Hebrews 7:3  “…made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually”
The writer’s not saying Melchizedek was actually without a father or parents, or a beginning, but that it was the way he appears in history.  Like he just came out of nowhere.  In that way, he was like Jesus.  Of course, there are some who think Melchizedek could have been a pre-incarnate Christ.  But in the sense that he was a priest seemingly out of history, he remains one forever, like Jesus.  This is opposed to those of the Israelites who had to be sons of Aaron, had to atone for their own sins, and who were only priests as long as they were alive.

9  “Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham…”
The sons of Aaron, the priests, received tithes from the people.  In a sense, they were greater than the people as they were under the commandment of God to do so for Him.  Yet, their father Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek, before Levi, before Israel, before the law.  Abraham obviously considered him to be greater.  So we have an example of one who was priest who was greater than those who came from the law.

11  “…what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek…”
If we could be saved through the law, if the Levitical priesthood was the way to redemption, why was another priest needed?  The answer is the Levitical system was only a copy, an example of the real thing.  It pointed to the real and gave substance to the fact that one day the real would come.  But the real was different than the copy.  It was after the order of Melchizedek, not from any man made system.

16  “…according to the power of an endless life”
Christ came from a tribe other than Levi.  And He was a priest, not by commandment, but by His existence, an endless life.  He serves as our high priest forever, and He only had to offer Himself once as a sacrifice for all.

19  “…the law made nothing perfect…”
The law couldn’t perfect anyone.  It has no power to fix anything.  It can only show where something is wrong, how someone’s actions went contrary.  Works the same today.  The law cannot prevent anyone from doing anything wrong, it has no power.  It can only judge someone’s actions after the fact.  Therefore, a person would have to make sure they never did a single thing contrary to the law in order to be justified against it.  But they could never be justified by it.  It only rises if someone crosses it.

22  “by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.”
Jesus wasn’t made a priest by being a descendant of Aaron, but by the oath of God.  Part of that He made with Abraham.  And Jesus has become the guarantee of that oath, the guarantee of a better covenant.  One that provides for the redemption of man.

26  “…such a High Priest was fitting for us…”
Was one who was able to provide for our needs.  All others could not.

27  “…this He did once for all when He offered up Himself”
He offered Himself up once for all people for their sins, not for His own as He had none.  Not to mention the fact that if He’d had sin, He would not have been able to pay for those of anyone else.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.