Hebrews 7

Melchizedek, King of Righteousness

Today, finally, we pick up on a point the writer began in Chapter 5.

See 5: 5-11 Read

He is quoting a passage from

A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD said to my Lord,

​​“Sit at My right hand,

​​Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

2 ​​The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.

​​Rule in the midst of Your enemies!

3 ​​Your people shall be volunteers

​​In the day of Your power;

​​In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning,

​​You have the dew of Your youth.

4 ​​The LORD has sworn

​​And will not relent,

​​“You are a priest forever

​​According to the order of Melchizedek.”

So who is this Melchizedek? Let’s go back to Genesis and see what it reveals. Go to

18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said:

​​“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,

​​Possessor of heaven and earth;

20 ​​And blessed be God Most High,

​​Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

And he gave him a tithe of all.

So in this short 3 verses we see some very interesting things.

Melchizedek means King of Righteousness, the messiah in is referred to as Jehovah Tsidkenu, Jehovah our Righteousness.

He is called the King of Salem, meaning King of Jerusalem and King of Peace. Both titles that apply to Jesus. Jesus will rule from Jerusalem and He is called in “Prince of Peace”.

Melchizedek “brought bread and wine”. The symbols of Christ’s body and blood, the elements of Holy Communion.

He (M) blessed Abraham. not the other way around.

Abraham gave him (M) a tithe.

So we say all that to ask who really is Melchizedek? without question he is at least a “type” of Christ. But I like many others see Him as none other than the Reincarnate Jesus Christ Himself.

What do we call such appearances in the OT? A Christophany.

It is interesting that Jesus said in

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”

57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”

58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”

Read

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

Without father, without mother: There is nothing said about the genealogy of Melchizedek in the passage or anywhere else. As far as the Biblical record is concerned, he has no father or mother, no beginning of days nor end of life. “We see but little of him, yet we see nothing little in him.” (Spurgeon)

Though virtually all the commentators disagree with each other on this point, some think that without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God means that Melchizedek was a heavenly being, if not a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Himself.

Made like in translates the ancient Greek word aphomoiomenos, a word used nowhere else in the New Testament. “It is a suggestive word, used in the active of ‘a facsimile copy or model’ and in the passive of ‘being made similar to’.” (Guthrie)

Remains a priest continually: Either this refers to the continuation of the priestly order of Melchizedek, or it is evidence that Melchizedek was actually Jesus appearing in the Old Testament. Jesus’ priesthood does remain to this day, and into eternity.

Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

In this section the writer is developing the idea that the “order of Melchizedek” priesthood is greater than the Aaronic and Levitical.

to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils - according to the Law the Levites receive tithes from the people. Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek as they were part of Abraham.

Melchizedek blessed Abraham. - Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. i.e. parents give presents to their children not visa versa,