6. Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi, but he collected a tenth from Abraham. And he blessed Abraham, the man who had God’s promises.
7. Now everyone knows that the more important person blesses the less important person.
8. Priests receive a tenth, even though they are only men who live and then die. But Melchizedek, who received a tenth from Abraham, continues living, as the Scripture says.
9. We might even say that Levi, who receives a tenth, also paid it when Abraham paid Melchizedek a tenth.
10. Levi was not yet born, but he was in the body of his ancestor 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 perfect through that system. So there was a need for another priest to come, 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, who 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 when we see that another priest comes who is like Melchizedek.
16. He was not made a priest by human rules and laws but through the power of his life, which continues forever.
17. It is said about him,“You are a priest forever,a priest like Melchizedek.”
18. The old rule is now set aside, because it was weak and useless.
19. The law of Moses could not make anything perfect. But now a better hope has been given to us, and with this hope we can come near to God.