Melkisedek i Abraham
1Melkisedek je bio šalemski kralj i svećenik Svevišnjega Boga. Kad se Abraham vraćao iz bitke u kojoj je pobijedio nekoliko kraljeva, Melkisedek mu je izišao u susret i blagoslovio ga. 2Tada je Abraham uzeo desetinu od svega što je u ratu osvojio i dao Melkisedeku, čije ime najprije znači “Kralj pravednosti”, a zatim i “Kralj mira”, jer šalem znači “mir”. 3U Svetome pismu nije zapisano ništa o njegovu ocu i majci ni o njegovu rodoslovlju, kao ni o datumima njegova rođenja i smrti. On je sličan Božjemu Sinu jer kao da zauvijek ostaje svećenikom.
4Razmotrite kako je velik bio Melkisedek: veliki izraelski patrijarh Abraham priznao ga je velikim dajući mu desetinu od najboljeg plijena. 5Svećenicima, Levijevim potomcima, Zakon je nalagao da ubiru desetinu od svih, iako su im bili rođaci jer su svi bili Abrahamovi potomci. 6Ali Melkisedek, koji nije bio u srodstvu s levitima, uzeo je desetinu od Abrahama, koji je imao Božje obećanje, i blagoslovio ga. 7A neprijeporno je da uvijek onaj tko je veći blagoslivlja manjega. 8Židovski su svećenici, iako smrtnici, primali desetinu, a za Melkisedeka Bog kao da svjedoči da još živi—jer u Svetome pismu nije zabilježeno ništa o njegovoj smrti. 9Moglo bi se čak reći da su i Levijevi potomci, koji ubiru desetinu, dali Melkisedeku desetinu kroz svojega pretka Abrahama. 10Jer iako se Levi tada još nije ni rodio, sjeme iz kojega je proistekao bilo je u Abrahamovu boku kad je Melkisedek od njega ubrao desetinu.
11Da je levitsko svećenstvo moglo ispuniti Božju nakanu—a na njemu se temeljio Zakon—zašto bi još bilo potrebno da Bog pošalje drukčijeg svećenika, sličnoga Melkisedeku, a ne iz Aronova reda?
12Ako se mijenja svećenstvo, mora se promijeniti i zakon koji će to omogućiti. 13Jer taj o kojemu je riječ pripada drugom plemenu, pripadnici kojega ne služe za oltarom. 14Jasno je, naime, da je naš Gospodin podrijetlom iz Judina plemena, koje Mojsije nikad nije spomenuo u svezi sa svećenstvom.
Isus kao Melkisedek i postao je jamcem boljega saveza
15Promjena u Zakonu još je očitija zbog činjenice da je postavljen drugi svećenik, sličan Melkisedeku. 16On svećenikom nije postao stoga što je zadovoljavao stari zahtjev da pripada Levijevu plemenu, već snagom neuništivog života. 17Sveto pismo svjedoči o Kristu:
“Ti si svećenik zauvijek
i po tome sličan Melkisedeku.”7:17 Psalam 110:4.
18Stara zapovijed više ne vrijedi jer je bila nedjelotvorna i nekorisna. 19Zakon nije ništa priveo k savršenstvu. Zato nam je dano nešto bolje čemu se možemo nadati, što će nas približiti Bogu.
20Bog se zakleo da će Krist zauvijek biti svećenikom, što za druge svećenike nikada nije učinio. 21Jedino je njemu rekao:
“Gospodin se zakleo
i neće to opovrgnuti:
‘Ti si svećenik zauvijek.’”7:21 Psalam 110:4.
22Božjom je zakletvom Isus postao jamcem boljega saveza.
23U starome sustavu bilo je mnogo svećenika jer ih je smrt priječila da trajno ostanu: kad bi jedan svećenik umro, na njegovo bi mjesto došao drugi. 24Ali Isus ostaje svećnikom zauvijek i njegovo svećeništvo neće proći. 25Zato on jednom zauvijek može spasiti svakoga tko po njemu pristupi k Bogu. On zauvijek živi i posreduje za njih.
26Takav nam veliki svećenik i treba—svet, nedužan, neokaljan grijehom, odvojen je od grešnika i uzvišeniji od nebesa. 27Ne mora svakoga dana prinositi žrtve poput drugih svećenika. Oni su to činili za vlastite grijehe, a zatim za grijehe drugih ljudi. Ali Isus je to učinio jednom zauvijek žrtvujući se na križu. 28Veliki svećenici iz Mojsijeva doba bili su samo ljudi podložni slabostima. Ali nakon Zakona Bog je zakletvom na to mjesto postavio svojega Sina, zauvijek savršena.
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.
