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Melchizedek

Hebrews 7:1-14 (JDV)

Hebrews 7:1 You see, this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings,
Hebrews 7:2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means king of righteousness, then also, king of Salem, meaning king of peace.
Hebrews 7:3 Fatherless, motherless, without genealogy, having neither start of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he stays a priest forever.
Hebrews 7:4 Now consider how great this man was: even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the plunder to him.
Hebrews 7:5 The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people – that is, from their brothers and sisters – though they have also descended from Abraham.
Hebrews 7:6 But one without this lineage collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.
Hebrews 7:7 Without a doubt, the inferior is blessed by the superior.
Hebrews 7:8 In the one case, men who will die receive a tenth, but in the other case, Scripture testifies that he lives.
Hebrews 7:9 And in a sense Levi himself, who receives a tenth, has paid a tenth through Abraham,
Hebrews 7:10 you see, he was still within his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Hebrews 7:11 You see, if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law), 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?
Hebrews 7:12 You see, when there is a transfer of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well.
Hebrews 7:13 You see, the one these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar.
Hebrews 7:14 You see, it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests.

Melchizedek

Jesus, being from the tribe of Judah was not qualified to officiate as a priest under the old covenant. But he is qualified to serve as a high priest under the new covenant because his priesthood is superior. The fact that Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek illustrates this.