Hebrews 7, Part 2
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 And 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: 6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
4 It does refer to him as a man, though; does that fit with a Theophany? Yes. Just how great was He? Obviously, He was greater than the greatest Jew, Abraham! Abraham knew of Him and His greatness. Why is nothing much else mentioned of Him if He was so great? Maybe it is mentioned of Him throughout the New Testament…Jesus Christ.
5 Levi came a little after Abraham; a son of Jacob. Aaron was also. The law of Moses commanded this, but it was for Israel’s priests, which doesn’t exactly relate to the N.T. and tithing; however, the tithe to Melchisedec is closer to NT tithing; not part of the law, and unto the Lord Jesus Christ.
6 Descent – He is not of Abraham’s stock; not Jewish. He is without descent! How could a non-Jew receive tithes??! Rightfully received them. Blessed him “because of” the promises, especially the new covenant.
7 Clearly stating that Melchisedec was greater than Abraham.
“In this manner Isaac and Jacob blessed their children under a prophetic impulse; in this manner the priests under the law blessed the people; in this manner, likewise, Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God, blessed Abraham.” (Adam Clarke)
8 The men are the Levites, who must all one day die. It states here that Melchizedek was witnessed that he ‘liveth’; He continues living… the ever living One… the Self existant One… Amen!
9,10 The one receiving tithes, paid them also, to an higher. Levi paid them via his great grandfather Abraham who himself was greater than Levi. Melchizedek’s priesthood is far superior to the Levitical priesthood. This meeting was a very special event. God was showing Abraham yet again that he was blessed and God was with him.
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, 16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
11 The Levitical line required the priests to offer sacrifice for themselves, because of their own sins. Thus, the levitical priesthood was tainted with sin; it was not perfect. When looking for a sinless line, there is only one… and Melchisedec fullfilled it, as did Jesus. Because of the tainted priestly line of Aaron, there needed to be another order…that after the order of Melchisedec…i.e., one that had no sin… So, how do those who say Melchisedek wasn’t Jesus explain this sinlessness? How do you go from ‘type’ to ‘antitype’ on this? Was Melchisedec a ‘pretty good’ guy, and didn’t sin that much? Was he sinless? Well, Melchisedec was indeed sinless… and that can only mean that He was, and is, God…Jesus Christ! Amen!
12 Switched from law-ruled to grace-ruled. The priesthood changed in that the holy line would be thru Melchisedec.
“It was no accident that God set aside the Israelite priesthood. He had planned it that way from the beginning. That is obvious because soon after He had called Abraham, before He actually made the covenant with him, God introduced him to Melchizedek, a priest of an higher order than the one that would come from Abraham’s descendents.”
“Because the Aaronic priesthood and the Mosaic law were so closely tied to each one another, a changed (replaced) priesthood also meant a changed law. Is the law of God also done away with? It is in a certain way and sense. The ceremonial law, the Aaronic system of sacrifices, has been set aside. So, the whole Judaistic system was changed…not just changed, but exchanged, for a new order, a new Priest, a new sacrifice, an entirely new covenant.” (MacArthur)
13 Speaking of Jesus Christ. Not of Levi’s or Aaron’s. I don’t understand this reference. Maybe referring to the altar in the holy place, and Judah’s job was not dealing with any of the priestly jobs, just Levi’s.
14 Of the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Jesus Christ’s priestly heritage could not come from Levi or Abraham but instead came from another line…that of Judah…which was not spoken of concerning the priesthood. Thus, if Melchisedec were indeed human (I highly doubt this though), then he would be in ancestry of Judah.
15-17 Jesus Christ is referenced here as coming after the order of Melchisedec. Melchisedec and Jesus Chrsit were not chosen priests via the Law or because of a flesh related thing (i.e. family heritage); but were because of them both having eternal life. Verse 16 shows the ‘similitude’ that Melchisedek and Jesus Christ have: it is specifically that they both have an ‘endless life’… they are eternal beings… as opposed to all others (humans).
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: 21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
18 Refering to the Levitical priesthood which is based upon the Law and is cancelled out in effect because of its weakness and unprofitableness in bringing us to God as a priest is suppose to.
19 Perfect – made to a standard, fully at the mark; the Law could not get us there for we are sinners, so some other way we were made perfect. It is important to understand the overall teaching in those verses; that Jesus fulfilled many things of which the important O.T. and now N.T. teachings of the priesthood testify of, and that we always needed a high priest.
20-22 God made this oath concerning His Son (Ps 110:4).
23 The Levites were many over the years because they kept on dying and needed to be replaced. It was only a temporary fix. Which one would be the eternal one? None! Melchisedek had an endless life…thus, he never died; Melchisedek is contrasted with the Levites throughout this chapter.
24 Who is the ‘he’ here? ‘Jesus’ is mentioned in verse 22, but then it switches to ‘this man’, which seems to be reverting back to the main subject of the passage, that of Melchizedek. Melchizedek’s priesthood is unchanging… there would be no ‘death’ of the priest…i.e., Melchizedek would not physically die as did the Levitacl priests. It had to be one that had eternal life (continueth for ever), thus Melchisedec had eternal life! He went off the scene and came back about 3000 years later (other than many “Theophonies” in between, of course). There was always the planning for the next priest; the Levitical priesthood was flawed.
25-27 The intercessor for man to God had to be eternal and perfect for their sins would always be able to be brought up unless there was One to continually speak on their behalf. Our eternal future will be based on this continual intercession, it will always be done between us and the Father; He is always our access to Him. Saved by Jesus Christ, then you are most totally saved then! He offered one sacrifice for ever…whereas the O.T. priests offered up daily sacrifices.
Who is this King?… Who is this Melchisedec? Either a God-like being other than the Son of God, or it is the Son of God. I firmly believe that Melchisedec was a theophany of the pre-incarnate Christ, the Son of the living God.
*Jesus Christ stated that “Before Abraham was, I am”!
*If Melchizedek isn’t Jesus Christ, then who or what is he?! There must be another creature type other than humans
and angels. And this creature was present with the Godhead forever. Or, this is all symbolism.
*Jesus Christ was the key entity at creation; why wouldn’t He continue to be key throughout the course of history
which was all leading up to Him being sacrificed on the cross?!
*When you see God intervening in the Old Testament, it very well may be in the personage of the Lord Jesus Christ!