“Now consider how great this man was: even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the plunder to Him. The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people… though they have also descended from Abraham. But one without this lineage collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. Without a doubt, the inferior is blessed by the superior.”
As the author continues helping us understand Jesus as our high priest and the order of Melchizedek he is highlighting the superiority of this king that Abraham encountered. He was so great that Abraham tithed from the spoils he got, there was no reason for him to tithe. He was not under the kingship of Melchizedek, he did not live in his city. Abraham gave it to him out of respect, for he recognized who the king was resemblant. King Melchizedek also blessed Abraham, He blessed the man who had defeated kings and with which the power and blessing of God were sitting. This tells us more about the mysterious king-priest. When you then grasp that it is the person who is superior who blesses, this then shines a huge light on the importance of the king-priest role foreshadowed by Melchizedek.
The point the author is trying to help us grasp is that Jesus is that great king-priest. With which even those who were great, bow down to and offer respects to (via tithe) and also receive a blessing from them. As we are now descendants of Abraham of his faith and blessing we should recognize our king-priest, Jesus, and like Abraham, offer to Him what is rightfully His and then receive the blessing that comes from Him. Our salvation.
