commandement going before, for the weakenesse and vnprofitablenesse thereof.

19For the Law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did: by the which wee draw nigh vnto God.

20And in as much as not without an othe he was made Priest,

21(For those Priests were made without an oath: but this with an oath, by him þt said vnto him, The Lord sware and wil not repent, thou art a Priest for euer after the order of Melchisedec)

22By so much was Iesus made a suertie of a better Testament.

23And they truely were many Priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death.

24But this man because hee continueth euer, hath an vnchangeable Priesthood.

25Wherefore he is able also to saue them to the vttermost, that come vnto God by him, seeing hee euer liueth to make intercession for them.

26For such an high Priest became vs, who is holy, harmelesse, vndefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher then the heauens.

27Who needeth not daily, as those high Priests, to offer vp sacrifice, first for his owne sins and then for the peoples: for this he did once, when he offered vp himselfe.

28For the Law maketh men high Priests which haue infirmitie, but the word of the othe which was since the Law, maketh the Sonne, who is consecrated for euermore.

 

1 This "Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High,""met Abraham as he returned from his defeat of the kings" and "blessed him." 2 And Abraham apportioned to him "a tenth of everything." His name first means righteous king, and he was also "king of Salem," that is, king of peace. 3 Without father, mother, or ancestry, without beginning of days or end of life, thus made to resemble the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. 4 See how great he is to whom the patriarch "Abraham (indeed) gave a tenth" of his spoils. 5 The descendants of Levi who receive the office of priesthood have a commandment according to the law to exact tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, although they also have come from the loins of Abraham. 6 But he who was not of their ancestry received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises. 7 Unquestionably, a lesser person is blessed by a greater. 8 In the one case, mortal men receive tithes; in the other, a man of whom it is testified that he lives on. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, was tithed through Abraham, 10 for he was still in his father's loins when Melchizedek met him. 11 If, then, perfection came through the levitical priesthood, on the basis of which the people received the law, what need would there still have been for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not reckoned according to the order of Aaron? 12 When there is a change of priesthood, there is necessarily a change of law as well. 13 Now he of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, of which no member ever officiated at the altar. 14 It is clear that our Lord arose from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 It is even more obvious if another priest is raised up after the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become so, not by a law expressed in a commandment concerning physical descent but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. 17 For it is testified: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." 18 On the one hand, a former commandment is annulled because of its weakness and uselessness, 19 for the law brought nothing to perfection; on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20 And to the degree that this happened not without the taking of an oath   - for others became priests without an oath, 21 but he with an oath, through the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: 'You are a priest forever'" -  22 to that same degree has Jesus (also) become the guarantee of an (even) better covenant. 23 Those priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, 24 but he, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. 25 Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them. 26 It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. 27 He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.

V1-3, Melchizedek represents Christ perpetual.
v4-22  Christ  is represented as the perfect priest.
v23-28, in person he is a perpetual and perfect priest.
v 1. Melchizedek occurred once in history at his brief encounter with Abraham, Gen 14:18-20, and was significantly mentioned in Psalms 110:4. Whereas in Heb. 6:17,18 the Lord spoke of two things which could not change, His promise and His oath which confirmed the promise, a third thing is added in Psalms. To the Lord’s oath it is added, “and will not repent.” Melchizedek has already been mentioned two times in Hebrews, but now a detailed description is given. Some godly teachers believe that Melchizedek was actually Christ incarnate. However we note that it is not said that Christ is Melchizedek, but that He is after the order, rank or office (king and priest) of Melchizedek. That he was from among mere men, Heb. 5:1, rules out angels or the Holy Spirit, and even rules out the Son of God, until he became man at birth. (A few think this could have been Shem, but It is very unlikely that Shem would have been in that area.)  Old Jewsh writers believed he was simply a godly Canannite man.
v 2. Though Melchizedek was a Gentile, his spiritual superiority to God’s chosen vessel, Abraham, is seen by him blessing Abraham and accepting his tithes.  His name means “King of Righteousness”, and since he was king of Salem  which means peace, he was also “King of Peace”. It does not necessarily mean he was king of Jerusalem or of another town, Salem, which was not far away, but geographically it surely was Jerusalem. I consider him definitely not Christ incarnate.
v 3. It is not that he had no father, mother, or had not been born or died, but that none of these things were recorded in the register of the Levitical priesthood, as done . B by the Jews. When my mother applied for Social Security, her name was not on the Madison Co. IA register, and she was considered by the government as a non person. (The overworked country doctor probably thought such a tiny baby as she was would die in those days, and had merely listed a nameless “girl” with the wrong birth date. By family Bible records etc., we got her admitted to the legal register.) Melchizedek was a type of Christ in the following major ways:
A. Not of the Levitical tribe
B. Superior to Abraham
C. Whose beginning and end are unknown (or forever, Heb. 6:20)
C. Who is not only a priest, but also a king of righteousness and peace
v 4. It would have been hard for the Jews to accept that even for a short time, anyone was superior to Abraham. They challenged Jesus on this, John 8:53-59. But here it is boldly pointed out that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham. In Gen. 14:8, he brings bread and wine, maybe suggesting they looked forward to the coming of Christ, maybe just hospitable. In verses19, 20. this Gentile recognizes the Lord as “the most high God.” possesor of heaven and earth. Principal of tithes was before the Law was given. (or 1 Cor. 16:2 give as God prospers.)
v 5. Here are contrasts in tithe giving:
A. Israel’s priests took tithes of brethren, but Melchizedek was not kin to Abraham
B. Israel paid tithes at God’s command, Abraham tithed to Melchizedek voluntarily
C. Israel paid tithes to a succession of priests, but Melchizedek stands alone in priesthood, no one having succeeded him
v 6-8. The very fact that Melchizedek blessed Abraham, aside from the fact of receiving his tithe,  was ample proof that he was superior or better.
v 9,10. Having proven that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham, it is now pointed out that as a result, he was also greater than the Levitical priesthood. The writer is building up to point out that Christ is greater than the Levitical priesthood.
v 11,12. The imperfections of the law and the imperfections of the priesthood are inseparable, so God has established a different priesthood. The point to the Jewish Christians was, “Why are you looking to the Aaronic priesthood as well as to Christ?” They were Christians but trying to live according to the old law. Perhaps there are many Catholics who are saved but continue to try to live by the practices of the Roman Church. Perhaps we Christians too, are seeking to do our own works and self efforts and giving instead of offering ourselves a living sacrifice unto God, Rom. 12:1.
v 13,14. The same word for pertaineth is partaker. As Melchizedek, Ps. 110:4 was not a part of the tribe of Levi, Christ was of the tribe of Judah, the kingly line of David.
v 15-17. Again referring to Ps. 110:4, the contention is made that while the Levitical priests were subject to the flesh and death, Christ would not only live forever, but He would be priest forever. His death was atonement for our sins, but his resurrection and priestly work in heaven were necessary for our justification.
v 18,19. The law was imperfect and ineffective, so it was disannulled or replaced, to introduce a better hope by which we can come to God.and be made perfect.
v 20-22. The Levitical priests took office by commandment and that commandment passed it on to their successors at death. However Christ's position came by oath from God, which makes sure a stronger, better and more advantageous agreement.
v 23, 24. There had been many priests because of death, but Christ lives forever, so His priesthood is unchanging.
v 25. Since Christ lives to make intercession for us forever, he is able to save us, that is deliver us, keep us completely saved and for all eternity. Eternal Security and constant intercessor. Cp. Lk. 9:23-26, save our value, or the value of our souls.
v 26. Having experienced our problems as a man, Christ was perfectly adapted to represent our needs, and as a man He was sinless, so He was acceptable to God.
v 27,28. Under the law, priests had to repeatedly first offer sacrifice for his own sins, then for the people. Christ was perfect, so he needed to only offer himself as a sacrifice once. His appointment was permanent and He remains perfect forever.
(At the time of Christ the high priest was offering daily for his own sins, but under the law of Moses this was to have been once a year.