The Book of Hebrews, Chapter 7
by Lane Rogers
THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK
Melchizedek the Priest King 7: 1-3
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1For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. 3Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. |
I. The Priest of the Most High God
A. We now have a return back to Psalms 110:4, the only other place in the Bible where Melchizedek appears outside of Genesis 14.
B. From the part played by Melchizedek in Genesis, Melchizedek is meant to pre-figure the Messiah.
C. Based on the names of the kings in Genesis, there is some Archaeological evidence that supports this story.
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According to FF Bruce, Chedorlaomer an Elamite king with three allied rulers raided Transjordon the Negeb and defeated the city states of Sodom and their neighbors. It was at this time that a large number of captives were carried off including Lot, the Nephew of Abraham. After Abrahamrescued Lot and was on his way home, Abraham was met by the grateful king of Sodom who proposed that Abraham should return the captives and keep the plunder. Abraham declined to keep anything because of an oath he made to God. just before the king of Sodom made his proposal, Abraham was greeted by another local ruler, Melchizedek. |
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"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abraham of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed by God Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him a tenth of all (Gen. 14:18-20). |
This
is all the Genesis narrative has to say about Melchizedek but it is
enough for our author.
D.
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Genesis 14 tells us a great deal. Cyprian, Epistle 64:2; "for who is more a Priest of the Most High God than our Lord Jesus Christ, who offered a sacrifice (Himself) to God the Father and offered the same thing which Melchizedek had offered, namely bread and wine____that is, His body and blood?" |
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4Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. 6But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. 7But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. |
II. The Question put to Us: Who is the greater, Melchizedek or Abraham?
A. Abraham was a great man indeed. A "prince to his neighbors," and God even called him "my friend."
B. Our author uses two distinct points here to prove that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham.
1. Melchizedek accepted tithes from Abraham
2. Melchizedek bestowed a blessing on Abraham
C. According to outside documents, the tithes Abraham gave amounted to 10% (Philo and the Genesis Apocryphon).
D. The idea of 1/10th was found in paganism and practiced among the Greeks.
(1) In the event of a "Holy War" all that was captured belonged to God (Deut. 20:19).
(2) For agriculture, the tithe was allocated to the tribe of Levi (Lev.18:21).
(3) And 1/10th of that tithe was further earmarked for the Priesthood (Num. 18:26).
E. As mentioned before, Abraham was a great man since he received "a blessing" from God. But Melchizedek was even greater since He gave the blessing.
F. (Verse 8) Melchizedek was superior because His priestly office was not ended by death. The Levite priest, being human, died and when they died they passed their office on to someone else. The tithe prescribed by law is paid to mortal men. The tithe received from Abraham was to one who has "no end of life."
G. As more proof of the greatness of Melchizedek even Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek. Levi was not born, but was to be Abraham's grandson (so they say).
The Imperfection of the Aaronic Priesthood Ch. 7:11-14
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11Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 12For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. |
III. The Priestly line that lasts forever (v.11).
A. Our author eliminates any argument here that the priestly line of Aaron which will be established after Gen. 14, superseded the line of Melchizedek since, when Abraham met Melchizedek, Melchizedek was declared a Priest forever.
B. Here is the argument: if God intended the line of Aaron to be the completion of all things, why did the Messiah have a Priestly office different than that of Aaron?
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What is Perfection (teleisis 5050) 1.
perfection completion, perfection, spoken of that which has reached its full and intended end (this specific meaning occurs only in Luke 1:45). Reference(s) 2. performance completion,
perfection; of a prophecy, fulfillment |
C. This entire line of reasoning tells us about the readers of the letter. If this were Gentiles reading and trying to understand this letter, the Aaronic Priesthood would not have been a stumbling block. But if they were Jews by birth, they are now in danger of giving up Christianity.
D. (V.12) It is not only the Priesthood of Aaron that must go but also the law. Whenever there is a change in Priesthood, there must be a change in law! This is why Jesus can never come back to earth and reign. Since Jesus cannot be a Priest on earth (8:4) any return to earth means a return to the law.
E. (V. 13-14) To those reading this letter, this must be a radical change. We are told that the new Priesthood has nothing to do with the tribe of Levi. It is common knowledge that the Lord (Jesus) was from the trible of Judah.
The Superiority of the New Priesthood Ch. 7: 15-19
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15And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is attested of Him, YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK." 18For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 19(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. |
A. (V.15-17) As further evidence of the superiority of the new and the imperfection of the old, our author makes a point to remind us that Melchizedek "is a Priest forever." No Priest in the Levitical Priesthood was a Priest forever. Jesus then is immortal.
B. The law that established the Aaronic Priesthood is called the "carnal commandment." That is the Aaronic Priesthood was "earth bound." Like all other aspects of the law and Priesthood, they were imperfect.
C. (VV. 18-19), The declaration "thou are a Priest forever after the order Melchizedek," ends the Levitical Priesthood. This is just another way of saying that the old law is dead and gone. It is in this section of text where we are introduced to failure of the law as related to the human conscience. People with a "marred conscience" have no real access to God. In context, it is setting the law aside for something better that allows us to draw near to God.
Superior Because of the Divine Oath Ch. 7: 20-22
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20And
inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21(for they indeed
became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the
One who said to Him, 22so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. |
V. The Oath!
A. What our author said about God's oath in chapter 6:13ff is still true in this instance.
B. The 'bare' word of God ought to be enough but to push this matter further, "God gave an oath."
C. In Exodus 28:1, we find the Levitical Priesthood inaugurated. There is no mention of a divine oath. On the other hand, the Priesthood of Melchizedek was inaugurated by a divine oath (Ps. 110:4).
Superior Because of its Permanence Ch. 7:23-25
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23The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. |
VI. The Levitical Priests died and therefore were temporary!
A.(V.23) Only Jesus can be a Priest forever, because He is forever.
B. Aaron was faithful but there came a day when Aaron and his son were taken to the top of Mt. Hor where Aaron died (Num. 20:28). Eleazar, Aaron's son who assumed the High Priesthood also died (Josh. 24:33). From that point on, generation after generation of High Priests died until the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D.
C. (v.24) Now we understand that Jesus, being eternal, can never die! This is heading to Hebrews 8: 4, where Jesus cannot come back to earth because His Priesthood is forever.
D. (V. 25). The saving power of Christ is without end. Just has Jesus is eternal and eternity has no end, so is the saving power of Christ.
1. The way to approach the father is though Christ.
2. Jesus then becomes the mediator between God and man and He is uniquely qualified to do this since at one time He was man.
Superior Because of the Character of Jesus Ch. 7: 26-28
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26For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever. |
VII. The Perfect High Priest.
1. He was "Holy" literally the "Holy One" of God. May be used to speak of God Himself.
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1. holy (in a moral sense) pure from all crime, the condition of one who has committed no crime, but religiously observes every duty and fulfils every obligation. [The (ta hosia Dabid 1138 ta pista) (the sure mercies of David, Act 13:34. Isa 55:3) are the religiously performed promises made to David, the faithfully fulfilled obligations.]Reference(s)
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2. He was "innocent."
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(akakos 172) 1. harmless without (kakos 2556), void of evil, (this specific meaning occurs only in Rom 16:18). Reference(s) 2. simple void of evil (lxx. , Job 2:3; 8:20; Pro 1:4; 14:15), (this specific meaning occurs only in Heb 7:26). |
3. Undefiled
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(amiantos 283) 1. undefiled unstained, unsoiled. Reference(s) 2. pure pure, unstained, unsoiled |
A. (V.26) For whatever reasons have been mentioned up to now to prove the superiority of the Priesthood of Christ, these are the final arguments. Compare the above qualifications with the earthly Priesthood.
B. (v.27) When members of the Aaronic Priesthood presented a sacrifice to God, they also had to cleanse themselves from sin to be acceptable. This is not true of our Saviour (See Leviticus 25 and the DOA).
C. Jesus compared to the old Priesthood, "Offered Himself" as a sacrifice.
D. (V.28) Under the law, the high priest is compassed with infirmity and for that reason he must offer a sacrifice for himself as well as for the people (5:2ff). But under the new order we we have a Priest who is not weak and this priest made the "perfect" (complete) sacrifice which is forever.
