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.
10 That's because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in Abraham's body.
11 Suppose the Levites who were priests could have made people perfect. The law was given to the people so they could become perfect through the priests. Then why was there still a need for another priest to come? And why did he need to be like Melchizedek? Why wasn't he from Aaron's family line?
12 A change of priests requires a change of law.
13 Those things are said about one who is from a different tribe. No one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.
14 It is clear that our Lord came from the family line of Judah. Moses said nothing about priests who were from that tribe.