(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
A priest like Melchizedek
- For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, the man who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
- to whom Abraham also distributed a tenth of all. Indeed, when translated his name first means: “king of righteousness”, and then also “king of Salem”, that is “king of peace”.
- Without father, without mother, without genealogy; having neither beginning of days nor end of life. But having been made like the Son of God, he remains a priest continuously.
- And see how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth from the best spoils of war.
- And indeed, men from the sons of Levi – after receiving the office of priest – have a command to take a tenth from the people according to the law, (that is, from their brothers) though both have come from Abraham’s loin.
- But the man not tracing his ancestry from them has collected a tenth from Abraham and has blessed the man having the promises.
- And beyond all contention, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
- And indeed, dying men receive tithes here; but there it’s being testified that he lives.
- And, so to speak1“so to speak” is literally “so to a word to speak”, even Levi (the man receiving tithes) has paid tithes through Abraham,
- for he was still in the loin of his father when Melchizedek met him.
- Therefore, if perfection was indeed through the Levitical priesthood – for the people have received it under the law – why was there still need for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?
- For in the priesthood being changed; a change of law also happens by necessity.
- For the One about whom these things are spoken *belongs to another tribe, from which no one has attended the altar.
- For it’s obvious that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priests.
- And it’s still more abundantly evident if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,
- who hasn’t become a priest according to a fleshly commandment in the law, but according to the power of an indestructible life.
- For scripture testifies that: “You are a priest through the age, according to the order of Melchizedek.”2quotation/allusion to Psalm 110:4
- For indeed, a nullification of the preceding commandment happens because it’s weak and useless,
- for the law perfected nothing, but it’s an introduction to a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
- And accordingly it wasn’t without an oath; for indeed, other men *became and are priests without an oath.
- But He swore with an oath by the One saying to Him: “The Lord swore with an oath and won’t change His mind; you are a priest through the age.”3quotation/allusion to Psalm 110:4
- Accordingly, Jesus also has become the guarantee of a much better covenant.
- And indeed, the men who have become priests are many because they are prevented from continuing by death.
- But because He remains through the age, He has a permanent priesthood.
- For which reason, He is also able to save the men approaching God through Him to the utmost, always living to intercede on their behalf.
- For such a high priest indeed was fitting for us; holy, innocent, and undefiled; *separated from sinners and having become higher than the heavens,
- who doesn’t have a need to offer sacrifices every day as the high priests do – first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people – for He did this once for all in having offered Himself.
- For the law appoints men having weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath that’s after the law appoints a Son who has been perfected through the age.
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