“Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him” (Hebrews 7:8-10).
The New Testament book of Hebrews contains a number of advanced spiritual teachings, and this portion of Scripture is no exception. However, we can gain a better understanding of this passage if we break it down into its constituent elements…
Here mortal men receive tithes. This refers to the generations of those who served as Old Testament priests and then passed from this earthly life. As our author will observe later in this chapter, “There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever” (Hebrews 7:23-24 NLT).
but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Unlike the members of the Levitical priesthood whose lives were reflected in a genealogical record, Melchizedek’s birth and death were never recorded. Thus, Melchizedek symbolically engages in a never-ending priesthood. This builds upon the description of Melchizedek given to us earlier in this chapter: “…having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually” (Hebrews 7:3).
Even Levi, who receives tithes. The Biblical book of Numbers details the rules and responsibilities concerning tithes: “The Lord said to Aaron, ‘You will have no land or property of your own as the other Israelites will have. I am your possession and your property among the Israelites. ‘I am giving the Levites one-tenth of every Israelite’s income. This is in return for the work they do at the tent of meeting'” (Numbers 18:20-21 GW). The important thing to notice from this passage is that the Levites received tithes, not the other way around.
paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak. Like all Israelites, the Levites traced their ancestral history back to Abraham. When Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek, Levi did so as well in a sense. Our author will explain how he came to that conclusion next…
for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. Every member of Israel was genetically represented in Abraham. His decision to offer a tithe to God through Melchizedek established a relationship through which his descendants (including the Levitical priests) participated in that offering.
These observations will serve to prepare us for the conclusion that follows next.