Quarreling arose between Abram’s herdsmen and the herdsmen of Lot. So Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. IF YOU GO TO THE LEFT, I’LL GO TO THE RIGHT; IF YOU GO TO THE RIGHT, I’LL GO TO THE LEFT.”

SO LOT CHOSE for himself the whole plain of the Jordan. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the LORD.

Then the king of Sodom and the king of Gomorrah marched out and drew up their battlelines—four kings against five. The four kings seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah. They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom.

When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit. During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them. He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.

New International Version ©1984, Abrdgd, EMPHASES Added

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” THEN ABRAM GAVE HIM A TENTH OF EVERYTHING.

Christ did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”

And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, HE BECAME THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL SALVATION FOR ALL WHO OBEY HIM and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.

Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, their brothers—even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.

Jesus 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 forever.’ ”

Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. THEREFORE HE IS ABLE TO SAVE COMPLETELY THOSE WHO COME TO GOD THROUGH HIM, BECAUSE HE ALWAYS LIVES TO INTERCEDE FOR THEM.

Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike 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.

New International Version ©1984, Abrdgd, EMPHASES Added