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Hebrews 7
1For this Melchizedek, of Salem, of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, “ of ”, and then also “king of Salem”, which means “king of peace”,
3without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the ), remains a continually.
4Now consider how great this man was, to whom even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth out of the best plunder.
5They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive ’s office have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham,
6but he whose genealogy is not counted from them has accepted tithes from Abraham, and has blessed him who has the promises.
7But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8Here people who die receive tithes, but there one receives tithes of whom it is testified that he lives.
9We can say that through Abraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes,
10for he was yet in the body of his father when Melchizedek met him.
11Now if perfection was through the Levitical (for under it the people have received the law), what further need was there for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12For the being changed, there is of necessity a change made also in the law.
13For he of whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the .
14For it is evident that our Lord has sprung out of Judah, about which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning .
15This is yet more abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another ,
16who has been made, not after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life;
17for it is testified, “You are a forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
18For there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and uselessness
19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
20Inasmuch as he was not made without the taking of an oath
21(for they indeed have been made without an oath), but he with an oath by him that says of him, “The Lord swore and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’”
22By so much, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better .
23Many, indeed, have been made , because they are hindered from continuing by death.
24But he, because he lives forever, has his unchangeable.
25Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
26For such a was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27who doesn’t need, like those high , to offer up daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.
28For the law appoints men as high who have weakness, but of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son forever who has been perfected.
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Questions this passage answers
How do I resist temptation?
Scripture says God always provides a way of escape, that temptation begins with desire inside us rather than with God, and that the ordinary means of resisting are watching, praying, walking by the Spirit, hiding God's word in the heart, and fleeing rather than negotiating. It does not promise that temptation stops, and it sends the tempted person to a High Priest who was tempted himself and can be approached for help.
What does the Bible say about contentment?
Scripture presents contentment as something learned rather than felt, grounded in a promise rather than in circumstances. Paul says he learned it in plenty and in hunger, Hebrews grounds it in God's word that he will never forsake us, and 1 Timothy calls godliness with contentment great gain while naming food and clothing as enough.
Who is Jesus?
Scripture introduces Jesus of Nazareth as a real man in real history who is also the eternal Word through whom everything was made. He is the promised Christ of Israel, the Son of God, crucified under Pontius Pilate, raised on the third day, and now confessed as Lord. The Bible never presents him only as a teacher, and it never lets him remain a private opinion. It records him asking his own followers the question and waiting for their answer.
Is Jesus God?
Scripture says yes, and it does not say it in one verse only. Jesus is called God directly, is said to have made all things, forgives sins, receives worship, and takes to himself words that the Old Testament reserves for Yahweh. At the same time he prays to the Father, obeys the Father and calls the Father greater. The Bible holds both together without apology, and the reader who wants an honest answer has to read the whole case rather than one proof text.