Hebrews 7

Hebrews 7 (NIV)
Melchizedek the Priest

In this chapter, Paul expands upon the subject of Jesus as High Priest from Hebrews 2. The Hebrews were interested in Jesus as High Priest but had significant objections because Jesus did not come from the priestly tribe of Levi, or the priestly family of Aaron, in that tribe. The Jews were steeped in the traditions of their beliefs and they esteemed greatly the Levitical dispensation and the priesthood. So now Paul assures them that by receiving the Lord Jesus they would have a much better High Priest, a priesthood of a higher order and consequently a better dispensation or covenant, and a better law. In the previous chapter Paul ended with a repetition of what had been cited over and over out of Psalm 110:4 – Jesus, a high priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek. In this chapter the apostle sets before the Hebrews some of the strong meat he had spoken of, reiterating the subject of the psalm, hoping they would, with diligence, be better prepared to accept it.

7  1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. 4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

In verses 1-3 Paul explains to the Hebrew people just who Melchizedek is, and how Christ is represented as a result. Melchizedek was a king and a priest, something that was not permitted; God did not permit the kings of Israel to be priests, nor priests to be kings. Melchizedek was a unique exception to this rule as proved here. Paul clearly identifies the name Melchizedek as meaning “king of righteousness” and “king of Salem” (an ancient name for the city of Jerusalem) as meaning “king of Peace”. Paul goes on to say that he is “priest of God Most High”. Melchizedek was not just a worshiper of the true God, he had the honored title of priest of the Most High God. This title was magnified by the greatness of God. At the time the priesthood was evaluated by the status of the deity who it served.

Melchizedek met Abraham after the defeat of the kings and blessed him, (Genesis 14:18). He brought bread and wine to refresh Abraham and his servants when they were weary from the battle. He blessed them as a priest would. And Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the spoils of the battle, a tithe … the first tithe, before tithing was a practice. (Law of first mention) The focus of “all the spoils” indicates that Abraham tithed off the top of the spoils; the tenth (or ten percent). The fact that Abraham gave Melchizedek this tithe indicates that he saw his authority as king, above Abraham and his men. Abraham was returning to Melchizedek what belonged to him for all he had done for them; the tithe.

Without father, without mother. Paul shows us that there is nothing said about the genealogy of Melchizedek. Nothing in the Genesis passage, or anywhere else for that matter. As far as biblical record is concerned he has no genealogy, no parents, no “beginning of days nor end of life”. The scriptures have shown him to be extraordinary and without genealogy, he was a type (type and shadow) of Christ, who as man was without father, as God without mother. His priesthood was without descent; it did not descend to him from anyone, nor from him to another, but is perpetual.

“Resembling (made like) the Son of God” is a very telling description of Melchizedek. Paul is pointing out that Melchizedek had no genealogy and resembled the Son of God; a pre-incarnate (type and shadow of) appearance of Jesus, Himself. To clarify: Paul is showing them that Melchizedek had Jesus’ kind of priesthood.

“Resembling” or “made like” is the Greek word aphomoiomenos, a word used nowhere else in the New Testament, a suggestive verb meaning ‘a facsimile copy or model, being made similar to’.

And “he remains a priest forever” … Paul asks the people to consider just how great this Melchizedek was, that he was “resembling the Son of God and remains a priest forever”. Showing them that his priesthood was above that of the Levite priests, even above the priesthood of Aaron; because even Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek in Abraham.

Jesus Like Melchizedek
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.

Paul asserts, here, the need for a new priesthood. One that perfection could not come by the Levitical priesthood and the law. Therefore another priest had to be raised up, after the order of Melchizedek, by whom perfection might come to all. The fact that God describes a “priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4) shows something lacking in the priesthood according to the order of Aaron. The term Levitical priesthood describes the Jewish priesthood of the Old Testament and most of the instructions for the Old Testament priesthood is found in the Book of Leviticus. The Levitical priesthood and it’s law was associated with the Law of Moses. The priesthood of Melchizedek is associated with Abraham, not Moses. Essentially a new priesthood and law. If the priesthood is changed then the law must be changed.
13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

Under the Law of Moses God strictly commanded that only those from the family of Aaron could serve at the altar. Melchizedek (Jesus) is not from the family of Aaron or even of the tribe of Levi. Paul clarifies that Jesus is descended from Judah, having nothing to do with the Levites, Aaron, or the Law of Moses; according to which Jesus could never be a priest. Therefore as our High Priest He must be under a new order and law.

15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:
“You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”[a]

Paul is pointing out that Jesus’ priesthood is not based upon law or heredity, but upon the power of God’s endless life; and was superior to the priesthood under the Law of Moses and the order of Aaron. “You are a priest forever” could be said of Jesus, who was a priest according to the order of Melchizedek; but not the order of Aaron. Jesus showed that His priesthood was superior when He triumphed over death (Matthew 27:1).
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

Paul now explains why the former regulation, or law, is set aside. He explains that it was weak and unless, or unprofitable, because it made nothing perfect. It set God’s perfect standard, however, it didn’t provide the power to keep His standard, it was not intended to be the basis of a man’s walk with God. The law as it was could not save a soul or give a man power over sin. Paul comes to the conclusion that, as in Galatians 3:19-25, the Old Testament law was to bring us to Jesus. In Hebrews he shows that that law has been made obsolete by this superior law. And now because they have a better priesthood and a better High Priest they also have a “better hope” of drawing near to God.
20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’”[b]

In these scriptures, Paul asserts that the priesthood of Jesus was established with an oath, by God, as recorded in Psalm 110:4. While before the change priests were appointed by heredity, not an oath by God. God sealed Jesus and the priestly order of Melchizedek with His oath.

22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

Paul clarifies that Jesus’ priesthood guaranteed a better covenant because of God’s oath. “Jesus has become the guarantor (surety, in other translations)” … guarantor or purity is from the Greek word egguos which describes someone who gives security, a cosigner who guarantees payment of a loan or puts up bail for a prisoner. Jesus, Himself, is the guarantee of a better covenant; of salvation. The old covenant had a mediator, the new covenant has a guarantor. It depends on what Jesus did, not what they did.

The word covenant used here is from the Greek word diatheke. Diatheses’ literal meaning is the idea of testament in the sense of a “last will and testament”. Paul is trying to stress to the Hebrews that while a covenant is an agreement between two equal parties, this new covenant dictates the agreement that is reached between the people and God, through Jesus, and is not something that was negotiated, rather it was His dictate and they would accept or reject the terms. Because of God’s oath the superiority of Jesus proves He is worthy and able to guarantee them this better covenant.
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely[c] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Paul points out that the priesthood under the Law of Moses constantly changed therefore through the years, depending on the character of the priest, that priesthood could be better or worse than others. He goes on to show that Jesus has an unchangeable priesthood. Because Jesus lives forever His priesthood is a permanent one. No “changing” priest would replace Him. And because of His unchanging nature they could be assured that the salvation Jesus provided was permanent and secure.

“Those who come to God through Him” denoted to them who Jesus was able to save; those who abided in the Son and have fellowship with the Father. Paul also makes clear that it is God to whom they would go for salvation. It was one thing to go to church; it’s another to go to God.

Paul encourages the Hebrews, telling them that Jesus prays for us, always. Remember that Paul is speaking to a discouraged people in this book. The knowledge that Jesus always lives to intercede for them would have been a tremendous encouragement to the Hebrews. And because “He always lives” it remains a tremendous encouragement to us today!
26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Here Paul reiterates that Jesus is better qualified to be a High Priest than any priest from the order of the Law of Moses. He shows them that the priests under the law did not have the personal character that the Son of God did; he points out Jesus’ unique character and qualifications. Proving Him far superior to any earthly priest. He points to two facts: Jesus’ exaltation in heaven and the fact that He didn’t offer up sacrifices first for His own sins, of which there were none, and then for the people. Instead he offered Himself up once for all; being both priest and sacrifice.

Paul concludes this chapter by stressing that unlike the Old Testament law God’s oath appointed His Son, who has been perfected forever. Jesus, perfectly qualified, by God’s own oath, to be their perfect High Priest, perfected forever.
Footnotes:
a Hebrews 7:17 Psalm 110:4
b Hebrews 7:21 Psalm 110:4
c Hebrews 7:25 Or forever
end of footnotes end of crossrefs