Greater Than Arron 1

The Great high priest

To understand why Christ is Greater than Arron, we need to understand that Christ was not just a “better” priest, But That Jesus is the only GREAT high priest.

But it is even deeper than that. The thing that Makes Jesus greater than arron is that Jesus is from a compltelty different order of Priests.

Under the Old covenant all prients came from the tribe of Levi.

Deuteronomy 10:8 KJV 1900

8 At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.

Arron was the first and then his descendant all were priests after him. This is know as the Order of Levi.

Jesus is not part of that Order. He is a different kind of Priests, from another order.

Hebrews 6:20 KJV 1900

20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Now the big question:

Who on earth is Melchisedec?

If you were asked to name the most important people in the Old Testament, I doubt that Melchizedek’s name would be on your list.

He appeared once, in Genesis 14:17–24; and he was referred to once more, in Psalm 110:4.

9 verses. 9 out of 31 102 = 0.0002%

You could hardly call this “top billing.”

But the Holy Spirit reached back into the Old Testament and used those two passages to present a most important truth: the priesthood of Jesus Christ is superior to that of Aaron because “the order of Melchizedek” is superior to “the order of Levi.”

The Jewish nation was accustomed to the priesthood of the tribe of Levi. This tribe was chosen by God to serve in the tabernacle.

Aaron was the first high priest, appointed by God. In spite of their many failures, the priests had served God for centuries; but now the writer has affirmed that their priesthood has ended!

Lets just Read about this mysterious man.

Genesis 14:17–24 KJV 1900

17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. 21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: 24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.

Psalm 110:4 KJV 1900

4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.

Melchisedec was both king and priest

Hebrews 7:1 KJV 1900

1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

No man could appoint himself as a priest, let alone as high priest.

King Saul invaded the priesthood and lost his kingdom.

Korah and his fellow rebels tried to make themselves priests, and God judged them.

When King Uzziah tried to enter the temple and burn incense, God smote him with leprosy.

Those persons who attempted to invade the priests’ office were judged by God.

Under the order of Levi a king could not be a priest and a priest could not be a king.

But here is a man who had both offices—king and priest!

Aaron never had that privilege. And it is important to note that Melchizedek was not a “counterfeit” priest: he was the “priest of the Most High God”. His ministry was legitimate.

Melchisedec Name is Important

Hebrews 7:2 KJV 1900

2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

In the Bible, names and their meanings are often important.

We name our children today without much consideration for what their names mean, but this was not the case in Bible days.

Sometimes a great spiritual crisis was the occasion for changing a person’s name.

The name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness” in the Hebrew language.

The word Salem means “peace” (the Hebrew word shalom), so that Melchizedek is “king of peace” as well as “king of righteousness.”

“Righteousness” and “peace” are often found together in the OT and in very instance speak of the coming Messiah.

Isaiah 32:17 KJV 1900

17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; And the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

Psalm 85:10 KJV 1900

10 Mercy and truth are met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Psalm 72:7 KJV 1900

7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; And abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

True peace can be experienced only on the basis of righteousness.

If we want to enjoy “peace with God” we must be “justified [declared righteous] by faith”.

The Law under the order of Levi could bring niether Righteousness nor peace.

Galatians 2:21 KJV 1900

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

It is only through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross that righteousness and peace could have “kissed each other.”

Melchizedek has a strange family history

Hebrews 7:3 KJV 1900

3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

Here the writer of Hebrews uses an argument from silence, but it is a valid one.

Melchizedek was a man (see Heb. 7:4), so he had to have had a mother and a father.

But there is no record of his genealogy (“descent”) in the Old Testament; and this is significant because most great persons in the Old Testament have their ancestry identified.

It was especially important that the priests be able to prove their ancestry.

Ezra 2:61–63 KJV 1900

61 And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name: 62 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. 63 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and with Thummim.

Melchizedek was not an angel or some superhuman creature; nor was he an Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ.

He was a real man, a real king, and a real priest in a real city.

But as far as the record is concerned, he was not born, nor did he die.

In this way, he is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. Though Jesus Christ did die, Calvary was not the end; for He arose from the dead and today lives in “the power of an endless life” (Heb. 7:16).

Since there is no account of Melchizedek’s death, as far as the record is concerned, it seems that Melchizedek is still serving as a priest and king. This is another way in which he is like the eternal Son of God.

The application is clear: neither Aaron nor any of his descendants could claim to be “without genealogy” (Heb. 7:3, nasb).

They could not claim to have an endless ministry. Nor could they claim to be both kings and priests, like Jesus Christ.

Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham and gave blessing to Abraham

Hebrews 7:2 KJV 1900

2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

Hebrews 7:4–10 KJV 1900

4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

The word “tithe” means “one tenth.”

Under the Jewish Law, the Jews were commanded to give God one tenth of their crops, herds, and flocks.

Leviticus 27:30–32 KJV 1900

30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord’s: it is holy unto the Lord. 31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.

Tithing, however, did not originate with Moses or with the Law. Abraham practiced tithing long before the Law was given.

The greatness of Melchizedek is seen in the fact that Abraham gave him tithes from the loot of a miniwar.

Abraham acknowledged the authority of Melchizedek.

This is very important. Why does a NT church, who is not under the Law take up tithes?

Because the tithes we take up are not levitical, they are Mechizikel. I tithe NOT because the Law tell me too, but because like Abraham i recognise the greatness of Jesus priesthood.

A Special Blessing

Furthermore, Melchizedek blessed Abraham in a special way; and “the less is blessed of the better”

Hebrews 7:7 KJV 1900

7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

In giving Melchizedek tithes and in receiving his blessing, Abraham affirmed the greatness of this king-priest.

But how does this relate to Aaron?

In an interesting way:

Hebrews 7:9–10 KJV 1900

9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

Aaron and the tribe of Levi were “in the loins” of Abraham, yet unborn! So, when their father, Abraham, acknowledged the greatness of Melchizedek, the tribe of Levi was also involved.

The paying of the tithes involved not just the patriarch Abraham, but also the unborn generations in his loins.

What about Jesus?

John 8:58 KJV 1900

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.