Chapter 7
Melchizedek
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, 2 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,”
Melchizedek was the king of Salem, which later became Jersualem, and priest of God during the time Abraham lived. Lot was Abraham’s nephew. A number of kings with their armies kidnapped Lot and his family and took their possessions. Abraham raised an army and by the grace of God defeated these heathen kings and rescued Lot and his family. Abraham then met Melchizedek, who was known as “king of righteousness” and “king of peace”, and in thanksgiving to God gave the priest a tenth or a tithe of what was recovered. Melchizedek was a very godly man.
3 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.
Verse 3 has raised an interesting question. Some have thought that the appearance of Melchizedek was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. They come to this conclusion because it appears the Scripture here is comparing Melchizedek to our Lord. Jesus is the eternal Son of God and our High Priest. He had no beginning nor ending.
Others believe that Melchizedek was just a human being but one of extraordinary godliness. Scripture doesn’t mention any record concerning his descendants or birth but that omission doesn’t require the belief that he was eternal. He was a righteous man and a priest and king very similar to Jesus who is the Son of God. Melchizedek’s priesthood lives on through Jesus Christ our great King and High Priest.
4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 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; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
Melchizedek was a great man. He was deeply respected by Abraham who gave Melchizedek a tithe for the Lord. God established the Levitical priesthood after the Exodus took place when the children of Israel left Egypt. Part of that law was for all the children of Israel, except the tribe of Levi, to pay tithes to support the priesthood and maintain the tabernacle / temple for worship. However, Melchizedek lived before Abraham had any children and before the law was given to Moses. Abraham was not required to give a tithe to Melchizedek. He did so freely and willingly as an offering to the Lord. Melchizedek blessed Abraham to whom God had made great promises to.
7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
The more godly person always blesses the less godly person. Melchizedek was more godly than Abraham. The Levitical priesthood established by God were men who received tithes and would later die. Yet Melchizedek received tithes and there was no record of his death. The priestly tribe of Levi, who received tithes, in a sense paid tithes to Melchizedek through the loins of their father Abraham. This was showing that the priesthood of Melchizedek (the greater) was superior to the priesthood of the tribe of Levi (the lesser). Christ’s priesthood was superior to the Levitical priesthood because His eternal priesthood was after the order of Melchizedek who had no recorded beginning or ending of days.
A Better Priesthood
11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.
If the Levitical priesthood, which had been established by the law given to Moses, had been perfect why would there be a need for another priest like Melchizedek and not of the tribe of Levi? There were several reasons why the Levitical priesthood was imperfect. One, the perfect substitutionary atoning sacrifice required it be of like kind. A man for mankind, not of animals whose shed blood could never take away sin. The value of a man far exceeds that of an animal. Two, it would require a sinless man without spot or blemish. Therefore sacrifices would not need to be made for him. Three, this priest must be eternal, without beginning or ending of days for this sacrifice would be once and for all. In other words, this person must be both man and God for only God could become a sinless and eternal man. The only person in all human history that could meet these requirements and have a perfect priesthood is Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Therefore, since there needed to be a change in the priesthood with Christ’s priesthood replacing the Levitical priesthood there must also be a change in the law. The law established on Mt. Sinai said that the tribe of Levi would be the priesthood. However, Jesus descended from the tribe of Judah. His priesthood replaced the human priesthood as Christ is both King and High Priest.
For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.
17 For He testifies:
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
It is clear that Christ was of the tribe of Judah. Moses never mentioned a priesthood from Judah, only Levi. Christ’s priesthood wasn’t because he was born into the right family. His priesthood was due to the power of a life that would never end. God declares that Jesus is a priest forever, similar to Melchizedek.
18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness,19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
The Old Testament laws, rules, and regulations were weak and unprofitable for it made no one perfect. It required more sacrifices for the sins of the people and the priests. However, the New Testament covenant in Jesus Christ is a much better hope and way for us to draw close to God. For Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me (John 14:6).” Jesus’ one sacrifice on the cross is sufficient to remove all sins (past, present, and future) of those who have believed and trusted in Him.
Jesus is Our High Priest by the Oath of God
20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:
“The LORD has sworn
And will not relent,
‘You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek’ ”),22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant
To show the superiority of Christ’s priesthood, it was God who made an oath and swore to Jesus that our Savior would be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. God would never change His mind about Jesus being our eternal priest because Christ is a guarantee of a better covenant or agreement between God and man. God never made such an oath to the Levites but He did to Jesus Christ.
23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
One of the main inadequacies of the Levitical priesthood is that all those priests died. However, Jesus is eternal so His priesthood will never change. Therefore He can save everyone who comes to God through Him as He is forever before the throne of God pleading on our behalf to the Father.
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
It is altogether fitting for Jesus to be our High Priest because He is holy, without sin, and rules higher than the heavens. He does not have to offer up sins for Himself as the Levites did. His one sacrifice on the cross was sufficient to pardon the sins of all who come to Him in faith. The Old Testament law appointed high priests who were weak because of their sin. God has sworn to replace the Old Testament priesthood with Jesus, His Son, who is perfect forever.