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Melchizedek Is Greater Than Abraham
This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him.
This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him.
Melchizedek and Abraham
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;
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;
Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means “king of justice,” and king of Salem means “king of peace.”
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;
There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors — no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.
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.
Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle.
Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
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:
But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God.
But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.
And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
The priests who collect tithes are men who die, so Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on.
And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
In addition, we might even say that these Levites — the ones who collect the tithe — paid a tithe to Melchizedek when their ancestor Abraham paid a tithe to him.
And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
For although Levi wasn’t born yet, the seed from which he came was in Abraham’s body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him.
For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
Jesus a Priest Like Melchizedek
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?
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?
And if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it.
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
For the priest we are talking about belongs to a different tribe, whose members have never served at the altar as priests.
For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
What I mean is, our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never mentioned priests coming from that tribe.
For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Jesus Is like Melchizedek
This change has been made very clear since a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has appeared.
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed.
Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless.
For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
This new system was established with a solemn oath. Aaron’s descendants became priests without such an oath,
And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
(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:)
Because of this oath, Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God.
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office.
And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever.
But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
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.
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins.
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.
The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever.
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.