the Week of Proper 26 / Ordinary 31
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Hebrews 7
Melchizedek's Priesthood Like Christ's
1 For this (C1)Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the (C2)Most High God, met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of all the spoil. He is, first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, which means king of peace.3 Without (F1)any record of father or mother, nor (C1)ancestral line, without any record of beginning of days (birth) nor ending of life (death), but having been made like (C2)the Son of God, he remains a priest without interruption and without successor.
4 Now pause and consider how great this man was to whom Abraham, the (C1)patriarch, (C2)gave a tenth of the spoils.5 It is true that (C1)those descendants of Levi who are charged with the priestly office are commanded in the Law to collect tithes from the people—which means, from their kinsmen—though these have descended from Abraham.6 But this person Melchizedek (C1)who is not from their Levitical ancestry (C2)received tithes from Abraham and (C2)blessed him who (C3)possessed the promises of God.7 Yet it is beyond all dispute that the lesser person is always blessed by the greater one.8 Furthermore, here in the Levitical priesthood tithes are received by men who are subject to death; but in that case concerning Melchizedek, they are received by one (C1)of whom it is testified that he (F1)lives on perpetually.9 A person might even say that Levi the father of the priestly tribe himself, who received tithes, paid tithes through Abraham the father of all Israel and of all who believe,10 for Levi was still in the loins (unborn) of his forefather Abraham when Melchizedek met him (Abraham).
11 (C1)Now if perfection a perfect fellowship between God and the worshiper had been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for under it (C2)the people were given the Law) what further need was there for another and different kind of priest to arise, one (C3)in the manner of Melchizedek, rather than one appointed to the order of Aaron?12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is of necessity a change of the law concerning the priesthood as well.13 For (C1)the One of whom (C2)these things are said belonged not to the priestly line of Levi but to another tribe, from which no one has officiated or served at the altar.14 For it is evident that our Lord (C1)descended from the tribe of Judah, and Moses mentioned nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.15 And this becomes even more evident if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, (VR1)16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a (F1)(C1)physical and legal requirement in the Law concerning his ancestry as a descendant of Levi, but on the basis of the power of (C2)an indestructible and endless life.17 For it is attested by God of Him,
"(C1)YOU (Christ) ARE A PRIEST FOREVER
ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK." (VR1)
"(C1)THE LORD HAS SWORN
AND (C2)WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND or REGRET IT,
'YOU (Christ) ARE A PRIEST (C3)FOREVER'"). (VR1)
23 The former successive line of priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were each prevented by death from continuing perpetually in office;24 but, on the other hand, Jesus holds His priesthood permanently and without change, because He lives on (C1)forever.25 Therefore He is able also to (C1)save forever (completely, perfectly, for eternity) those who (C2)come to God through Him, since He always lives to (C3)intercede and intervene on their behalf with God.
26 It was fitting for us to have such a (C1)High Priest perfectly adapted to our needs, (C2)holy, (C3)blameless, unstained by sin, separated from sinners and (C4)exalted higher than the heavens;27 who has no day by day need, like those high priests, to (C1)offer sacrifices, (C2)first of all for his own personal sins and then for those of the people, because He met all the requirements and did this (C3)once for all when He (C4)offered up Himself as a willing sacrifice.28 For the Law appoints men as high priests (C1)who are weak frail, sinful, dying men, but the word of the oath of God, which came after the institution of the Law, permanently appoints as priest (C2)a Son (F1)(C3)who has been made perfect forever. (VR1)
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