This chapter shows that the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, like that of Melchisedec, is superior to the priesthood of Aaron and the Levitical order and that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the type set forth in Melchisedec.
The writer picks up the subject of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ after the order of Melchisedec as was introduced in Chapter 5:5-10. After a pause in His discourse for a warning against dullness to the Word of God, the writer came back to the subject of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ in Chapter 6:17-20 and continued through Chapter 7. The connecting word between Chapter 6:17-20 and Chapter 7 is "for,"
which means "the fact is, in fact." The word translated 'for" (Greek, gar) has a more extensive meaning than the English word "for," which expresses the reason, cause, motive, principle, etc. of what has been previously said.
The Jewish nation was accustomed to the priesthood of the tribe of Levi. This tribe was chosen by God to serve in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple (Exodus 29; Numbers 18). 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. To defend this statement and to prove that the order of Melchisedec is superior to that of Aaron, he presents three arguments. He presents the historical argument, the doctrinal argument, and the practical argument. In this lesson, we will consider the historical argument: Melchisedec and Abraham.
MELCHISEDEC WAS BOTH KING AND PREAST
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Verse l: 1For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham
returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
In the Old Testament economy, the throne and the altar were separated. Those persons who attempted to invade the priest's office were judged by God (2 Chronicles 26:16-21).
2 Chronicles 26:16-21: 16But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his
destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple
of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 17And Azariah the priest
went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant
men: 18And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not
unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of
Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast
trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. 19Then Uzziah
was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth
with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the
house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. 20And Azariah the chief priest,
and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead,
and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the
LORD had smitten him. 21And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death,
and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the
LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the
land.
Here is a man who had both offices—king and priest. Aaron never had that privilege. And it is important to note that Melchisedec was not a counterfeit priest. He was the "priest of the Most high God."
Genesis 14:18-20, "And Melchisedec king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was
the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most
high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath
delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all." Therefore, the ministry of Melchizedek was legitimate.
HIS NAME IS SIGNIFICANT
Verse 2: 2To 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;
The name Melchisedec means "king of righteousness." The word "Salem" means "peace."
Melchisedec was the "king of peace" as well as "king of righteousness." The ancient name of Jerusalem was Jebus. When Melchisedec was the king and priest of the city, it was called Salem. Psalm 76:1-2, "In Judah is God known: His name is great in Israel. In Salem also is
His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion." When Jesus comes again, He will rule from David's throne in Jerusalem (Luke 1:30-33). Therefore, both Melchisedec and Jesus are kings of the same city.
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Luke 1:30-33: 30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast
found favour with God. 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and
bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32He shall be great, and shall
be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the
throne of his father David: 33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for
ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Righteousness and peace are often found in Scripture.
Isaiah 32:17, "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of
righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." Psalm 85:10, "Mercy and truth
are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
Psalm 72:7, "In His days shall the righteous flourish; and the abundance of
peace so long as the moon endureth."
James 3:18, "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make
peace."
Hebrews 12:11, "Now no chastening for the present seemth to be joyous, but
grievous; nevertheless after it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto
them which are exercised thereby."
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," (Romans 5:1). Man cannot produce righteousness by keeping the Old Testament Law. Galatians 2:21, "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"
(Psalm 85:10).
MELCHISEDEC RECEIVED TITHES FROM ABRAHAM
Verses 2, 4-10: 2To 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;…4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch
Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5And 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: 6But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of
Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7And without all contradiction the
less is blessed of the better. 8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth
them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9And as I may so say, Levi also, who
receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10For he was yet in the loins of his father,
when Melchisedec met him.
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The word "tithe" means "one tenth." Under the Law, the Jews were commanded to give God one tenth of their crops, herds, and flocks (Leviticus 27:30-32). These tithes were brought to the Levites (Numbers 18:2Iff) at the tabernacle and later at the temple (Deuteronomy 12:5 ff). If the trip was too long for transporting grain, fruit, or animals, the tithe could be converted into money.
Tithing did not originate with Moses. Abraham paid tithes long before the Law was given (Genesis 14:18-20). This practice was continued by Jacob (Genesis 28:20-22).
Genesis 14:18-20: 18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and
wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19And he blessed him, and said,
Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20And
blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.
And he gave him tithes of all.
Genesis 28:20-22: 20And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will
keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
21So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my
God: 22And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all
that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.
HIS FAMILY HISTORY IS DIFFERENT
Verses 3, 4: 3Without 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. 4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch
Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
Melchisedec was a man; therefore, he had a mother and a father. But there is no record of his genealogy (descent) in the Old Testament. 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 2:62, 63; Nehemiah 7:63-65). Here the writer uses an argument from silence, but it is a valid one. No priest preceded Melchisedec, nor did any succeed him in his order.
Ezra 2:62, 63: 62These sought their register among those that were reckoned by
genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the
priesthood. 63And 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.
Nehemiah 7:63-65: 63And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of
Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the
Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name. 64These sought their register
among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were
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they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. 65And the Tirshatha said unto them, that
they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and
Thummim.
Melchisedec was not an angel nor 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 that way, he is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. Since there is no account of Melchisdec's death, as far as the record is concerned, it seems that Melchisedec is still serving as a priest and king. This 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." They could not claim to have an$ eternal ministry. Nor could they claim to be both kings and priests like Jesus Christ.
MELCHISEDEC HAD AUTHORITY TO RECEIVE TITHES AND TO BLESS ABRAHAM
Verses 4-10: 4Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch
Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 5And 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: 6But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of
Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7And without all contradiction the
less is blessed of the better. 8And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth
them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9And as I may so say, Levi also, who
receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10For he was yet in the loins of his father,
when Melchisedec met him.
The greatness of Melchizedek is seen in the fact that Abraham gave him tithes after the victory (Genesis 14:17-24). Abraham acknowledged the authority of Melchisedec. In giving Melchisedec tithes and in receiving his blessing, Abraham affirmed the greatness of this King-Priest.
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 Jewish people believed strongly in "racial solidarity," and this is one of it. The paying of the tithes involved not just the patriarch Abraham but also the unborn generations in his loins.
God had made an everlasting covenant with Abraham, but this did not make Abraham better than Melchisedec (Verses 6-8). Abraham was blessed by Melchisedec who was better than he was. NOTE
Verse 8: "And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed
that he liveth." The expression "men that die" refers to the Levitical priests. The expression "there he" refers to Melchisedec. Abraham, the less, was blessed by Melchisedec, the better.
CONCLUSION
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Melchisedec is a type of Jesus Christ. He represents Him in several ways. He is king of peace and king of righteousness. The Lord Jesus Christ is a King. He is righteous and He is made unto us righteousness. Melchisedec was a "priest of the most high God." The Lord Jesus is our Great High Priest. Melchisedec received tithes from Abraham. He had authority to receive tithes and to bless Abraham. The priesthood of Jesus Christ after the order of Melchisedec is superior to the priesthood of Aaron. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of the repenting and believing sinner.
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