BLESSED. Hebrews 7:8-10 Melchisedec's priesthood [7:4-25] gave him the right to accept tithes because he was greater than Abraham. Levitical priests could also collect tithes, but their rights were limited to Israel. Melchizedek's priesthood transcended cultural and national boundaries, extending to all nations. As the one who blessed, his position was superior to Abraham's, so he accepted the tenth that Abraham gave him. His priesthood is eternal, and in essence, he received tithes from the Aaronic priesthood through Abraham, since Abraham represented all Jews when he gave tithes.
Melchizedek was not only superior to Abraham because he was a priest and king, but also greater than the Levitical priesthood. First, the priests of Israel were from the tribe of Levi, Abraham’s great-great-grandson. Melchizedek is described as having no recorded beginning of days or end of life, and in that way, he symbolizes our Lord Jesus Christ, who is eternal in His nature. The second reason his priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood is that Levi was a descendant of Abraham, who paid tithes to Melchizedek as the lesser to the greater. Even though Levites received tithes from the Israelites, it is considered as if they paid their tithes to God through Melchizedek, who was the priest of the Most High God. “The lesser is blessed by the greater,” even though promises had been made to Abraham. Melchizedek is a type of Christ, receiving tithes from us and blessing us in return. We owe our Great High Priest everything because of what we have received from Him. Our proportional giving to the Lord reflects the level of our gratitude. Melchizedek is not a living priest today, but he serves as an example in the epistle to the Hebrews, which uses him to illustrate Christ as the Great High Priest of His people. Even though believers are described as “a kingdom, priest unto His God and Father,” and a “holy priesthood,” it is through the death of our Great High Priest that we become a kingdom of priests. All believers are priests “through Him” who can offer up “the sacrifice of praise” and all the sacrifices we can give to Him. It is through the great sacrifice and shedding of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ that we can approach God as priests with our gifts and sacrifices.