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.
大祭司麥基洗德
1這位麥基洗德是撒冷王，也是至高上帝的祭司。當年亞伯拉罕殺敗眾王凱旋歸來的時候，麥基洗德迎上去為他祝福， 2亞伯拉罕把戰利品的十分之一給了他。麥基洗德這名字的原意是「公義之王」，後來他又被稱為撒冷王，意思是「和平之王」。 3他的父母、族譜、生辰、壽數都不得而知，他跟上帝的兒子相似，永遠擔任祭司的職分。
4試想，連我們的祖先亞伯拉罕都將戰利品的十分之一給了他，可見他是何等的尊貴！ 5按照猶太人的律法，那些承襲做祭司的利未後裔可以照例向自己的同胞，就是亞伯拉罕的後裔，收取十分之一。 6但這位與猶太人沒有血緣關係的麥基洗德，不單接受了亞伯拉罕給他的十分之一，還為承受應許的亞伯拉罕祝福。 7毫無疑問，那為人祝福的總比領受祝福的位分大。 8收取十分之一的利未祭司都是會死的人，但那位收取十分之一的麥基洗德被證明仍然活著。 9這樣說來，連接受十分之一奉獻的利未也透過亞伯拉罕向麥基洗德納了十分之一。 10因為亞伯拉罕遇見麥基洗德時，利未雖然還沒有出生，卻已經在他祖先的身體裡面了。
大祭司耶穌
11猶太人在利未祭司制度的基礎上承受了律法，如果通過這個祭司制度可以達到純全，又何必照麥基洗德的模式而不是亞倫的模式，另外興起一位祭司呢？ 12既然這祭司制度更改了，律法也必須更改。 13因為這裡所說的這位祭司屬於別的支派，那支派裡從來沒有在祭壇前供職的祭司。 14顯然，我們的主基督屬於猶大支派，摩西從來沒有說這個支派會出祭司。
15-16如果照麥基洗德的模式另外興起一位祭司，祂做祭司不是照律法要求的血統關係，而是照不能朽壞之生命的大能，事情就更加清楚了。 17因為有一處經文為祂做見證說：「你照麥基洗德的模式永遠做祭司。」 18以前的條例由於本身的弱點和無益被廢除了， 19因為律法並沒有使人變得純全。但如今，我們可以藉著一個更美好的盼望來到上帝面前。
20此外，耶穌做祭司並非沒有誓言作保，其他人做祭司沒有誓言作保。 21上帝只對耶穌說過：
「主起了誓，絕不反悔，
你永遠做祭司。」
22這誓言使耶穌成了更美之約的保證人。 23以前做祭司的人數極多，但因為受死亡的限制，都不能長久擔任聖職。 24然而，基督永遠活著，祂的祭司職位也永不更改。 25所以祂能拯救那些靠著祂來到上帝面前的人，直到永遠，因為祂永遠活著，為他們祈求。
26我們所需要的，正是這樣一位聖潔無瑕、良善純全、遠離罪惡、超越諸天的大祭司。 27祂無需像其他大祭司每天先為自己的罪獻祭，然後為百姓的罪獻祭，因為祂只一次獻上自己的生命，便永遠完成了贖罪的工作。 28根據律法所立的大祭司都有弱點，但律法之後憑誓言所立的大祭司——上帝的兒子永遠純全。
