A Study of Hebrews Pt. 7

A Priest after the Order of Melchizedek

Hebrews 7:1-28

Who was Melchizedek?

v.1-3

v.1 Abraham was returning from a literal slaughter of four kings.

These kings had kidnapped Lot and his family so Abraham pursued them and spoiled them.

Greek word for slaughter is KOPE and means carnage.

v. 2-3 We have very little information about this first High Priest of God.

What little bit we have here along with his first and only mention in Genesis 14:18-20.

Melchizedek blessed Abraham not because Abraham slaughter his enemies, but because Abraham was the keeper of the covenant.

Abraham in turn gave tithes to Melchizedek of all the spoils.

This is key to understanding this chapter as we will understand a little later.

The name Melchizedek means king of righteousness and Salem means peace.

He was king of peace and righteousness. Sounds awfully familiar.

Of course, he was an Old Testament type and shadow of Jesus Christ.

The similarities between Jesus and Melchizedek are that both were priest and king at the same time, and both were before and greater than Abraham and the Levitical Priesthood.

Righteousness and peace both came together in Christ. See Ps 85:10.

Prior to Jesus, everyone was unrighteous and therefore could have no peace.

Salem is thought to be the original name of Jerusalem.

Some have even suggested based on what it says in Hebrews 7:3 that he may have even been Jesus.

However, it is more likely that his lineage just isn’t mentioned because he was not of Jewish decent.

Therefore we would not have record of his birth or death.

The author of Hebrews is simply making a point that the priesthood Melchizedek was greater than Aaron’s and the Levites.

Melchizedek was greater than Abraham and Aaron

v. 4-14

v. 4 Abraham both paid tithes to Melchisedec and was blessed by him. (see Gen 14:20; Heb 7:7)

Both show us that Melchisedec was the greater of the two even though Abraham was the father of faith. (see Romans 4:16.)

Our greatness has nothing to do with whether or not God will choose us, it is our faith in Him that matters.

v.5 The person we pay tithes to has greater authority.

This is setting up the argument that both Melchisedec and Jesus Christ is greater than Abraham.

Because Jesus is priest after the order of Melchisedec, His priesthood is greater than the Levitical priesthood.

The tithes that the Levitical Priesthood took was by command.

It was not out of Worship or reverence as was with Abraham and Melchisedec or as it is with us and Jesus Christ.

Jesus is greater than Abraham, Moses, and Aaron.

v. 6-7 Melchisedec was not of the lineage of Abraham at all. Predating the law by hundreds of years.

The writer is strengthening their case of the superiority of Melchizedek's priesthood and subsequently Jesus’ since His was after the order of Melchisedec.

We see in verse 7 that Melchisedec is even called greater. The greater blesses the lesser.

v. 8 Natural priests are subject to death. How much more important is it to pay tithes to one who will never again taste death?

The contrast here is in reference to how that we have no record of the death Melchisedec because he was not a Jew and of which King David said had an everlasting Kingdom. (Ps 110:4)

v. 9-10 Even Levi who recieved tithes had also paid tithes in Abraham because of his lineage.

Abraham was Levi’s Great-Grandfather.

v.11 The question being asked here is one that should make those who teach the law step back and ponder its implications.

If the law was meant to make the followers perfect why was it necessary for Jesus to arise after the order of Melchizedek and not just continue after the order of Aaron?

This was intended to counter the legalistic mindset that was beginning to run rampant in the early church and unfortunately has also made its way into the modern era.

v. 12 If the priest hood changed then the law also had to change.

This was beginning the argument that the New Testament or Covenant was superior to the Old..

Though some teach it is actually worse some how.

Meaning God basically does nothing and then blames it on His sovereignty.

The law pointed out problems and prescribed punishments but did not offer a solution which was and is Christ.

v. 13-14 This entire chapter is based on a prophecy given by David in Ps 110, specifically in v. 4.

We know from both Matthew 1 and Luke 3 that Jesus was a decedent from the tribe of Judah.

Being from the tribe of Judah set Jesus up to be King but not Priest.

Hence a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.

Christ’s Priesthood is Superior

V. 15-24

v. 15-17 This would have been very offensive to someone who loved the law.

The writer was basically saying that this new priest would supersede the law.

Not by ignoring it, but rather through fulfilling it. (See Mt 5:17)

The endless lives of Melchizedek in type and jesus in fact far surpasses the carnal commandment that made men priests.

The New Covenant is not an extension or amplification of the Old Covenant.

It is a New Covenant completely.

v. 18 The word “disannulling” means to nullify or to invalidate.

It comes from the Greek Word ATHETESIS which means cancellation. Strong’s Greek 115

Similar to having a marriage annulled. Making it like it never happened.

The only other time this Greek Word is used in the NT is in Hebrews 9:26.

Jesus made sin as though it never happened.

The law wasn’t lessened or weakened it was made as though it never existed.

v. 19 The OT showed people what perfection was, but made it impossible to obtain.

James says that if you offend the law in one point you are guilty of the whole thing.

The law could not correct the condition of man, but in fact made it worse in the sense that it made it more obvious.

Romans 7:9 says that the law made sin come alive, while 1 Cor 15:56 says the law strengthened sin.

The good that law did do was show people that they needed a savior.

It raised the standard of what was good and evil.

In contrast the NT uses the Grace of God to make people perfect.

The NT deals with the inner man and ministers life.

In effect doing what the Law could not do.

v. 20-21 Levitical priests assumed office based on blood line not by an oath swore by God.

Jesus was sworn into office by David’s prophecy in Psalms 110:4.

The writer of Hebrews has given us five reasons in this chapter why Jesus’ priesthood was superior to the Levitical Priesthood.

1 Jesus was a priest after the order of Melchizedek, (He 6:20)

2 Melchizedek recieved tithes in a figure from Aaron, (He 7:8-10)

3 Melchizedek blessed Abraham (Aaron) and the less is blessed of the greater, (He 7:7)

4 Jesus was sworn into His priesthood by an oath, (He 7:20-21; Ps 110:4)

5 Jesus is priest over an unchangeable priesthood, (He 7:22-24)

v. 22-24 The New Covenant is a better covenant than the Old Covenant.

They are not the same and they are not both effect.

Those that desire the Old Covenant are not fully submitted to the New Covenant. (Rom 10:3-4)

The New Covenant is better in every way, (He 8:6)

v. 23 The Old Covenant had many priests because they kept dying. But Jesus lives forever having conquered death and the grave and is therefore priest forever.

Unchangeable, Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today, and forever. (He 13:8)

Christ is Out Interceding Priest

v. 25-28

v. 25 Jesus is interceding for us while seated at the right hand of the Father.

If God be for us who can be against us? Rom 8:31.

v. 26 These qualifications were the same ones given to Old Testament priests.

Except, Jesus was truly all of these things. No mortal man could truly fulfil this.

v. 27 Old Testament priests had to offer a sacrifice for themselves before they could even think about doing it for the people.

Jesus had no sin, He appeared once in the end of that world to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. He 9:26.

No sacrifice for sin will ever have to made again as we will study later on in the Book of Hebrews.

He bore our sin in our place. See 1 Peter 2:24.

v. 28 Again Jesus was priest by an oath that superceded the law.