Hebrews 7:1-10

Introduction

We pick back up in Hebrews 7 a topic that the author started back in Hebrews 5, the discussion about the fact that Christ was a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. The author of Hebrews had started to explain the importance of Jesus’ Melchizedekian priesthood, but went off on a warning

The author, if you remember took a break in 5:11 saying “About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain since you have become dull of hearing”

And now has picked this thread back up in 6:20 when he said:

“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

For those of you who have studied Hebrews before, this name is known to you. But he isn’t as well known as say Paul, Daniel, or David, or Abraham and not nearly as much has been written about him in the Bible as these and many others. And probably isn’t going to be one that you would sit around and study. God has given us, though, just as much in the Bible on this person to point to what He needed. He has kept this person shrouded in some level of mystery and obscure, but it important for for prophesying about Jesus and who he would be.

He will now begin a discussion that will go all the way to chapter 10 on how the Christ’s High Priesthood is superior to the priesthood of Aaron, and he starts with this argument from about Melchizedek.

Genesis 14:17–24 ESV

17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the Lord, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”

Abraham, taking 318 trained men went after these kings to redeem back from captivity his nephew from these kings.

He chased them all the north of Damascus (Syria) and retrieved Lot, and at the same time all the people of Sodom and Gomorrah and Zoar, along with all of the wealth that was plundered.

On his return back, as he was passing the Kings Valley which is Northeast of Jerusalem he met Melchizedek

Melchizedek brought out Bread and Wine, and it says he Blessed Abraham, and that Abraham gave him 1/10th of the everything.

He then drops from the stage until David writes about him in Psalm 110:4, which gives this account:

Psalm 110:4 ESV

4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

Let’s pick up and read our passage:

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.

There is this question about who Melchizedek is. He has appeared only briefly within the pages of scripture (4 or 5 verses in the OT), and yet holds the central place in the text before us. How did there get to be a righteous king in the midst of this Godless land? Why is there nothing more said about him?

There have been several different views as to exactly who this person is. Some have said he is a pre-incarnate Jesus, others Shem, others have said that he is angelic.

The problem is that there is nothing in this text to support these views.

It is hard to say that he is pre-incarnate Christ since Melchizedek only ‘resembles’ the Son of God (v3) and it is hard to make sense how Christ’s priesthood could be called the order of Melchizedek if he founded it.

Also in v4 the author of our text refers to him as a ‘Man’, and this man was a king of a place not Christ who is king over the world.

We know very little of him, but know that he followed the ‘Most High God’ and that somehow he kept the faith in the midst of this Godless place. He is an example to us therefore that is it possible to follow and honor God in our godless world. He is set forth as a type of Christ, one who symbolizes another. Let’s take a look at Melchizedek.

In these first 3 verses, the author highlights some things for us to see about Melchizedek

First, that he was both King and Priest.

The offices of Priest and King were kept separated under the old covenant. We don’t ever see these offices united.

Under the law, the Levites were the priests. Nobody else was allowed to serve as priest.

Uzziah, King of Judah, tried in his pride to do this and wound up with leprosy for the remainder of his days.

And no priest could serve as king since God anointed David’s line from house of Judah as the kingly line.

But our type of Christ, Melchizedek, brings Kingship and priesthood together in one person. And Christ brings these offices together as it is prophesied:

Zechariah 6:13 ESV

13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.” ’

Next, he speaks of Melchizedek’s name and titles:

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.

We have a translation of Melchizedek’s, Melek which means King, and Tsedek which means righteousness. In the OT, names were very important as they had meaning associated with the one to whom the name was given. Think about Jacob (heal grabber) Esau (Hairy) & Moses (drawn from the water). This name he has explains the character of this king, that he was Righteous. Look at all that were around him, the King of Sodom and King of Gomorrah, and despite this he ruled and was named “King of Righteousness”.

The Second half of the name the author gives us in King of Salem. I believe this is Jerusalem (see Psalm 76 here)

Psalm 76:1–2 ESV

1 In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. 2 His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.

Salem comes from Shalom and means peace, this is a divine, comprehensive peace. Peace with God, Peace with man, health, spiritual and emotional wholeness. Peace always follows righteousness. And he was identified as King of Peace (at least typologically).

Spurgeon said “Note well the order of these two, and the dependence of one upon the other; for there could be no true peace that is not grounded upon righteousness and out of righteousness, peace is sure to spring up.”

This foreshadows the righteous reign of Jesus Christ in which there will be perfect peace.

The Hebrews would have been well aware of their history, some few good kings, but many or most bad; unjust, idolatrous. And priests (think of the ones who killed Jesus) who did not perform their office well and lead the people astray.

But Melchizedek points to one who is greater than he, one who is to come who occupies both offices of King and Priest, and does so in Righteousness, and creating peace between God and man.

Finally, the the author notes in that no genealogy is given for him.

It is interesting here how the author pulls from the argument of absence here. In Genesis, the book where genealogies are given for every major character, and their birth and death are recorded in some form, Melchizedek, strangely has nothing stated for him. There is no “so and so begat Melchizedek” or “Melchizedek begat ..” The author picks up on on this and and says “ he is without father or mother or genealogy”. There is no genealogy attached to his priesthood and no genealogical requirement for this priesthood. But only appointment by God (Psalm 110:4)

Just a side note here, there are man who believe that Melchizedek is some angel because of this description, or is Jesus himself. I don’t believe either of these are true because of how the scripture speaks of him here. It states that Melchizedek ‘resembles’ the Son of God not that he was the Son of God. Melchizedek was living as King of a Place (Jerusalem most likely) not king of the world while he was reigning here. And finally, he receives no worship. The author also says a bit later in v6 that “this man” which would not be attributed to an angel.

So Melchizedek is just a type, a mere shadow, of the one to come not the actual person.

And finally,

That no birth and no death is recorded for him. His priesthood just ‘is’, he walks onto the scene a priest, and walks off the scene the same and thus he continues his priesthood forever.

And without getting too far ahead of ourselves, the fact that he continues as a priest forever, speaks about the ministry of that priest. Unlike the levites he doesn’t die, doesn’t have to be replaced, he isn’t mortal.

So after Jesus died and rose again, he takes up a priesthood that lasts forever, it is eternal. Therefore the sacrifice made is eternal there is no other needed; unlike the levitical one that requires generation after generation of people to continually offer sacrifices because they are ineffectual for taking away your sins. And because Jesus lives forever, there is no time when he cannot put forth his blood to show that your sins are forgiven and that his intercession for you is not effective.

In vv 4 - 10 the author takes this information that he has given, and seeks to show the supremacy of Christ’s priesthood over the Levitical one.

The author now is getting to the main point of why he brought up Melchizedek, to show the supremacy of Christ’s priesthood. The author, in this section, wants them to pay attention. He gives them a command to start this next section off — See, Observe, Consider depending on the translation used. They were to consider the implications of the greatness of Melchizedek.

3 arguments:

Christ’s priesthood is superior because Abraham, and thus Levi, paid a tithe to Melchizedek so Melchizedek is greater.

The Lord set apart these descendents of Abraham to minister to their brothers in the tent of meeting with regard to sin. In a sense, they were greater than their brothers because of this ministry, they were set apart for the work of the Lord. And for this they were to collect a tenth from their brothers.

Numbers 18:21 ESV

21 “To the Levites I have given every tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service that they do, their service in the tent of meeting,

Now, here is this Melchizedek, who is not a descendent of Abraham, or from Levi, and is collecting a tithe from Abraham. He is in a category of priesthood all to himself, completely other than what is the Levite priesthood, as it doesn’t descend from Levi at all. Then in v9 he states that that ‘Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him’. So, by virtue of Abraham paying tithes, Levi paid tithes to this Melchizedek and therefore Melchizedek’s priesthood is greater.

This reasoning may seem a bit ‘spurious’ to you, but this type of argumentation is used in other places. For example, Just think of Adam and us. Adam, in the garden sinned. His actions are attributed not only to himself, but also carry on to us as well; it is as if we sinned in the garden too. And think as well we sing a song, ‘forgiven’ that speaks in such a way as well:

I'm the one who held the nail

It was cold between my fingertips

I've hidden in the garden

I've denied You with my very lips

Christ’s priesthood is superior to Levi’s because Melchizedek blessed Abraham

The author of Hebrews reminds his readers that Melchizedek blessed Abraham, and then underscores this truth with the statement:

Hebrews 7:7 ESV

7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.

Blessings in the OT are very often prophetic in nature and carry weight from heaven. They are given by ones greater to ones who are lesser always. Given then that the

Christ’s priesthood is superior to Levi’s because he lives and Levi’s is mortal

The final point I will draw out from this passage comes from v8. That the Order of Melchizedek’s priesthood and therefore Christ’s is greater than Levi’s because, the tithes are received not by those who die, but rather by one who lives.

Hebrews 7:8 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.

This harkens back to what we read just a few minutes ago, “but resembling the Son of God, he continues a priest forever. As the priesthood of Melchizedek continues forever, so does the Son of God’s who is of the Order of Melchizedek. He lives ever now to intercede for you and to show his blood to cover our sins as we come to the father.

Hebrews 6:19–20 ESV

19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Finally, I would add that Melchizedek’s, and so Christ’s priesthood is greater, because it is not just a priesthood for Abraham’s descendents, but for the world.

Isaiah 53:11

Isaiah 53:11 ESV

11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.

We do not know Melchizedek’s nationality, but this we do know, that he was a gentile. In that it is stated that he is a priest of the Most High God. His ministry was to the gentile world, as well as to Abraham. He was a priest for both. ministered to those outside of Abraham and his descendents prior to meeting Abraham, as well as to Abraham, through whom the promised seed would come.

Our Great Savior

There is nowhere else we can go besides Jesus to find perfect righteousness and peace.

Go back to the gospels -> See his righteousness, how he lives and how he loves. He is righteousness incarnate.

See the peace that is present at his presence for those who trust him.

We see Christ’s ministry portrayed in these verses. He is the one who offers the blessing of God, He offers the bread and the wine, physical nourishment for Abraham, spiritual nourishment for us.

Apart from His righteousness you will never have peace. The whole world is seeking peace, there is no-one else in whom it is found. True, whole, peace only comes from God. Never will we have peace apart from Him.

He brings peace by his blood between us and the Father, by his Righteousness imparted to us. Worldly peace will never fulfill. Work success, accomplishment, money, sensuality, romance; bodily obtaining these things will never bring peace (well maybe temporary, but never lasting).

Christ brings us everlasting peace in himself.

He is our Melchizedek, our King of Righteousness and King of Peace.

Jesus said in John, “My peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give.”