Ang Paring si Melkizedek
1Itong si Melkizedek ay hari noon sa Salem, at pari ng Kataas-taasang Dios. Nang pauwi na si Abraham mula sa pakikipaglaban sa mga haring nilupig niya, sinalubong siya ni Melkizedek at pinagpala. 2Pagkatapos, ibinigay sa kanya ni Abraham ang ikapu ng lahat ng nasamsam niya sa labanan. Ang kahulugan ng pangalang Melkizedek ay “Hari ng Katuwiran.” At dahil hari siya ng Salem, nangangahulugan na siyaʼy “Hari ng Kapayapaan.” 3Walang naisulat tungkol sa kanyang ama at ina o maging sa mga ninuno niya. At wala ring naisulat tungkol sa kanyang kapanganakan at kamatayan. Katulad siya ng Anak ng Dios; ang pagkapari niyaʼy walang hanggan. 4Isipin nʼyo na lang kung gaano kadakila si Melkizedek: Kahit na si Abraham na ama ng ating lahi ay nagbigay sa kanya ng ikapu mula sa lahat ng nasamsam niya sa labanan. 5Ayon sa Kautusan ni Moises, ang mga paring mula sa lahi ni Levi ang siyang tatanggap ng ikapu mula sa mga kapwa nila Judio, kahit na nagmula silang lahat kay Abraham. 6Hindi kabilang si Melkizedek sa lahi ni Levi, pero tumanggap siya ng ikapu mula kay Abraham at pinagpala pa niya si Abraham, ang taong pinangakuan ng Dios. 7At alam nating mas mataas ang nagpapala kaysa sa pinagpapala. 8Kung tungkol sa mga paring mula sa lahi ni Levi na tumatanggap ng ikapu, mga tao lang sila na may kamatayan. Pero pinatutunayan ng Kasulatan na si Melkizedek na tumanggap ng ikapu mula kay Abraham ay nananatiling buhay. 9At masasabi natin na kahit si Levi, na ang angkan niya ang tumatanggap ng ikapu, ay nagbigay din ng kanyang ikapu sa pamamagitan ni Abraham. 10Sapagkat nang magbigay si Abraham kay Melkizedek, masasabi nating si Levi ay nasa katawan pa ng ninuno niyang si Abraham.
11Alam natin na ang Kautusang ibinigay ng Dios sa mga Judio ay batay sa pagkapari na nanggaling sa lahi ni Levi. Kung makakamtan sa pamamagitan ng mga ginagawa ng mga paring ito ang pagiging matuwid, hindi na sana kakailanganin pa ang ibang pari na katulad ng pagkapari ni Melkizedek, na iba sa pagkapari ni Aaron. 12At kung papalitan ang pagkapari, kailangan ding palitan ang Kautusan. 13-14Ang ating Panginoong Jesus na siyang tinutukoy na ipinalit sa mga pari ay kabilang sa ibang lahi, dahil malinaw na galing siya sa lahi ni Juda at hindi kay Levi. At wala pang naglingkod kahit kailan bilang pari mula sa lahi ni Juda. Sapagkat nang sabihin ni Moises kung sino ang maaaring maging pari, wala siyang sinabi tungkol sa lahi ni Juda.
Si Jesus ay Katulad ni Melkizedek
15Lalo pang naging malinaw na pinalitan na ang mga paring mula sa lahi ni Levi nang magkaroon ng ibang pari na gaya ni Melkizedek. 16Naging pari siya, hindi dahil sa lahi niya ayon sa Kautusan, kundi dahil sa makapangyarihan niyang buhay na walang hanggan. 17Sapagkat ito ang sinasabi ng Kasulatan tungkol sa kanya: “Ikaw ay pari magpakailanman, ayon sa pagkapari ni Melkizedek.”7:17 Salmo 110:4. 18Kaya nga pinalitan na ng Dios ang dating Kautusan dahil mahina ito at hindi makakatulong sa atin, 19sapagkat walang naging matuwid sa paningin ng Dios sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod sa Kautusan. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit tayo binigyan ngayon ng mas mabuting pag-asa, at sa pamamagitan nitoʼy makakalapit na tayo sa Dios.
20Mas mabuti ang bagong pag-asang ito dahil nilakipan ito ng Dios ng panunumpa. Hindi siya nanumpa nang gawin niyang mga pari ang lahi ni Levi, 21pero nanumpa siya nang gawin niyang pari si Jesus. Ito ang sinasabi ng Kasulatan:
“Sumumpa ang Panginoon na ikaw ay pari magpakailanman.7:21 Salmo 110:4. At hindi magbabago ang pasya niya.”
22Kaya si Jesus ang naging katiyakan natin sa isang mas mabuting kasunduan. 23Maraming pari noon, dahil kapag namatay ang isa, pinapalitan siya ng isa upang maipagpatuloy ang mga gawain nila bilang mga pari. 24Ngunit si Jesus ay walang kamatayan, kaya hindi naililipat sa iba ang pagkapari niya. 25Kaya maililigtas niya nang lubos ang sinumang lumalapit sa Dios sa pamamagitan niya, dahil nabubuhay siya magpakailanman upang mamagitan para sa kanila.
26Kaya si Jesus ang punong pari na kailangan natin. Banal siya, walang kapintasan, walang kasalanan, hiwalay sa mga makasalanan, at itinaas ng higit pa sa kalangitan. 27Hindi siya katulad ng ibang punong pari na kailangang maghandog araw-araw para sa kasalanan niya, at pagkatapos, para naman sa mga kasalanan ng mga tao. Si Jesus ay minsan lang naghandog para sa lahat nang ialay niya ang kanyang sarili. 28Ang mga tao na naging punong pari ayon sa Kautusan ay may mga kahinaan. Ngunit ayon sa sinumpaan ng Dios matapos maibigay ang Kautusan, itinalaga niya ang kanyang Anak na maging punong pari magpakailanman, dahil natupad nito ang layunin ng Dios.
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.
