Hebrews 7:4-6 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
‘Though they come out of the loins of Abraham.’ This proves that even children of Abraham were supposed to pay tithes. If they were obligated to pay tithes, so were the Gentiles, including Christians.
‘From them’ – He reckoned no genealogy from them, from the genealogies of the priests (7:5). This was considered essential for a priest by the Jews. On the other hand, since they recognized Melchizedek as a true priest of God and greater than Abraham, they had to recognize that genealogy was not the essential thing for a priest and that on these grounds Jesus Christ could be a priest after the order of Melchizedek to fulfil Psalms 110:1-7.
‘Received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.’ This proves that the Melchizedek priesthood had a commandment to take tithes of Abraham, as the Levites were commanded to take tithes of all Israel (7:5-6). If Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, his natural and spiritual seed should continue to pay tithes to this priesthood since it now replaced the Aaronic priesthood (7:9-21). Is the first priest of this order the only one to receive tithes? Should God require tithing under this priesthood at first and then discontinue it when Christ became a priest after this order? Does grace lessen the obligation of man or increase it? Has this priesthood come to a self-supporting place, where it needs nothing from those under its benefits? Was it right that Abraham paid tithes to this priesthood and for Melchizedek to receive them for his support? If it was right then, could it be wrong now to continue this same program? Should a mere typical priesthood be supported and not the eternal priesthood itself?
Living the Word 