Hebrews 7:11-28 - The Superiority Of Jesus To Melchizedek

¹¹ Now if perfection had been reached through the Levitical priesthood -- for on it as a basis even the law was enacted for the people-- what further need would there have been of appointing a different priest, with the rank of Melchizedek, instead of designating one with the rank of Aaron? ¹² For when a change in the priesthood takes place, a change in its law necessarily takes place. ¹³ For He of whom this is said became a member of a different tribe no member of which ever officiated at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is very clear that our Lord sprang from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing as to priests.

¹⁵ And it is still more overwhelmingly clear, since a different priest in the likeness of Melchizedek is appointed, ¹⁶ who is appointed not on the basis of a physical qualification but on the basis of a power flowing from a life that cannot end. ¹⁷ For the Scripture bears witness: "You are a priest forever, with the rank of Melchizedek."

¹⁸ Indeed, the rescinding of a previous regulation takes place, because it was weak and ineffective -- ¹⁹ for the law had never made anything perfect -- and so a better hope is brought to us, through which we have approach to God.

²⁰ And by so much as He was not appointed without God's taking an oath -- ²¹ for the Levitical priests were appointed without His taking an oath, but He with His oath, when He said to Him: "The Lord took oath and will not change, You are a priest forever" --

²² so much the more Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

²³ And the Levitical priests, on the one hand, have become numerous, because they have been prevented by death from continuing in office, ²⁴ but He, on the other hand, because He Himself lives on forever, enjoys the only priesthood that has no successors in office. ²⁵ Therefore, because He Himself lives always to intercede for them always, He is able to save completely any and all who come to God through Him.

²⁶ For we needed such a High Priest, holy, innocent, unstained, far removed from sinful men, and elevated far above the very heavens, ²⁷ who does not need, as did the Levitical priests, to offer sacrifices, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; this latter is just what He did once for all when He offered up Himself. ²⁸ For the law appoints imperfect men as high priests, but the assertion about the taking of an oath, which was spoken after the time of the law, appoints a Son who is perfectly qualified to be High Priest forever.