Hebrews 7:4–12

⁴Now consider how great this man was: even Abraham the patriarch^l gave a tenth of the plunder to him. ⁵The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people^m—that is, from their brothers and sisters—though they have also descended from Abraham. ⁶But one without this^A lineage collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.^{n 7}Without a doubt, the inferior is blessed by the superior. ⁸In the one case, men who will die receive a tenth, but in the other case, Scripture testifies that he lives.^{o 9}And in a sense Levi himself, who receives a tenth, has paid a tenth through Abraham, ¹⁰for he was still within his ancestor^B when Melchizedek met him.

A SUPERIOR PRIESTHOOD

¹¹Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law^p), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron?^{q 12}For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well.