Hebrews Chapter 7
Hebrews 7:1-3 “This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness" then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace. Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever."
Who was Melchizedek?
He is a mysterious character indeed...without a genealogy to trace his roots. He also mysteriously appears on the scene with Abram in Genesis 14 without any kind of proper introduction. Options to consider:
I also find it interesting that Melchizedek ministered to Abram before God affirmed His covenant with Abram. Not long after Melchizedek mysteriously leaves the scene (without even the slightest "exit stage left" notes), Genesis 15:1 states "After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision.....". In Hebrews, Melchizedek reappears (not mentioned since Psalm 110) as a reminder that Jesus is a "high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrew 6:20). The correlation between Jesus and Melchizedek (Hebrew 7) is made before explaining that Jesus is the Great High Priest of a New Covenant (Hebrew 8). I believe we see a hint of the New Covenant by an act that foreshadowed Christ's Passover dinner in which Jesus introduces the memorial communion of breaking bread and taking wine in memory of His sacrifice and affirmation of the New Covenant. Without introduction, Genesis 14:18 indicates that Melchizedek brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High and he blessed Abram and blessed God Most High. |
Consider how Melchizedek would have been received by the Jews
(As noted from Lisa Harper's study on Hebrews) The Levitical priesthood was a life-line to the Jewish ancient traditions. The priesthood formed the backbone of their position as God's chosen people as God Himself had proclaimed both the need for and the order of the Levitical priesthood. Therefore, the priesthood had become part of their national identify, as important to the Jews as their Abrahamic heritage and the promised land they inherited after four centuries of captivity in Egypt and four decades of wandering in the wilderness. So you can imagine how difficult the idea of a new High Priest was for them, particularly one who made the Levitical priesthood they were so fond of and familiar with obsolete. Related Point: Turning God's provisions into a Religious Idol The Hebrew people had made an idol out of their priests and religious system of keeping laws that it prevented them from seeing that Jesus was Messiah, the better High Priest. |
Hebrews 7:4-10 “Just think how great he was. Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who became priests to collect a tenth from the people -- that is, their brothers -- even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Why did Abram tithe to Melchizedek?
Looking back at Genesis 14, we see that Abram recognized that his victory was from God NOT because of his great military skills or the aid of his friends. They recognized that they were outnumbered. Recognizing that He had God's favor, Abram didn't take anything from the king of Sodom after the victory was made. The king of Sodom wanted to give the appearance of blessing Abram but Abram new that God had given him the victory and He deserved the recognition. God had already promised to bless Abram in many other ways (Genesis 12:2-3, 13:2). Abram would not allow this heathen king to think he had enriched Abram. He would not allow this king to take the place of God. And so he refused to take any of the riches for himself, choosing to wait for God's blessings in God's time. Abram did, however, give a tenth of the plunder as a tithe to Melchizedek in recogniztion of what God had done. Although he kept nothing for himself, he gave proper shares also to the men that went with him and fought alongside him to bless them of their assistance and faithfulness despite the odds. |
What is meant that "Levi paid the tenth through Abram"?
Because Abram paid the tithe to Melchizedek, that means Abram recognized his subordination. Since the tribe of Levi was a descendant of Abram, that means that the Levitical priesthood was also subject to the priestly order of Melchizedek. Why is the significant point of making note of this tithe? It is important to note that the Levitical priesthood and ceremonial laws had not yet been introduced. Yet paying a tithe to Melchizedek showed that he was indeed a priest even though he didn't come from the tribe of Levi (Hebrew 7:6). The tithe revealed something about the relationship between Abram and Melchizedek. It would be easy for a Jew to assume that Abram was greater than Melchizedek because of how God chose to make a covenant with him. But both the author of Hebrews and David (author of Psalm 110), makes the point that Melchizedek was superior to Abram and his descendant Aaron. The greater blesses the lesser and the lesser pays tithes to the greater. Thus the priesthood of Jesus is greater than that of the Levitical priesthood. The author of Hebrews is emphasizing that being a Levite was an earthly qualification instituted by God Himself. But God being greater than the Law indicated that Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah and would be a kingly priest. |
Hebrews 7:11-19 “If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come -- one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.' The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God."
Why, indeed, was there still need for another priest to come?
The author is pointing out that the Levitical priesthood was subject to many imperfections (as will be further outlined in the coming chapter) and the sacrifices offered couldn't perfect (complete) anyone EVEN though the sacrifices were offered continually. The sacrifices did not completely cover the sin of the person offering the sacrifice as his sin was covered only until he sinned again. And since there was no hope of perfecting the Levitical priesthood and laws, for it would always be subject to the weakness and flaws of the priests, a need for another priest and order would be required. This new priest would not be instituted based on the regulation of their levitical ancestry but "on the bases of the power of an indestructible life". The law was not intended to save people to but to point out sin (Romans 3:20, 5:20) and to point us toward our need for Christ (Galatians 3:24,25). Drawing Near to God under the Old Covenant Lest we overlook this very important point,the Old Covenant made it possible for men to draw nearer to God more than any ancient people ever dreamed: "Look! I have taught you statutes and ordinances just as the Lord my God told me to do, so that you might carry them out in the land you are about to enter and possess. So be sure to do them, because this will testify of your wise understanding to the people who will learn of all these statutes and say, “Indeed, this great nation is a very wise people.” In fact, what other great nation has a god so near to them like the Lord our God whenever we call on him? And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this whole law that I am about to share with you today? "(Deuteronomy 4:5-8) |
"A better hope is introduced by which we can draw near to God". Hallelujah!
One weakness of the old system of law, was that the common man couldn't draw near to God. Only the priests could mediate on their behalf...and only after a sacrifice was offered on their behalf. God is a God of relationship. He does not need our company but desires it. He wants to speak to us and have us talk to Him. But once sin entered into people's lives, they were separated from God by it. God is perfect and perfectly holy. In Him is no sin and because of that He cannot be in relationship with sin. When sin comes between God and us, there is a hindrance to the relationship because God cannot fellowship with sin and disobedience. Yet, He desires a restoration of the relationship with us. That is why He sent the better priest, Jesus, to offer the ultimate sacrifice that would restore our relationship with God. Let us remind ourselves of Hebrew 4:15-16: "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Do not miss the significance of the "throne of grace". The author later makes it clear that this is the Holy of Holies that we now have access to. |
Hebrews 7:20-22 “And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: 'The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind; You are a priest forever." Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant".
Jesus was made a greater high priest by an oath
A better hope has been given to us! Because Levitical priests were recognized as priests simply because of their lineage, God introduced this better hope with an oath. God said in Psalm 110:4 (NCV) "The Lord his made a promise and will not change His mind. He said, You are a priest forever." He was not made a priest by human rules and laws but through the power of His life which continues forever.This means that Jesus is the guarantee of a better agreement from God to His people. The law allowed high priests with weaknesses, but the Word of God's oath came later than the law and it made God's Son to be the high priest and Jesus was made perfect forever. |
Hebrews 7:23-25 "Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them".
There is no security in temporary
When one of the priests died, he could not continue being a priest. So there were many priests. But since Jesus lives forever, the salvation He brings also lasts forever. To draw near to an eternal God, we need an eternal priest. Because Jesus lives forever, He will never stop serving as priest. So He is able always to save those who come to God through Him because He always lives, asking God to help them. |
Jesus is ABLE
The Greek word or able is "dynamai" and means "to have power to do something by virtue of one's own ability and resources; to be sufficiently powerful." In other words....Jesus is sufficiently powerful to do what ever He has set out to do. Jesus has the power to be that eternal priest by virtue of His own ability. He, the Son of God, is sufficiently powerful. No human priest was eternal, holy and undefiled. He offered the perfect sacrifice in order to pave the way of access to God. Therefore, Jesus is able to save completely. We can never be too broken or lost that Jesus cannot bring healing to your life and heart. |
Hebrews 7:26-28 "Such a high priest meets our need--one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever."
Jesus is able to save completely
Animal sacrifices had to be repeated and they offered only temporary forgiveness. Jesus is holy and sinless and brought perfection, completion, and fulfillment. He is not like the other priests who had to offer sacrifices every day, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people. Christ offered a better sacrifice...no other sacrifice would be needed because Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice. His sacrifice only once and for all time when He offered Himself. Jesus has been made perfect forever and He is able to save us completely...one sacrifice for all! |
His intercession is not interrupted by death
The Old Testament priest went before God once a year to plead for the forgiveness of the nation's sins. Christ makes perpetual intercession before God for us. Christ's continuous presence in heaven with the Father assures us that our sins have been paid for and forgiven. Jesus lives to intercede for us and He always remembers our needs and has compassion for us. "Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." Romans 8:34 |