Hebrews 7:4-10
4 “Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their countrymen, although they are descended from Abraham. 6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, has paid tithes,10 for he was still in the loins of his forefather when Melchizedek met him.”
Descended from Abraham: The sons of Levi are the ones who collect tithes. And yet Melchizedek is receiving tithes which signifies the change of a covenant. Melchizedek blesses Abraham and receives the gift. Moses would not have advocated for this. He would have mandated that tithes were given to the Levitical priesthood not a foreigner. Therefore, signifying a change in priesthood and covenant.
Blessed by the greater: Melchizedek is blessed as someone greater than the Levitical priests. This signifies that Jesus’ new covenant is greater than the Old Covenant because Jesus is a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Even Levi: Levi came from Abraham’s lineage. Therefore, Levi, through Abraham, paid a tithe to Melchizedek. This speaks of the eternality of the New Covenant, the covenant which replaces the Levitical priesthood. The author of Hebrews is making the point that the Old Covenant was simply a placeholder for the New Covenant. It was never meant to be lasting.
