Melchizedek's Superior Priesthood: Transcending the Levitical Order

¹ This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

² and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

³ Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.

⁴ Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.

⁵ Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.

⁶ But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.

⁷ And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.

⁸ In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on.

⁹ And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.

¹⁰ For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.