Hebrews 7:4–12

⁴Now consider how great this man was—even Abraham the patriarch ^kgave 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 ^l—that is, from their brothers—though they have also descended from Abraham. ^m6But one without this ⁿlineage collected tenths from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. ^o7Without a doubt, ^pthe inferior is blessed by the superior. ⁸In the one case, men who will die receive tenths, but in the other case, Scripture testifies that he lives. ^q9And in a sense Levi himself, who receives tenths, has paid tenths through Abraham, ¹⁰for he was still within his ancestor ^rwhen Melchizedek met him.

A Superior Priesthood

¹¹If then, perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law ^s), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? ^t12For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well.