大祭司麦基洗德
1这位麦基洗德是撒冷王，也是至高上帝的祭司。当年亚伯拉罕杀败众王凯旋归来的时候，麦基洗德迎上去为他祝福， 2亚伯拉罕把战利品的十分之一给了他。麦基洗德这名字的原意是“公义之王”，后来他又被称为撒冷王，意思是“和平之王”。 3他的父母、族谱、生辰、寿数都不得而知，他跟上帝的儿子相似，永远担任祭司的职分。
4试想，连我们的祖先亚伯拉罕都将战利品的十分之一给了他，可见他是何等的尊贵！ 5按照犹太人的律法，那些承袭做祭司的利未后裔可以照例向自己的同胞，就是亚伯拉罕的后裔，收取十分之一。 6但这位与犹太人没有血缘关系的麦基洗德，不单接受了亚伯拉罕给他的十分之一，还为承受应许的亚伯拉罕祝福。 7毫无疑问，那为人祝福的总比领受祝福的位分大。 8收取十分之一的利未祭司都是会死的人，但那位收取十分之一的麦基洗德被证明仍然活着。 9这样说来，连接受十分之一奉献的利未也透过亚伯拉罕向麦基洗德纳了十分之一。 10因为亚伯拉罕遇见麦基洗德时，利未虽然还没有出生，却已经在他祖先的身体里面了。
大祭司耶稣
11犹太人在利未祭司制度的基础上承受了律法，如果通过这个祭司制度可以达到纯全，又何必照麦基洗德的模式而不是亚伦的模式，另外兴起一位祭司呢？ 12既然这祭司制度更改了，律法也必须更改。 13因为这里所说的这位祭司属于别的支派，那支派里从来没有在祭坛前供职的祭司。 14显然，我们的主基督属于犹大支派，摩西从来没有说这个支派会出祭司。
15-16如果照麦基洗德的模式另外兴起一位祭司，祂做祭司不是照律法要求的血统关系，而是照不能朽坏之生命的大能，事情就更加清楚了。 17因为有一处经文为祂做见证说：“你照麦基洗德的模式永远做祭司。” 18以前的条例由于本身的弱点和无益被废除了， 19因为律法并没有使人变得纯全。但如今，我们可以借着一个更美好的盼望来到上帝面前。
20此外，耶稣做祭司并非没有誓言作保，其他人做祭司没有誓言作保。 21上帝只对耶稣说过：
“主起了誓，绝不反悔，
你永远做祭司。”
22这誓言使耶稣成了更美之约的保证人。 23以前做祭司的人数极多，但因为受死亡的限制，都不能长久担任圣职。 24然而，基督永远活着，祂的祭司职位也永不更改。 25所以祂能拯救那些靠着祂来到上帝面前的人，直到永远，因为祂永远活着，为他们祈求。
26我们所需要的，正是这样一位圣洁无瑕、良善纯全、远离罪恶、超越诸天的大祭司。 27祂无需像其他大祭司每天先为自己的罪献祭，然后为百姓的罪献祭，因为祂只一次献上自己的生命，便永远完成了赎罪的工作。 28根据律法所立的大祭司都有弱点，但律法之后凭誓言所立的大祭司——上帝的儿子永远纯全。
Melchizedek the Priest
1Melchizedek was the king of Salem. He was the priest of God Most High. He met Abraham, who was returning from winning a battle over some kings. Melchizedek blessed him. 2Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of what is right.” Also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3Melchizedek has no father or mother. He has no family line. His days have no beginning. His life has no end. He remains a priest forever. In this way, he is like the Son of God.
4Think how great Melchizedek was! Even our father Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had captured. 5Now the law lays down a rule for the sons of Levi who become priests. They must collect a tenth from the people. They must collect it from the other Israelites. They must do this, even though all of them belong to the family line of Abraham. 6Melchizedek did not trace his family line from Levi. But he collected a tenth from Abraham. Melchizedek blessed the one who had received the promises. 7Without a doubt, the more important person blesses the less important one. 8In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die. But in the other case, it is collected by the one who is said to be living. 9Levi collects the tenth. But we might say that Levi paid the tenth through Abraham. 10That’s because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in Abraham’s body.
Jesus Is Like Melchizedek
11The law that was given to the people called for the priestly system. That system began with Levi. Suppose the priestly system could have made people perfect. Then why was there still a need for another priest to come? And why did he need to be like Melchizedek? Why wasn’t he from Aaron’s family line? 12A change of the priestly system requires a change of law. 13We are talking about a priest who is from a different tribe. No one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14It is clear that our Lord came from the family line of Judah. Moses said nothing about priests who were from the tribe of Judah. 15But suppose another priest like Melchizedek appears. Then what we have said is even more clear. 16He has not become a priest because of a rule about his family line. He has become a priest because of his powerful life. His life can never be destroyed. 17Scripture says,
“You are a priest forever,
just like Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4)
18The old rule is set aside. It was weak and useless. 19The law didn’t make anything perfect. Now a better hope has been given to us. That hope brings us near to God.
20The change of priestly system was made with a promise. Others became priests without any promise. 21But Jesus became a priest with a promise. God said to him,
“The Lord has given his word and made a promise.
He will not change his mind. He has said,
‘You are a priest forever.’ ” (Psalm 110:4)
22Because God gave his word, Jesus makes certain the promise of a better covenant.
23There were many priests in Levi’s family line. Death kept them from continuing in office. 24But Jesus lives forever. So he always holds the office of priest. 25People now come to God through him. And he is able to save them completely and for all time. Jesus lives forever. He prays for them.
26A high priest like that really meets our need. He is holy, pure and without blame. He isn’t like other people. He does not sin. He is lifted high above the heavens. 27He isn’t like the other high priests. They need to offer sacrifices day after day. First they bring offerings for their own sins. Then they do it for the sins of the people. But Jesus gave one sacrifice for the sins of the people. He gave it once and for all time. He did it by offering himself. 28The law appoints as high priests men who are weak. But God’s promise came after the law. By his promise the Son was appointed. The Son has been made perfect forever.
