8. Those priests get a tenth, but they are only men who live and then die. But Melchizedek, who got a tenth from Abraham, continues living, as the Scripture says.
9. It is Levi who gets a tenth from the people. But we might even say that when Abraham paid Melchizedek a tenth, then Levi also paid it.
10. Levi was not yet born. But Levi was in the body of his ancestor Abraham when Melchizedek met Abraham.
11. The people were given the law concerning the system of priests from the tribe of Levi. But they could not be made spiritually perfect through that system of priests. So there was a need for another priest to come. I mean a priest like Melchizedek, not Aaron.
12. And when a different kind of priest comes, the law must be changed, too.
13. We are saying these things about Christ. He belonged to a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest at the altar.
14. It is clear that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah. And Moses said nothing about priests belonging to that tribe.
15. And this becomes even more clear. We see that another priest comes, who is like Melchizedek.
16. He was not made a priest by human rules and laws. He became a priest through the power of his life, which continues forever.