Levi Receive and Paid Tithes Hebrews 7:9

“Men that die receive tithes” according to the writer of Hebrews, and as he shared how Jesus Christ was superior to the “Levitical priesthood” and rather than stay dead, Jesus is He that “lives”. In chapter seven and verse nine of Hebrews the writer shares more about how “Levi” “received tithes” and “paid tithes” where we read:

And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.

The verse begins, “And as I may say so, Levi also,...”. The writer began with the word, “And as I may say so” which means “as the writer of Hebrews may utter, proclaim, command, bid, speak and declare a word”, “Levi also” whose name means “joined” and was “the third son of the patriarch Jacob by his wife Leah, the founder of the tribe of Israelites which bears his name” and was included. The writer referred to “Levi” as he attempted to prove his point about “Levi” being the “lesser” one.

The verse continues, “...who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham”. The writer added the words, “who receives” or “takes with the hand, lays hold of, claims and procures” “tithes” which means “ten percent”, “paid” or “gave and exacted” “tithes” which means “ten percent” “in Abraham” whose name means “father of a multitude” and was “the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation”. “The tribe of Levi” was designated by God to “receive tithes” of all the other tribes in Israel, however, when Abraham “paid tithes” to “Melchisedec”, “Levi” wasn't born and later was born within Abraham's genealogy.

When we consider these words in Hebrews, we see how “Levi” was actually “paying tithes” through “Abraham”. “Levi” came from “Abraham's” lineage and was yet to be born, so in effect, when “Abraham paid tithes”, so did “Levi”. In other words, both of them paid these “tithes” to “Melchisedec” who was a “theophany” or Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ. This shows Jesus superior to all other “priests”, and when we submit our lives to Him, we have positioned ourselves beneath the greatest “priest” of all.

Next time the writer shares how Levi “was yet in the loins of his father ,when Melchisedec met him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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