Melchizedek the priest
1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means ‘king of righteousness’; then also, ‘king of Salem’ means ‘king of peace’. 3Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest for ever.
4Just think how great he was: even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people – that is, from their fellow Israelites – even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Jesus like Melchizedek
11If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood – and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood – why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no-one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is declared:
‘You are a priest for ever,
in the order of Melchizedek.’7:17 Psalm 110:4
18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
‘The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest for ever.” ’7:21 Psalm 110:4
22Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24but because Jesus lives for ever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely7:25 Or for ever those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26Such a high priest truly meets our need – one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect for ever.
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。
