²⁸ So you shall also present a contribution to the Lord from all your tithes, which you receive from the people of Israel. And from it you shall give the Lord's contribution to Aaron the priest.

²⁰ where Jesus has gone ^(A)as a forerunner on our behalf, ^(B)having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

7 For this ^(C)Melchizedek, king of ^(D)Salem, priest of ^(E)the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. ³ He is without father or mother ^(F)or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

⁴ See how great this man was to whom Abraham ^(G)the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! ⁵ And ^(H)those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers,^[a] though these also are descended from Abraham. ⁶ But this man ^(I)who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed ^(J)him who had the promises. ⁷ It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. ⁸ In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one ^(K)of whom it is testified that ^(L)he lives. ⁹ One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, ¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

¹⁸ And ^(A)Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was ^(B)priest of ^(C)God Most High.)