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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;
(7:1)
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;
(7:2)
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
(7:3)
Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils
(7:4)
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:
(7:5)
But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises
(7:6)
And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better
(7:7)
And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth
(7:8)
And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham
(7:9)
For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him
(7:10)
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?
(7:11)
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law
(7:12)
For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar
(7:13)
For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood
(7:14)
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
(7:15)
Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life
(7:16)
For he testifieth, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec
(7:17)
For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof
(7:18)
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God
(7:19)
And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]:
(7:20)
(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:)
(7:21)
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament
(7:22)
And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
(7:23)
But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood
(7:24)
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
(7:25)
For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
(7:26)
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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
(7:27)
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
(7:28)
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