3 Melchizedek has no father or mother. He has no family line. His days have no beginning. His life has no end. He remains a priest forever, just like the Son of God.
4 Think how great Melchizedek was. Even our father Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had captured.
5 Now the law lays down a rule for the sons of Levi who become priests. They must collect a tenth from the people. They must collect it even from those who belong to the family line of Abraham.
6 Melchizedek did not trace his family line from Levi. But he collected a tenth from Abraham. Melchizedek blessed the one who had received the promises.
7 Without a doubt, the more important person blesses the less important one.
8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die. But in the other case, it is collected by the one who is said to be living.
9 Levi collects the tenth. But we might say that Levi paid the tenth through Abraham.