Heb 7:1-10 Melchizedek the Priest-King

Hebrews 7:1–10 ESV

1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. 4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

Augustine of Hippo was an influential Christian who live around the year 400. He died just before the fall of the Roman Empire. By the end of his life, he wrote a book called The City of God, in which he is responding to believers who were troubled to see the decline of the Roman Empire as Christian influence was increasing. I was told several years ago that to understand the time we are living one should read this book. Now as the years go by, I say this book seems more and more relevant to the time we are living.

One of the main things that Augustine addresses in this book is that our affection, our love will be towards the city of God or the city of man. That our focus should be on God’s Kingdom where our identity rests.

In the text we are going to study today what we see is that the original readers of this letter were having an identity issue, they needed to be taught about Melchizedek because they were valuing their identity as descendants of Abraham as more important than their identity in Christ.

Here in chapter 7, there is a description of Melchizedek this strange figure. This person is mentioned only in Gen 14, Psalm 110, Heb 5, 6, and here in Hebrews 7. However, it is only in Gen 14 that we have a brief account of who Melchizedek is as he meets Abraham and blesses him. The references to Melchizedek in Psalm 110, Heb 5, 6, and 7 are in reality all a reference back to Gen 14.

Chapters 5 and 6 have given us only a teaser of what we are going to learn here in chapter 7 over the next two weeks. The chapter could be divided into two parts, v1-10 main point is to show that Melchizedek is greater than the Levitical priesthood, while in v11-28 the author compares Melchizedek with Jesus. Today we will study the first section.

Hebrews 7:1 ESV

1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

The author of Hebrews here is making an allusion to Genesis 14 when Abram rescues Lot. So, what happened in Gen 14? After Abram and Lot separated, Lot journeyed east and settled in Sodom, while Abram was living by the oaks of Mamre in Hebron. Four kings of the East, Amraphel, Arioch, Chedorlaomer, and Tidal had subjected the people of Canaan, but after 13 years the five cities (Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Zoar) rebelled, and did not pay tribute, in the next year the four kings of the east came and made war with those that rebelled and as they conquered they took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, including Lot, Abram’s nephew.

Then Abram took all his trained men, 318 of them, and pursued the four kings. Then after 212 miles of walking, Abram and his men in a surprise attack defeated the four kings, taking back all the people and their possessions.

As Abram returns, he is met unexpectedly by Melchizedek who is described as the king of Salem and priest of the God Most High. Salem is very likely Jerusalem because Psalm 76:2 refers to Jerusalem as Salem. However, what is intriguing about Melchizedek is that he is both a priest and king.

Because of the description and the lack of information about Melchizedek, throughout the church's history, some thought that this was not a historical figure, but a type or pre-incarnate appearance of Christ in the Old Testament. One of the difficulties to understand is how a Canaanite king was a priest of the true God, how could a gentile worship the same God as Abraham worshiped?

However, it is not impossible that others during Abram’s time worship the only true God. Archeology in the last one hundred years has clarified and shown that in the Canaanite region during 2000 BC, that is during Abram’s time, the Canaanites worship one true creator God, later on, the Canaanite religion degraded into the worship of many gods including the god of rain, the abominable Baal, which was the religious situation of the Canaanites when the Israelites conquered the land during Joshua’s time.

Therefore, it is very likely that Melchizedek in Gen 14 was a historical person, who was a Canaanite king and priest. What David in Psalm 110 and the author of Hebrews see in Melchizedek is an early model or pattern of the Messiah as both king and priest.

Now, let’s get back to v2

Hebrews 7:2 ESV

2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace.

Guthrie a commentator said “The author of Hebrews points out that Melchizedek’s name means “king of righteousness,” alluding to the Hebrew words melek (which means “king”) and sedeq (which is commonly rendered “righteousness”). He further interprets “Salem,” the city over which Melchizedek ruled as king, to mean “peace,” associating the name with the Hebrew šalom. Thus, the author reasons, he is “king of peace.” These concepts of righteousness and peace are appropriate for one who prefigures the Messiah, who would make righteousness and peace possible for the people of God”

The concept of righteousness and peace are closely related to the Messiah. In some of the prophecies about the Messiah, like in Isaiah 9:6-7 where the Messiah is described as the Prince of Peace, that His kingdom will be established with righteousness. Likewise in Hebrews chapter 1 v8 we learn that Jesus’ throne is characterized by uprightness, then v9 tells us Jesus has loved righteousness and hated wickedness.” Furthermore, we will see at the end of the letter of Hebrews in the benediction the author refers to the God of peace.

In all of this, the author of Hebrews is looking at Gen 14 and finding parallels or analogies that point to Jesus, he continues this in v3.

Hebrews 7:3 ESV

3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

Riggans points out that “at this point, Hebrews introduces another important analogy between Melchizedek and Jesus, but it is one which leaves many believers today less than persuaded as to its legitimacy. In the passage in Genesis where we meet Melchizedek we are not told anything about his ancestors or immediate family. Given the seriousness with which genealogies are treated in Genesis, and the startling importance of this man in Abraham’s life, this is perhaps a little surprising. It is all the more surprising since Israel defined a priest’s authority in terms of his lineage (from Aaron’s family within the tribe of Levi), and given the significance of Melchizedek’s role as a priest, his family line would have been of the utmost importance. Genesis does not say that he had no parents, etc., but as far as the text goes, there is no actual record. Hebrews sees major significance in this lack of a genealogy.”

“That significance is compounded by the fact that we are not told of the death of Melchizedek either. He really is a mystery as he suddenly appears and disappears in the text. Hebrews interprets it all by saying that Melchizedek is presented to us as a man without beginning of days or end of life. In this respect, he also reminds us of Jesus! Jesus had no human father, and in fact, he existed eternally before his birth as a human being. And Jesus will certainly live forever.”

This does not mean that the text here is saying that Melchizedek lives forever or that he had no beginning, the author of Hebrews is saying the fact that in Genesis there is no description of Melchizedek's lineage, which points to the Messiah, the Son of God, who always existed before creation and will exist forever.

From v1-3 we see the author of Hebrews looking at Melchizedek's description from Gen 14 and finding similarities with Jesus. Now, from v 4-10, the author points to the greatness of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:4 ESV

4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!

Why was Melchizedek great? Because he was pointing to Jesus, more specifically to Jesus’ priestly and royal office. Here in verse 4 it also tells us why this man was great because Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils to him.

We might not view Abraham in the same light as the original readers of this letter did. They were former Jews, who had the highest view and regard for Abraham, the friend of God with whom God made the promise and assured it with an oath. Abraham was the Israelite's forefather, the origins of all Israelites are traced back to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

However, in Genesis 14 Abraham interacts with an unknown person, Melchizedek. As one studies this interaction, it appears that Melchizedek is even greater than Abraham.

Bruce said “And if Melchizedek was greater than Abraham, his priesthood (our author argues) must be greater than a priesthood which traces its descent from Abraham. The superior greatness of Melchizedek appears in two important respects: he accepted tithes from Abraham and bestowed his blessing on Abraham.”

What the author of Hebrews is doing in the next verses is expounding on the idea that the Levitical priesthood is inferior to Melchizedek, because Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:5 ESV

5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.

V5 is stating that both those that receive the tithes, the priests, and those who gave the tithes are all descendants of Abraham, then in a sense, all the descendants of Abraham were also in need of a greater high priest.

Then the author continues

Hebrews 7:6–7 ESV

6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.

Allen said “Melchizedek did two things that Levitical priests do: he collected a tithe, and he blessed Abraham. Yet the author’s point is that Melchizedek himself was not descended from Levi. Not only that, he was not descended from Abraham either but was Abraham’s contemporary in time and superior in rank. As the recipient of the blessing, Abraham is in an inferior position to the one who gave the blessing.”

Hebrews 7:8–10 ESV

8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

The author of Hebrews now has completed his examination of Gen 14 to show that the priesthood order of Melchizedek is superior to the Levitical priesthood because the Levites paid tithes to Melchizedek while still in the loins of Abraham. Therefore, the original readers of this letter, as they were tempted to fall back into Judaism, should be convinced that the Levitical priesthood was inferior and in a sense subjected to Jesus’ priesthood. The point is this everyone needs Jesus.

Now what? What is the point of studying these verses about Melchizedek?

The author of Hebrews wrote first to those that were having an identity crisis. It was safer and they would avoid a lot of pain and suffering if they just rest their identity as Jews, as sons and daughters of Abraham. However, that is not enough they needed to rest their identities on Jesus who is far greater than Abraham and Melchizedek.

However, that is not the case for us, we are not tempted to fall back into Judaism. But we might be tempted to find our identity in our citizenship, our jobs, our hobbies, our families, our comfort, and entertainment.

Tripp says: “Who in the world do you think you are? I’m serious. Who do you think you are? You and I are always assigning to ourselves some kind of identity. And the things that you and I do are shaped by the identity that we have given ourselves. So it’s important to acknowledge that God has not just forgiven you (and that is a wonderful thing), but he has also given you a brand-new identity. If you’re God’s child, you are now a son or daughter of the King of kings and the Lord of lords. You are in the family of the Savior, who is your friend and brother. You are the temple where the Spirit of God now lives. Yes, it really is true—you’ve been given a radically new identity.”

With our new identity in Christ, we value Christ more than anything in the universe. We are primarily citizens of God’s kingdom. That means we shouldn’t be so concerned about the rise or fall of the country in which we are temporarily living.

God’s desire for us is to fix our minds, our eyes, and hearts on Jesus. As we do so we realize that life, the world is not about us and the place where we live, our little kingdoms of self, but it is all about Jesus, and as we turn to him we find the joy, strength, delight, and the peace that we need to live each day.

I don’t know if you are aware but there is a movement happening in America, a revival started over a week ago in Asbury college and it is spreading to other colleges like fire. This past Wed we were talking about and praying for our church. I have confidence and great expectancy that our church is going to be affected by this movement, we might experience the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a mighty way.

As this happens don’t expect that any revival will change our country to what once it was. God is building His kingdom, the City of God is eternal while the city of man will perish. God’s eternal Kingdom should be our main concern. As this happens we might experience and see some more miraculous healings.

This past Wednesday I was having some knee pain, and by the end of our prayer meeting it got worse, while we were driving home, the pain got so bad that I was holding my knee and pressing with my hand because it was hurting so much. As I held my knee I was praying asking Jesus to take the pain away, I was having a hard time driving because of the pain.

When we got home I opened the door of the car and suddenly I felt some different in my knee, I swing my leg out of the car and I couldn’t believe it and I was afraid to stand up because I was feeling no pain in my knee. I had experienced some healing before, but not this instantly, I was able to take the knee brace off and my knee was very tender, but with very little to no pain, the next day I had no swelling or anything on my knee, with no pain at all.

I don’t know what God is going to do in our midst, but we should expect great things, God can do the impossible, He can save sinners like you and me, and when God wills, He can bring a great revival with signs and wonders.

Furthermore, no matter with revival or not, we need to remember our identity, we belong to Jesus. We were bought with a price, we were redeemed, and we are loved….

As we sing the closing song Give me Jesus I invite anyone who wants more of Jesus to come upfront, if you desire to see God moving in our church come upfront, if you want more of His grace and mercy come and cry out, sing, pray asking God to give us Jesus.

After the song, if you want the elders to pray and anoint you for any physical, spiritual, or emotional pain come up front and we will pray and anoint you.