Today’s Readings

Genesis 14:18–24

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,

  “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    Possessor of heaven and earth;
20   and blessed be God Most High,
    who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

Psalm 110

A Psalm of David.

110:1   The LORD says to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand,
  until I make your enemies your footstool.”
2   The LORD sends forth from Zion
    your mighty scepter.
    Rule in the midst of your enemies!
3   Your people will offer themselves freely
    on the day of your power,
    in holy garments;
  from the womb of the morning,
    the dew of your youth will be yours.
4   The LORD has sworn
    and will not change his mind,
  “You are a priest forever
    after the order of Melchizedek.”
5   The Lord is at your right hand;
    he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
6   He will execute judgment among the nations,
    filling them with corpses;
  he will shatter chiefs
    over the wide earth.
7   He will drink from the brook by the way;
    therefore he will lift up his head.

Hebrews 5:5–10

5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

  “You are my Son,
    today I have begotten you”;

6 as he says also in another place,

  “You are a priest forever,
    after the order of Melchizedek.”

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.