Hebrews 07
7:1 Now this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him.
Melchizedek is Hebrew for “the king of righteousness.” This is most likely a title and not a proper name. Since all languages were confused at the Tower of Babel (except for Hebrew), then this King of righteousness could have been Shem, the son of Noah. Shem was the carrier of the seed son. Melchizedek visited Abraham, another son of Shem and the carrier of the seed son. Shem may have passed on this knowledge to him.
7:2 To him also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything. His name first means king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace.
Abraham paid his Semitic ancestor a tithe. Melchizedek lives in Salem, which was a Jebusite city. Later, King David would conquer it, rename it “Jerusalem” (meaning “city of peace”) and make it the capital of Israel. Since Salem was a Hebrew name, this is more evidence that Melchizedek could have been Shem.
Some falsely teach that Melchizedek was the pre-incarnate Christ. This cannot be true for several reasons. First, the text uses a Greek participle instead of an adjective, meaning that Jesus was similar to Melchizedek but He was not Melchizedek. Second, the author stated that Melchizedek was “like” the Son of God, but he was not the Son of God. Third, Psalm 110:4 distinguished Melchizedek as a different person than the Messiah. Fourth, theophanies always appeared and disappeared. Melchizedek was an actual human king of the city-state of Jerusalem, which required permanent residency.
7:3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, he has neither beginning of days nor end of life but is like the son of God, and he remains a priest for all time.
Some use this verse to teach that since Melchizedek had no parents, no birth, or no death, this was the eternal pre-incarnate Christ. However, the author of Hebrews just stated that his birth, genealogy, and death were not prerequisites of the Melchizedek priesthood. The length of office was eternal, just like the office of Christ as priest is eternal.
The Levitical Priests could only serve from 25-50 years of age. The Melchizedek priesthood contained no time or age limits.
The Levitical priesthood was only for the nation of Israel. The Melchizedek priesthood served all of mankind.
In conclusion, the Melchizedek was an eternal priesthood which served all people on earth with no race or age requirements, so it was superior to the Levitical priesthood.
7:4 But see how great he must be, if Abraham the patriarch gave him a tithe of his plunder.
Abraham was a patriarch. He paid a one-time tithe from his plunder to Melchizedek. This was before the Mosaic Law was in effect.
Some churches will misuse this verse to teach modern tithing. Abraham did not pay a regular tithe from his income on a weekly basis. He paid a one-time tithe from a one-time plunder of four enemy kings. The modern church is to give by grace as God prospers them.
7:5 And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descendants of Abraham.
The Levites were sons of Abraham. Therefore, with Abraham as their father, the Levites also paid this tithe to Melchizedek. Therefore, the Melchizedek priesthood is greater than the Levitical priesthood.
7:6 But Melchizedek who does not share their ancestry collected a tithe from Abraham and blessed the one who possessed the promise.
Melchizedek collected a tithe and blessed Abraham.
7:7 Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior,
The blesser is always greater than the one being blessed.
7:8 and in one case tithes are received by mortal men, while in the other by him who is affirmed to be alive.
Aaron died. There is no record of the death of Melchizedek. Therefore, the Melchizedek priesthood is an eternal priesthood.
7:9 And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham.
The Levites paid tithes through Abraham.
7:10 For he was still in his ancestor Abraham’s loins when Melchizedek met him.
Levi was in the loins of Abraham. Therefore, Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek by the means of imputation.
Jesus and the Priesthood of Melchizedek
7:11 So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood – for on that basis the people received the law – what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order?
The Levitical Law was temporary and imperfect. It could not bring one to spiritual maturity. Psalm 110:4 predicted that another priest would come after the order of Melchizedek. Jesus was this other priest.
7:12 For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come as well.
Since the Levitical priesthood could not bring one to spiritual maturity, then it must be replaced.
7:13 Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever officiated at the altar.
Psalm 110:4 predicted that another priest would come after the order of Melchizedek, but this priest would come not from the Levites, but from the house of David.
7:14 For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.
Jesus was from the house of David. David was from the house of Judah. Therefore, Jesus is the priest after the order of Melchizedek.
7:15 And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek,
The Greek word for “another” is ἕτερος (heteros), meaning another priest of a different kind. The coming priest (singular) will be different from the Levitical priests.
7:16 who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent but by the power of an indestructible life.
During the Mosaic Law, one could only become a priest if his father was a Levite. This regulation brought out some very unholy priests.
7:17 For here is the testimony about him: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
The author quoted Psalm 110:4. The new priest to come would be eternal and not temporary. The new priest would not come from the house of Levi, but he would come from the order of Melchizedek.
7:18 On the one hand a former command is set aside because it is weak and useless,
The Levitical priesthood was weak, because it could not save. It could not bring one to spiritual maturity. Therefore, it was abolished.
7:19 for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
The Mosaic Law could not bring one to perfection. It was a tutor. All it could do was show man that he was a sinner and point to his Savior.
7:20 And since this was not done without a sworn affirmation – for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation, 7:21 but Jesus did so with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’” –
The Levitical priests held no oath of office. They were priests only because they were born into a Levitical family. The order of Melchizedek is superior, because it came with an oath from God. God always keeps His promises.
7:22 accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
Jesus will make sure that the promises of this new covenant of the Melchizedek priesthood will be kept.
7:23 And the others who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them from continuing in office,
The Levitical priesthood was weak, because their priests always died and could not continue their work.
7:24 but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever.
Jesus is the High Priest of the order of Melchizedek. He lived forever, so His priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood.
7:25 So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
The Levitical priesthood could not save anyone. They could only offer sacrifices which pointed to the one who saved. Jesus is eternal. He sits at the right hand of God. He is eternally interceding for all believers. Therefore, there is no way that a believer can lose his salvation.
7:26 For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
The author pointed out that all men need a spotless priest. Jesus is spotless for five reasons. First, He is holy, or set apart to accomplish God’s mission. Second, He is innocent, because He never sinned. Third, He is undefiled, because He never sinned. Fourth, He is separate from sinners, because He never sinned. Fifth, He is exalted and lives in the heavens, because He is both God and man and this is His habitat.
7:27 He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all.
Since Jesus never sinned, He does not need to offer a sacrifice for Himself. Notice that this offering was “once for all.” The Catholics claim to offer the actual body and actual blood of Christ over and over at every mass. This is not needed. Christ offered His own body and blood once and for all.
7:28 For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness, but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.
The Levitical priesthood possessed several weaknesses. First the Mosaic Law appointed men who were from the house of Levi, which produced many sinful priests. Jesus was from heaven. Second, the Levite priests were sinners. Jesus never sinned. Third, the Levites needed to offer a sacrifice for themselves. Jesus never sinned, so He needed to offer no sacrifice for Himself. Fourth, the Levites would one day die. Jesus would never die. Fifth, the Levites lived on earth serving a temporary, earthly tabernacle. Jesus lived in heaven and served a heavenly tabernacle.
Therefore, the order of Melchizedek is a better priesthood than that of the Levitical priesthood. Since the Melchizedek order is better, there is no reason for these Messianic believers to return to an inferior Levitical priesthood.