Kuhani Melkizedeki
17:1 Za 76:2; Mk 5:7; Ebr 7:6; Mwa 14:18-20Kwa kuwa huyu Melkizedeki alikuwa mfalme wa Salemu na kuhani wa Mungu Aliye Juu Sana. Alipokutana na Abrahamu akirudi kutoka kuwashinda hao wafalme, Melkizedeki alimbariki, 2naye Abrahamu alimpa sehemu ya kumi7:2 Sehemu ya kumi mahali pengine huitwa fungu la kumi au zaka; sehemu ya kumi ya pato hutolewa kwa Mungu. ya kila kitu. Kwanza, jina hilo Melkizedeki maana yake ni “mfalme wa haki.” Na pia “mfalme wa Salemu” maana yake ni “mfalme wa amani.” 37:3 Ebr 7:6; Mt 4:3; Za 110:4Hana Baba wala mama, hana ukoo, hana mwanzo wala mwisho wa siku zake. Kama Mwana wa Mungu, yeye adumu akiwa kuhani milele.
47:4 Mwa 14:20; Mdo 2:29Tazama jinsi alivyokuwa mkuu: Hata Abrahamu, baba yetu mkuu, alimpa sehemu ya kumi ya nyara zake. 57:5 Hes 18:21, 26Basi sheria inawaagiza wana wa Lawi ambao hufanyika makuhani kupokea sehemu ya kumi kutoka kwa watu ambao ni ndugu zao, ingawa ndugu zao ni wazao wa Abrahamu. 67:6 Mwa 14:19, 20; Rum 4:13Huyu Melkizedeki, ingawa hakufuatia ukoo wake kutoka kwa Lawi, lakini alipokea sehemu ya kumi kutoka kwa Abrahamu na kumbariki yeye aliyekuwa na zile ahadi. 7Wala hakuna shaka kwamba mdogo hubarikiwa na aliye mkuu kumliko yeye. 87:8 Ebr 5:6; 6:20Kwa upande mmoja, sehemu ya kumi hupokelewa na wale ambao hupatikana na kufa; lakini kwa upande mwingine hupokelewa na yeye ambaye hushuhudiwa kuwa yu hai. 9Mtu anaweza hata kusema kwamba Lawi, ambaye hupokea sehemu ya kumi, alitoa hiyo sehemu ya kumi kupitia kwa Abrahamu, 10kwa sababu Melkizedeki alipokutana na Abrahamu, Lawi alikuwa bado katika viuno vya baba yake wa zamani.7:10 Yaani, alikuwa hajazaliwa.
Yesu Mfano Wa Melkizedeki
117:11 Ebr 7:18-19; 8:7; 10:1; 7:17; 5:6; Gal 2:21Kama ukamilifu ungeweza kupatikana kwa njia ya ukuhani wa Walawi (kwa kuwa katika msingi huo, sheria ilitolewa kwa watu), kwa nini basi imekuwepo haja ya kuja kuhani mwingine: kuhani kwa mfano wa Melkizedeki, wala si kwa mfano wa Aroni? 12Kwa kuwa yanapotokea mabadiliko ya ukuhani, pia lazima yawepo mabadiliko ya sheria. 137:13 Ebr 7:11, 14Yeye ambaye mambo haya yanasemwa alikuwa wa kabila lingine, na hakuna mtu wa kabila hilo aliyewahi kuhudumu katika madhabahu. 147:14 Isa 11:1; Mt 1:3; 2:6; Lk 3:33; Ufu 5:5Kwa maana ni dhahiri kwamba Bwana wetu alitoka katika uzao wa Yuda, tena kuhusu kabila hilo Mose hakusema lolote kwa habari za makuhani. 15Tena hayo tuliyosema yako wazi zaidi kama akitokea kuhani mwingine kama Melkizedeki, 16yeye ambaye amefanyika kuhani si kwa misingi ya sheria kama ilivyokuwa kwa baba zake, bali kwa misingi ya uwezo wa uzima usioharibika. 177:17 Za 110:4; Ebr 7:21; 5:6, 10; 6:20Kwa maana imeshuhudiwa kwamba:
“Wewe ni kuhani milele,
kwa mfano wa Melkizedeki.”
187:18 Rum 8:3; Gal 4:9Kwa upande mmoja, ile amri ya mwanzo isiyofaa na dhaifu imebatilishwa 197:19 Ebr 7:11; 9:9; 10:1; Rum 3:20; 7:7, 8; Gal 3:21; Yak 4:8(kwa maana sheria haikufanya kitu chochote kuwa kikamilifu). Kwa upande mwingine, tumeletewa tumaini lililo bora zaidi ambalo linatuleta karibu na Mungu.
20Nalo tumaini hilo halikutolewa pasipo kiapo! Wengine walikuwa makuhani pasipo kiapo chochote, 217:21 Za 110:4; Hes 23:19; 1Sam 15:29; Mal 3:6; Rum 1:29; Ebr 5:6lakini Yesu alifanywa kuhani kwa kiapo wakati Mungu alimwambia:
“Bwana ameapa
naye hatabadilisha mawazo yake:
‘Wewe ni kuhani milele.’ ”
227:22 Ebr 8:6; 9:15; 12:24; Lk 22:20Kwa ajili ya kiapo hiki, Yesu amekuwa mdhamini wa agano lililo bora zaidi.
23Basi pamekuwepo na makuhani wengi wa aina hiyo, kwa kuwa kifo kiliwazuia kuendelea na huduma yao ya ukuhani. 247:24 Ebr 7:28Lakini kwa sababu Yesu anaishi milele, anao ukuhani wa kudumu. 257:25 Rum 11:14; 8:34; Ebr 7:19; 1Tim 2:5; 1Yn 2:1Kwa hiyo anaweza kuwaokoa kabisa wale wanaomjia Mungu kupitia kwake, kwa sababu yeye adumu daima kuomba kwa ajili yao.
267:26 Ebr 4:15; 8:1; Efe 1:20; 4:10; 2Kor 5:21Kwa kuwa ilitupasa tuwe na Kuhani Mkuu wa namna hii, yaani, aliye mtakatifu, asiye na lawama, asiye na dosari, aliyetengwa na wenye dhambi na kuinuliwa juu ya mbingu. 277:27 Ebr 5:1, 3; Rum 6:10; Ebr 9:12, 26, 28; 10:10; 1Pet 3:18; Efe 5:2Yeye hahitaji kutoa dhabihu siku kwa siku kwa ajili ya dhambi, kwanza kwa ajili ya dhambi zake mwenyewe, kisha kwa ajili ya dhambi za watu kama wale makuhani wakuu wengine. Yeye alitoa dhabihu kwa ajili ya dhambi zao mara moja tu, alipojitoa mwenyewe. 287:28 Ebr 5:2; 1:2; 2:10Kwa kuwa sheria huwaweka makuhani wakuu watu ambao ni dhaifu; lakini lile neno la kiapo, lililokuja baada ya sheria, lilimweka Mwana, ambaye amefanywa kuwa mkamilifu milele.
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.
