Hebrews 7
Hebrews 7:1-28
1 For this Melchizedek, 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 translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,”
3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.
5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham;
6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.
8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.
9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak,
10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.
13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest
16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life.
17 For He testifies: “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”
18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness,
19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath
21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “THE LORD HAS SWORN AND WILL NOT RELENT, ‘YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK’ “),
22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.
24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;
27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
It spoke to me this morning in verses 24-25 that talk about Jesus not only living forever and being able to save us to the uttermost, but also that He lives to make intercession for us at all times.
This hit my heart, that even in the times where we feel so alone, like we are the only one standing on the promises of God in our family, or we are the only one that sees the hurt that we are feeling; there is Jesus. Always there, always interceding for us. Always ready to save to the uttermost. Always ready to wrap His arms of love around us. Always instilling hope and peace. Always making a way when there for sure doesn’t seem to be one.
As Jesus has been presented as the priest of a different order who is uniquely qualified to take us beyond the veil into the holy of holies, it is by Paul’s one reference to tithing that He is validated as such. Just as Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham before Aaron’s order of priesthood, identifying him as God’s representative, so Jesus receives tithes from us today as a personal witness in evidence of His living within. As communion continues as a witness to the work of the cross, so tithing is an ongoing witness to the living priesthood that ever makes intercession for us at the throne, something far better than the old order. With this as the basis for his argument, Paul goes on to establish salvation through Christ that is liberated from the perishing qualifications of man to save us completely and forever. As He has been perfected forever, so He may be witnessed forever by those who are accessing the rest He’s provided in His presence.
Wow! It’s exciting! Verse 16: “who has become a priest, not on the basis of a physical and legal requirement in the Law, but on the basis of the power of an indestructible and endless life, a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” Earlier in chaper 7 it was mentioned that Melchizedek’s name could be translated to king of righteousness, king of Salem also meaning king of peace. These are also names for our Savior: The Righteous One, Prince of Peace. He is priest forever, qualified by His indestructible life, qualified by power…whew, gets one stirred up! This is our new covenant, by His Blood, what we are bought and brought into. It reminds me of 1 Peter 2:9 You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood…we proclaim Him, He has made the way! Hallelujah!