God's
oath appoints the Son who has been perfected forever, who
is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through
Him!
Hebrews
7
"For
this Melchizedek, King of Salem, priest of the Most High God,
who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings
and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of
all, first being translated 'king of righteousness,' and then
also king of Salem, meaning 'king of peace,' without father,
without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning
of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains
a priest continually.
"Now
consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch
Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed those who are
of the sons of Levi, who received the priesthood, have a commandment
to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that
is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins
of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them
received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the
better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives
them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who
receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak,
for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek
met him.
"Therefore,
if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under
it the people received the law), what further need was there
that another priest should rise according to the order of
Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also
a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken
belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated
at the altar.
"For
it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe
Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far
more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises
another priest who has come, not according to the law of a
fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless
life. For he testifies: 'You are a priest forever according
to the order of Melchizedek' (Psalm 110:4).
"For
on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment
because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law
made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing
in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
"And
inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for they
have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by
Him who said to Him: 'The Lord has sworn and will not relent,
"You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek"
' (Psalm 110.4), by so much more Jesus has become a surety
of a better covenant.
"Also
there were many priests, because they were prevented by death
from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has
an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save
to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since
He always lives to make intercession for them.
"For
such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than
the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests,
to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for
the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered
up Himself.
"For
the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but
the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the
Son who has been perfected forever."
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