Hebrews 7:4–12

⁴Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch^k Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!^{l 5}Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people^m—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. ⁶This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessedⁿ him who had the promises.^{o 7}And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. ⁸In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.^{p 9}One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, ¹⁰because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

Jesus Like Melchizedek

¹¹If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people^q established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,^r one in the order of Melchizedek,^s not in the order of Aaron? ¹²For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.