These Hebrew
were tempted to abandon the
Christian faith and go back to Judaism, so the writer tells them that Christ is
far superior to anyone connected with the Jewish faith. In chapters 1 & 2 he has
shown that Christ is greater than the angels, and in 3 & 4 that Christ is
greater than Moses. The Jews made a great deal of their high priest, so in
chapter 5 the writer asserted that the Lord Jesus Christ is greater than any of
the Jewish high priests. Aaron and
all the others were in the order of Levi,
descendants of Levi, but the
Lord Jesus Christ is a high priest in the order of Melchizedek. Having stated this
truth in chapter 5 verses 6 & 10, the writer digressed to warn his readers
of their spiritual sluggishness which made it hard for him to teach them these
difficult doctrines, but now in chapter 7 he is back with this truth about
Christ being a high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
A. Who was
Melchizedek?
He appeared suddenly and
briefly to Abraham (Hebrews 7:1, Genesis 14). A
war arose between four kings under the leadership of Kedorlaomer king of
Some say that Melchizedek
was a type of Christ. Others, that he was an appearance of Christ (a
theophany) in the Old Testament.
Both opinions have their difficulties, but in the final issue our interpretation
of this matter does not alter the theme of Hebrews 7: that Christ, our ‘Melchizedek’ high
priest is far greater than any of
the Jewish high priests descended from Levi .
B. Why is our ‘Melchizedek’
high priest greater?
1. Melchizedek was a
king as well as priest (Hebrews 7:1, Genesis 14:18). No one else ever was in the OT (though Saul tried in 1
Samuel 13:9). Jesus is both our high
priest and king.
2. Melchizedek was a King of
Righteousness (Hebrews 7:2). The name Melchizedek mean “The King of Righteousness”. Jesus is
righteous himself and bestows
righteousness on others.
3. Melchizedek was the king of
peace. (Hebrews 7:2). ‘
4. Melchizedek’s priesthood
did not depend on ancestry, but on God’s appointment (Hebrews 7:3). The
levitical priesthood was absolutely dependent upon ancestry (Ezra 2:61).
5. Melchizedek’s priesthood is everlasting (Hebrews 7:3)
.
6. Melchizedek
received a tithe from Abraham (Hebrews 7:4). If you pay tithes to someone, you
recognise their greatness and Abraham,
gave a tithe to Melchizedek, even though he had no legal duty to do so.
(Hebrews 7:6-7). He did do willingly. Do we follow Abraham’s
example?
7. Melchizedek blessed
Abraham Hebrews 7:6) .
That doesn’t just mean that Melchizedek pronounced God’s blessing upon
Abraham. An ordinary high priest could do that. Melchizedek actually imparted a
blessing to Abraham, and the greater person always blesses the lesser. Abraham was a very important person,
with marvellous promises from God,
but the fact that Melchizedek blessed him must mean that Melchizedek was
greater, and if he was greater than Abraham the head of the whole Jewish faith,
then he was greater than anyone in the Jewish faith including all the levitical
priests who descended from Abraham.
8. Melchizedek still lives. (Hebrews
7:8) In the Jewish faith, the tithe
was collected by men who were sure to die,
but the person who received the tithe from Abraham was Melchizedek who is
declared to be living.
9. Melchizedek received tithes from
Levi! Abraham was the
head of the Jewish race . Levi and all the levitical priests were descended from
Abraham. When Abraham paid his
tithes to Melchizedek Levi was not yet born but he was, so to speak, in his body.
Conclusion
The king of Sodom wanted to
repay Abraham for rescuing him, but after meeting Melchizedek and being blessed
by him, Abraham refused to receive anything from the King of Sodom (Genesis
14:21), except the wages owed to his servants.. He didn’t want anyone to think that he
was dependent upon a pagan king for his happiness and pleasure. He had met with this amazing
person and knew total contentment.
Those who have met with Christ, our great Melchizedek high priest should
not be dependent upon this world for their happiness.