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Men from Levi's family group who become priests receive gifts from their own people. God's Law says that the people must give the Levite priests a tenth part of what they have. But the priests and the other people are all Israelites. They all come from Abraham's family. As for Melchizedek, he did not come from Levi's family. But he still received a tenth part of what Abraham had. He also asked God to bless Abraham. But Abraham was the one who had already received God's promises.

It is always the more important person who asks God to bless a less important person. We certainly know that!

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Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people(A)—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed(B) him who had the promises.(C) And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater.

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