Behind the Veil: A New Old Priesthood Part 1: Heb. 7:1-10

I. Who is Melchizedek? vs. 1-3

A. Melchizedek is mentioned in Gen. 14:18-20, and Ps. 110:4. However, he was relatively a mystery.

B. The writer drops hints in 5:10, and 6:20. The recipients couldn’t understand it so he writes of maturity, and then dives into this topic.

C. Melchizedek was King of Salem, the city that would eventually become Jerusalem, while simultaneously being the High Priest.

D. There were no genealogical records of Melchizedek. Salem either didn’t keep records, or they were lost to time. He was not a theophany, because the Bible would have said that he was the angel of the Lord. He did not introduce himself, by giving his genealogy (father and grandfather). This is a picture of eternality. Meaning if there was no beginning to his priesthood, there was no ending. A picture can only be carried so far.

II. Why Does Abraham Tithe to Melchizedek? vs. 4-10

A. In those days if your ancestor served someone, then the master was considered greater than even the descendants. In this case Levi, and thus the Levitical priesthood.

B. This is how Jesus fulfills Ps. 110:4

Psalm 110:4 NASB95

The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”

C. A tithe shows devotion. It shows dedication to one greater than ourself. This means if Abraham thought that of Melchizedek, or really Yahweh whom Melchizedek was a priest of, how much greater devotion should our High Priest warrent?