Hebrews 3:1
Jesus and Moses
3:1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partners in a heavenly calling, take note of Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess,
Hebrews 5:6
5:6 as also in another place God
says, “
You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
Hebrews 5:10
5:10 and he was designated
by God as high priest
in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:1-21
The Nature of Melchizedek’s Priesthood
7:1 Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him.
7:2 To him also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything. His name first means king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace.
7:3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time.
7:4 But see how great he must be, if Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of his plunder.
7:5 And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descendants of Abraham.
7:6 But Melchizedek who does not share their ancestry collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed the one who possessed the promise.
7:7 Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior,
7:8 and in one case tithes are received by mortal men, while in the other by him who is affirmed to be alive.
7:9 And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham.
7:10 For he was still in his ancestor Abraham’s loins when Melchizedek met him.
Jesus and the Priesthood of Melchizedek
7:11 So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis the people received the law – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?
7:12 For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come as well.
7:13 Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever officiated at the altar.
7:14 For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.
7:15 And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,
7:16 who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent but by the power of an indestructible life.
7:17 For here is the testimony about him: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
7:18 On the one hand a former command is set aside because it is weak and useless,
7:19 for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
7:20 And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation – for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation,
7:21 but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’” –