"Something Greater"

Growing up I didn’t really think history class was that important. I mean how was knowing about people going to really help me in life and the real world right? However, one of the great things I learned in History class was the importance of knowing and remembering great people who helped us to get where we are today. There were people who discovered things, people who invented things, people who stood up for things and gave their lives for the good or betterment of society. It is important to know some of those names.

When we come to God’s Word there are some names that stand out to us as well. Names like Elijah, Daniel, Peter, John, and Paul. There were also names such as Sarah, Rachel, Mary and Martha. Many of these people are recognizable and have played a very important role in the story of God’s Word. But there are some lesser names that we must know about as well. If it were not for the book of Hebrews and a few obscure passages in the Old Testament you may not know about this man named Melchizedek.

As we have already seen from Hebrews chapter 5 several weeks ago the author begins to help us see that Jesus himself comes from this priestly order, because he is a greater high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. So, we are going to dive into today and see the great importance behind what it means for Christ to be a great high priest according to this order. So, let’s go back to the beginning to learn a little history about this man Melchizedek.

Genesis 14:17–20 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.

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.”

Both of these Old Testament references are actually fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus was a priest, king who lives and continues to minister and He will do this forever.

Here in Genesis we see this encounter that Abraham had with Melchizedek. The book of Hebrews however does not get into so of the descriptions here but what it does do is help us see the comparisons between Melchizedek and Jesus. In order for us to really understand Jesus better, we must understand who Melchizedek is. We need to know more about this name.

Melchizedek is identified as a king over the region of Salem and he is also known as priest of God Most High. Outside of Jesus and this man named Melchizedek, no one else in Scripture do we see as both king and priest. In fact, Israel differentiated the roles of king and priest. No priest in the Old Testament could lawfully act as king, and no king in the Old Testament could lawfully act as a priest.

-So, what did kings do in the Old Testament?

Deuteronomy 17:14–20 ESV

14 “When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ 15 you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. 16 Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ 17 And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. 18 “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

-What did priests do in the Old Testament?

The priests were God’s ministers. They were to present sacrifices to God for their own sin, the people’s sin and the nation’s sin. There were many other duties as well.

Exodus 28 and Leviticus 4.

So, what does all of this help us see about Melchizedek? Let’s look a 4 main characteristics about this man.

1. He pours out blessings.

Hebrews 7:1–2 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.

Here we see this meeting between Abram and Melchizedek. What we do know here is that Abram, has just come from a victorious slaughter over several kings. In fact, the King of Sodom comes out to negotiate with Abram, however Melchizedek who was the king of Salem also come to him and blesses him with bread and wine.

The reason that this is so important for us to understand today is that there is this wonderful connection between Melchizedek and Christ here with this blessing. When we jump down to verse 7 we see something amazing!!!

Hebrews 7:7 ESV

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

What these verses show us is that the greater one always blesses the lesser one. What jumps out to us is that Melchizedek blesses Abraham, the head of the Old Covenant. One of the greatest names in the Old Testament was this great patriarch of Israel. Everyone knew this name down through history. In fact, when Jesus shows up on the scene he uses Abraham’s name with the religious leaders.

John 8:58 ESV

58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

The author of Hebrews is showing us that Melchizedek a non-Israelite king as a superior blessing an inferior. Because of this wonderful blessing Abram now offers Melchizedek a tenth of everything he has received from his spoils of war from the defeat of these kings. These was very important because Abraham realized how important this blessing was. Melchizedek name meant “king of righteousness.” The meaning of names in this time and culture were extremely important and carried a lot of weight. In fact, Melchizedek’s name helps us to see that he was a righteous king. He did what was right in the eyes of God. Another thing we see here as well is that he was the king of peace. What this shows us is that his kingdom was all about peace.

2. He endures.

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.

When we come to verse 3 there are many people who look at this verse and say that Melchizedek was immortal or perhaps is the incarnate Christ. However this is not the subject of this verse. The main focus here is the priesthood of Melchizedek. This man was not a priest because his father was a priest or he had successors who were. What the author of Hebrews is doing here is showing us through his family background the unique nature of Melchizedek’s priesthood. He is a priest of God most high by divine ordination. Melchizedek comes to us as if he has no family, no mother or father, and no sons. This type of priesthood is totally different with the priesthood of Israel, that based on the Levitical family descent. In other words, Melchizedek’s priesthood had nothing to do with his ancestry. It had everything to do with a divine appointment as priest and it continues forever.

3. He receives.

Hebrews 7:4 ESV

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

I want to take a moment here to go back to the tithe or 10% that Abraham gave to Melchizedek. Verse 4 tells us that Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils of war. This is no small gift. Abraham had just defeated several kings and had gathered up all of their possessions. Abraham knew that his God was with him in this battle and now feels from his heart to give back to God Most High. So, he gives the priest Melchizedek this tithe. This was not a little tip to God, but a huge payment made by one of Israel’s most important leaders.

The word here in verse 4 “patriarch” stands out to us because in the New Testament we don’t see this word used very often. It is a word of unique importance in the history of Israel. “Patriarch” denotes the highest level of honor in Jewish life. Men like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are considered some of Israel’s most significant patriarch’s. These men were the foundation of Israel’s identity.

So, Abraham this great Patriarch is the one who is blessed by this priest and gives him a tenth of all he had gotten.

4. He is superior.

Hebrews 7:5–10 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. 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.

The Levites who were descended from Abraham, recieved tithes from others because of their priestly duties. We see this take place over and over again down through the history of the Old Testament. So, why would Abraham be giving Melchizedek a tithe? What this shows us is that the priestly order of Melchizedek comes before or is superior to that of the Levites from Abraham.

The author of Hebrews also shows us from verse 6 another significant reality in that Abraham “had the promises.” These promises are referring to the promises God made to him in Genesis 12:1-3.

-That God would make through him a great nation.

-That God would bless him.

-That God would make his name great.

And yet what we see here from verse 6 is that Melchizedek gave a blessing even to the one who had the promises. This again shows us the greatness and superiority of Melchizedek. So, why is the world is this such a big deal? I mean why do we need to know all of this?

The author of Hebrews wants us to see here that the Old Testament shows us that this old system of Levitical Priesthood was always meant to point us to something greater. Something greater was coming in that Jesus. Jesus our great high priest according too, or from the order of Melchizedek, has done what the Levites never could do. Jesus is our salvation. There is not longer any need for a works based religion that focused on so many rituals and traditions. What all of this shows us is that the works of man can never truly bring about salvation no matter how hard we try.

Conclusion: Over and over again we see down through the Old Testament that something better is coming. Yes, there were wonderful patriarchs who stood up for the Lord and their faith. Men like Abraham, Moses, David and others. But, clearly we know that a better priest, a better king was to come.

This meeting between Melchizedek and Abraham shows us how we need to respond today.

First of all, we should worship and honor God because He alone is the giver of everything. He has given you life and breath and new mercy and forgiveness from your sin. We can give him praise today because of that and we can truly be thankful.

If you are here today and have never surrendered or submitted your life to Christ, realize that you need a better or more superior high Priest. Part of Abraham’s family eventually would be Levi and the Levitical priests. These men were called by God and the people to offer sacrifices for the people’s sin. But now we have something so much better. We have the greater priest-king Jesus. Jesus has died once and for all to atone for our sins. He rose from the grave victoriously and has interceded for us in order that we may draw near to God.