Heb 7:1-2 | KingComments | STEP | In this chapter you finally get more to learn about the person of Melchizedek. With this, the writer returns to his main subject with which he started in chapter 5. He also said in chapter 5 that it is difficult to explain if we have become dull of hearing ( ). Still he wants to explain it now, for concerning his readers he is convinced of better things. He assumes that they will make efforts to understand him. You want to do that too, undoubtedly. That is also necessary, for it is not all that simple. At the same time, the greater the joy if you get to understand something about it. If you look at the priesthood of the Lord Jesus you should do that through the eyes of a Hebrew believer. As you are (most probably) a Christian of Gentile origin, you have never been under a priesthood that was instituted by God. However, you will find a lot here that encourages and edifies you. . In his explanation about Melchizedek it is about two things: the dignity of his person and the importance of his priesthood. In this letter Melchizedek is mentioned eight times. The only thing we know about Melchizedek, is written in Genesis 14 and Psalm 110. To be able to explain this priesthood the writer first pays attention to the history of Melchizedek as you find that in Genesis 14 ( ). When Abraham defeated five foreign kings with the help of his servants and delivered Lot he encountered the even more dangerous appearance of the world. In the person of the king of Sodom the world doesn’t approach him with hostility, but with seductions ( ). However, God guided him in such a way that he first met Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God ( ). After this meeting Abraham had the strength to meet with the king of Sodom. Herein is a great encouragement. There is nothing that strengthens you so much in this hostile and seductive world as an ‘encounter’ with the One Who is seated at God’s right hand as the true King-Priest. When you have that encounter, He blesses you, poor warrior, with a wonderful blessing with which He shortly will bless the whole creation. The Melchizedek in the book of Genesis was a common king like the other kings of that area that God was going to turn upside down. In addition to that he was a priest as well. But not in the way the others were priests in that area. Those were idol priests, while he on the contrary was priest of the Most High God. The name “Most High God” is significant. It is the name of God in connection with the millennial kingdom of peace. He is the supreme Ruler over all things. He possesses heaven and earth ( ; cf. ; ). To the unbeliever it is still hidden now, but in the millennial kingdom of peace He will be visible for everyone and be acknowledged by everyone. Likewise Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged Him after his humiliation ( ). Abraham is blessed by Melchizedek in relation to the name of God as the Most High. This anticipates the kingdom of Christ when He will reign as Priest on His throne in blessing ( ). This Melchizedek blessed the Abraham who was tired from the war, as Christ will do to the whole creation. Melchizedek brings praise to God and blesses Abraham in the Name of God. He gives Abraham bread and wine. That is far better than what the king of Sodom could offer him. Bread and wine speak of Christ Himself as food and joy after the war (and not of the Lord’s Supper, for that is not for the purpose of strengthening, but in remembrance of!). . Abraham expresses his appreciation and gratitude toward Melchizedek by giving the tenth to him. The writer pays more attention to the tenth in . First he explains the meaning of the name Melchizedek. That name is a junction of ‘righteousness’ and ‘peace’. These are especially the features of Christ in His reign in the millennial kingdom of peace. Then it becomes fully visible that in Him righteousness and peace have kissed each other ( ). Here, by the way, you have an important indication that you may spiritually apply the meaning of names mentioned in the Old Testament (cf. ; ), without giving any room to your own fantasy. Righteousness and peace are also the characteristics of His kingdom now, even if it still only exists in a hidden form ( ). What will fill the earth in future, should now already be present in your life. After all you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Lord and you are baptized and due to that you came on a territory where His authority is acknowledged, haven’t you? The order is: first (“first of all”) righteousness ( ) and then peace ( ), for there can be no true peace than on the basis of righteousness alone. That goes also for you personally ( ). . In the way Scripture introduces Melchizedek, it becomes clear that he is a beautiful picture of Christ. If you read in Genesis 14 about Melchizedek, there he, as it were, suddenly appears out of nowhere. Earlier you do not hear anything of him and later in the history he neither appears anymore. There is nothing known about his ancestors to whom he might owe his priesthood. Neither is there a list of descendants known of him, something that was essential for the priesthood of Aaron (cf. ; ). No limits were prescribed to his priesthood (cf. ). It is a man without historical background of whom also no other actions are told. He appears and disappears. There is something timeless about him. Of course, as a human being he was born like any other human being and died as well. Neither is he a revelation of Christ. On the contrary, it is written that he, in his performance, was made like Him, from which it appears that he was not the Son of God. But by the way he appears in the Scripture, God wants to tell something about His Son. You have seen that in the meaning of the name Melchizedek and you now see what is said about him, or better, what is not said about him. The lack of information about his genealogy and about his birth and death makes him a striking example of the Son of God. The Son of God is the eternal Son of God and thus without origin, without a beginning and an end. As for His priesthood, it means that it never ceases and that it will never be handed over to someone else. This makes a great contrast with the priesthood of Aaron, which was handed over from father to son. . You ought not to forget what you just saw of Melchizedek. The writer, with the words “now observe” calls upon to carefully pay attention with great interest to all the particulars of his greatness. Like the Hebrew readers you may think great of Abraham, but Melchizedek was far greater! Abraham is emphatically mentioned "patriarch”, which emphasizes his dignity. But the fact that Melchizedek received the tenth from Abraham proves the higher and more excellent dignity of this person. He, who receives tithes, is indeed greater than he who gives tithes. . Then the writer involves the tribe of Levi in his argumentation. He had proved that the person he described in the previous verses, is greater than Abraham. That means that that person also is therefore also greater than Abraham’s descendants Levi and Aaron and that therefore also the priesthood of Melchizedek is greater than that of Levi and Aaron. That appears also from the giving and the receiving of the tithes. The Levites actually received as a whole the tithes from the people ( ), of which they then gave the tithes to the priests ( ). The similarity between Levi and Melchizedek is that they both received the tithes from others. But there is a great difference here too. The Israelites did not give the tithes to the Levites out of respect for them because they stood above the people, but they did that because God commanded them to, as compensation to the Levites for their service and for their missing an inheritance. That was also the reason why the Levites were allowed to accept the tithes of the people. They were entitled to receive the tithes because God designated it like that for them. The tithes belonged to God ( ; ; ). They were given to the Levites by the Israelites because they represented the Lord. . In the case of Melchizedek it was different. The entitlement that Melchizedek had to receive tithes was not designated through a command from God. He didn’t even belong to the descendants of Levi and neither did he belong to another generation for whom something was designated. He accepted the tithes of Abraham on the ground of his own person and function. Thus he is greater than Abraham and therefore also greater than Levi. After receiving the tithes he blessed Abraham as the vessel of promises. Abraham was the holder and preserver of Divine promises. He was going to become the father of a multitude of people, in whom all people on earth would be blessed by God! The person by whom Abraham is blessed, is therefore really someone who is supposed to be called great. For a Christian all true blessing is also related with the Person and the office of Christ in heaven. . He who blesses is “without any dispute” greater than he who is blessed. The fact that the greater blesses the lesser is forgotten in professing Christianity. You see that for example in cases where the pastor blesses the church, as if he is greater than those he serves. In Christendom, however, there is no believer superior to the other ( ). Now read Hebrews 7:1-7 again. Reflection: What are the similarities between Melchizedek and the Lord Jesus?

‏ Hebrews 7:1-2

Melchizedek

In this chapter you finally get more to learn about the person of Melchizedek. With this, the writer returns to his main subject with which he started in chapter 5. He also said in chapter 5 that it is difficult to explain if we have become dull of hearing (Heb 5:11). Still he wants to explain it now, for concerning his readers he is convinced of better things. He assumes that they will make efforts to understand him. You want to do that too, undoubtedly. That is also necessary, for it is not all that simple. At the same time, the greater the joy if you get to understand something about it.

If you look at the priesthood of the Lord Jesus you should do that through the eyes of a Hebrew believer. As you are (most probably) a Christian of Gentile origin, you have never been under a priesthood that was instituted by God. However, you will find a lot here that encourages and edifies you.

Heb 7:1. In his explanation about Melchizedek it is about two things: the dignity of his person and the importance of his priesthood. In this letter Melchizedek is mentioned eight times. The only thing we know about Melchizedek, is written in Genesis 14 and Psalm 110. To be able to explain this priesthood the writer first pays attention to the history of Melchizedek as you find that in Genesis 14 (Gen 14:18-20).

When Abraham defeated five foreign kings with the help of his servants and delivered Lot he encountered the even more dangerous appearance of the world. In the person of the king of Sodom the world doesn’t approach him with hostility, but with seductions (Gen 14:17 ; 21). However, God guided him in such a way that he first met Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God (Gen 14:18-20). After this meeting Abraham had the strength to meet with the king of Sodom.

Herein is a great encouragement. There is nothing that strengthens you so much in this hostile and seductive world as an ‘encounter’ with the One Who is seated at God’s right hand as the true King-Priest. When you have that encounter, He blesses you, poor warrior, with a wonderful blessing with which He shortly will bless the whole creation.

The Melchizedek in the book of Genesis was a common king like the other kings of that area that God was going to turn upside down. In addition to that he was a priest as well. But not in the way the others were priests in that area. Those were idol priests, while he on the contrary was priest of the Most High God. The name “Most High God” is significant. It is the name of God in connection with the millennial kingdom of peace. He is the supreme Ruler over all things. He possesses heaven and earth (Gen 14:19; cf. Eph 1:20; Col 1:16). To the unbeliever it is still hidden now, but in the millennial kingdom of peace He will be visible for everyone and be acknowledged by everyone. Likewise Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged Him after his humiliation (Dan 4:34-35).

Abraham is blessed by Melchizedek in relation to the name of God as the Most High. This anticipates the kingdom of Christ when He will reign as Priest on His throne in blessing (Zec 6:13). This Melchizedek blessed the Abraham who was tired from the war, as Christ will do to the whole creation. Melchizedek brings praise to God and blesses Abraham in the Name of God. He gives Abraham bread and wine. That is far better than what the king of Sodom could offer him. Bread and wine speak of Christ Himself as food and joy after the war (and not of the Lord’s Supper, for that is not for the purpose of strengthening, but in remembrance of!).

Heb 7:2. Abraham expresses his appreciation and gratitude toward Melchizedek by giving the tenth to him. The writer pays more attention to the tenth in Heb 7:4. First he explains the meaning of the name Melchizedek. That name is a junction of ‘righteousness’ and ‘peace’. These are especially the features of Christ in His reign in the millennial kingdom of peace. Then it becomes fully visible that in Him righteousness and peace have kissed each other (Psa 85:10). Here, by the way, you have an important indication that you may spiritually apply the meaning of names mentioned in the Old Testament (cf. 1Cor 9:9 ; 1Cor 10:1-11; Gal 4:21-31), without giving any room to your own fantasy.

Righteousness and peace are also the characteristics of His kingdom now, even if it still only exists in a hidden form (Rom 14:17). What will fill the earth in future, should now already be present in your life. After all you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Lord and you are baptized and due to that you came on a territory where His authority is acknowledged, haven’t you? The order is: first (“first of all”) righteousness (Isa 26:9) and then peace (Isa 32:17), for there can be no true peace than on the basis of righteousness alone. That goes also for you personally (Rom 5:1).

Heb 7:3. In the way Scripture introduces Melchizedek, it becomes clear that he is a beautiful picture of Christ. If you read in Genesis 14 about Melchizedek, there he, as it were, suddenly appears out of nowhere. Earlier you do not hear anything of him and later in the history he neither appears anymore. There is nothing known about his ancestors to whom he might owe his priesthood. Neither is there a list of descendants known of him, something that was essential for the priesthood of Aaron (cf. Ezra 2:62; Neh 7:64). No limits were prescribed to his priesthood (cf. Num 4:3). It is a man without historical background of whom also no other actions are told. He appears and disappears. There is something timeless about him.

Of course, as a human being he was born like any other human being and died as well. Neither is he a revelation of Christ. On the contrary, it is written that he, in his performance, was made like Him, from which it appears that he was not the Son of God. But by the way he appears in the Scripture, God wants to tell something about His Son.

You have seen that in the meaning of the name Melchizedek and you now see what is said about him, or better, what is not said about him. The lack of information about his genealogy and about his birth and death makes him a striking example of the Son of God. The Son of God is the eternal Son of God and thus without origin, without a beginning and an end. As for His priesthood, it means that it never ceases and that it will never be handed over to someone else. This makes a great contrast with the priesthood of Aaron, which was handed over from father to son.

Heb 7:4. You ought not to forget what you just saw of Melchizedek. The writer, with the words “now observe” calls upon to carefully pay attention with great interest to all the particulars of his greatness. Like the Hebrew readers you may think great of Abraham, but Melchizedek was far greater! Abraham is emphatically mentioned "patriarch”, which emphasizes his dignity. But the fact that Melchizedek received the tenth from Abraham proves the higher and more excellent dignity of this person. He, who receives tithes, is indeed greater than he who gives tithes.

Heb 7:5. Then the writer involves the tribe of Levi in his argumentation. He had proved that the person he described in the previous verses, is greater than Abraham. That means that that person also is therefore also greater than Abraham’s descendants Levi and Aaron and that therefore also the priesthood of Melchizedek is greater than that of Levi and Aaron.

That appears also from the giving and the receiving of the tithes. The Levites actually received as a whole the tithes from the people (Num 18:21 ; 24), of which they then gave the tithes to the priests (Num 18:26). The similarity between Levi and Melchizedek is that they both received the tithes from others. But there is a great difference here too. The Israelites did not give the tithes to the Levites out of respect for them because they stood above the people, but they did that because God commanded them to, as compensation to the Levites for their service and for their missing an inheritance.

That was also the reason why the Levites were allowed to accept the tithes of the people. They were entitled to receive the tithes because God designated it like that for them. The tithes belonged to God (Lev 27:30; Pro 3:9; Mal 3:8-9). They were given to the Levites by the Israelites because they represented the Lord.

Heb 7:6. In the case of Melchizedek it was different. The entitlement that Melchizedek had to receive tithes was not designated through a command from God. He didn’t even belong to the descendants of Levi and neither did he belong to another generation for whom something was designated. He accepted the tithes of Abraham on the ground of his own person and function. Thus he is greater than Abraham and therefore also greater than Levi.

After receiving the tithes he blessed Abraham as the vessel of promises. Abraham was the holder and preserver of Divine promises. He was going to become the father of a multitude of people, in whom all people on earth would be blessed by God! The person by whom Abraham is blessed, is therefore really someone who is supposed to be called great. For a Christian all true blessing is also related with the Person and the office of Christ in heaven.

Heb 7:7. He who blesses is “without any dispute” greater than he who is blessed. The fact that the greater blesses the lesser is forgotten in professing Christianity. You see that for example in cases where the pastor blesses the church, as if he is greater than those he serves. In Christendom, however, there is no believer superior to the other (Mt 23:8).

Now read Hebrews 7:1-7 again.

Reflection: What are the similarities between Melchizedek and the Lord Jesus?