Notes on Melchisedec in light of
Abraham
Paul wanted to demonstrate that Jesus a Jew
could be a priest greater than the Levite
priests. To do this he first demonstrated in this
section the superiority of Melchisedec
and the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the
most high God, who met Abraham returning from the
slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
- Melchisedec was both "king of Salem"
and "priest of the most high
God". Salem
is present day Jerusalem.
Melchisedec is important because he is a
priest but not in the tribe of Levi and
the lineage of Aaron who of course is not
even born yet.When Melchisedec
blessed Abraham he took a position of
priestly authority over Abraham.
Hebrews 7:2 "To whom
also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first
being by interpretation King of righteousness,
and after that also King of Salem, which is, King
of peace;"
- When Abraham gave a tenth part to Melchisedec he was
giving a tithe. This tithe is a defacto
endorsement of the position of Melchisedec as
Priest vis a vie Abraham as
supplicant.His name means, "King of
righteousness" and "King of
Salem, which is, King of peace;"
Hebrews 7:3 Without father,
without mother, without descent, having neither
beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like
unto the Son of God; abideth a priest
continually.
- In the old testament particularly
genealogy is very important. However with
Melchisedec no
genealogy is given. Here he is compared
to Christ to portray the concept of an
eternal non-Aaronic priest.
Hebrews 7:4 "Now
consider how great this man was, unto whom even
the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the
spoils."
- Melchisedec is a
man greater in authority than Abraham
since Abraham paid him tithe.
Hebrews 7:5 "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: "
- The Levite priests take tithes of their
brethren and they are descendents of
Abraham.
Hebrews 7:6 "But he
whose descent is not counted from them received
tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the
promises."
- Melchisedec was
not of the lineage of Abraham and he
received tithes and blessed Abraham.
Abraham had the promise of God as his
covenant and still Melchisedec
was the greater.
Hebrews 7:7 And without all
contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
- The greater blesses the lesser.
Hebrews 7:8 And here men that
die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them,
of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
- In Palestine the Levite priests received
tithe but in Melchisedec's
case he received them.
Hebrews 7:9 And as I may so
say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed
tithes in Abraham.
- The Levite priest collect tithes but
their father Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7:10 For he was yet
in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
- Levi was not born yet when Melchisedec met him
through his father Abraham.
Hebrews
Chapter 7 - Full Text
|
References in
Scripture Hebrews
7:1 - 10
|
Hebrews 7:1 -
10
1 For this Melchisedec,
king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met
Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and
blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth
part of all; first being by interpretation King of
righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which
is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother,
without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor
end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a
priest continually.
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.
|