The Passion Translation New Testament Masterpiece Edition (2020 edition) : with Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Songs (The Illustrated Passion Translation) (The Passion Translation (TPT))

by Brian Simmons

3This Melchizedek has no father or mother, and no record of any of his ancestors. He was never born and he never died, but his life is like a pictureb of the Son of God, a King-Priest forever! 4Now let me show you proof of how great this Melchizedek is: –Even though Abraham was the most honored and favored patriarch of all God’s chosen ones,c he gave a tithe of the spoils of battle to Melchizedek. 5It would be understandable if Melchizedek had been a Jewish priest, for later on God’s people were required by law to support their priests financially, because the priests were their relatives and Abraham’s descendants. 6But Melchizedek was not Abraham’s Jewish relative,d and yet Abraham still paid him a tithe. –Melchizedek imparted a blessing on mighty Abraham, who had received the promises of God. 7And no one could deny the fact that the one who has the power to impart a blessing is superior to the one who receives it. –8Although the Jewish priests received tithes, they all died—they were mortal. But Melchizedek lives on! –9It could even be said that Levi, the ancestor of every Jewish priest who received tithes, actually paid tithes to Melchizedek through Abraham. 10For although Levi was yet unborn, the seed from which Levi came was present in Abrahame when he paid his tithe to Melchizedek. –11If any of the Levitical priests who served under the law had the power to bring us into perfection, then why did God send Christ as Priest after the likeness of Melchizedek? He should h...