Review the overall book outline (link above) when beginning each section.
The previous chapters declare that the hope {confident expectation} of the believer is sure and steadfast because it rests in our great High Priest, who is superior to earthly priests, for He...
is Jesus the Son of God,
who is now in the presence of God, as our High Priest. Heb 4:14-16
was perfected in His sufferings to become the Author of eternal salvation,
as our High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. 5:7-10
secures our hope, through God's sure Word and Oath,
which established Him as our High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. 6:17-20
Although the priesthood of Melchizedek has been mentioned several times,
an explanation of its significance was delayed, as the writer spurred his readers to spiritual attentiveness (5:10-14; 6:1-3,11-12).
Now, the explanation begins...
Christ is superior, in His Priestly Person, as a Priest in the order of Melchizedek (ch.7).
Christ is superior, in His Priestly Ministry, in the true Tabernacle, by His one Sacrifice (ch. 8-10).
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;
But few words do not equate to little importance. Since not one jot or tittle of God's Word will fail, nothing in the Bible should be considered "trivial."
[Note: In the KJV, the spelling of his name differs between the OT and the NT. While we retain the spelling in the Bible text, the Book Notes text reflects the OT spelling.]
king of Salem -
Salem is the ancient name of Jerusalem (meaning 'founded in peace').
priest of the most high God -
The first biblical occurrence of the word 'priest' refers to Melchizedek.
This suggests that his priesthood is definitive of God's design for the Priest of priests (Christ).
The parallels between Christ and Melchizedek will soon become apparent.
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;
King of righteousness - the HB meaning of Melchizedek {melech= king; tsedeq= righteousness}.
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.
without...descent - Melchizedek has no recorded genealogy.
This is very unusual because Genesis is full of family records.
His life was to be a type (illustration) of Christ, who is characterized by:
Melchizedek has no recorded transfer of priestly office.
Melchizedek stepped onto the pages of Scripture, at a specific point in time, to direct Abraham's thoughts toward the LORD, the Possesor of heaven and earth, lest he be led astray by the gifts of an earthly king.
Christ ever lives to intercede for His own (v.25). He interjects Himself into our lives that we, too, might live in conscious dependency upon the Most High God.
These three characteristics of Melchizedek (noted in v.1-3) provide an outline for the remainder of this chapter:
Melchizedek foreshadows Christ as...
The Righteous One, who conveys blessings from God (v.4-10)
The One who is our Peace, the Author of Complete Rest (v.11-22)
The One Eternal Priest, who alone can save completely,
through His unceasing Intercession and by His one sufficient sacrifice (v.23-28).
Melchizedek (the King of Righteousness) foreshadows Christ as...
A. The Righteous One, who conveys blessings from God (v. 4-10)
7:4 Now consider how great this man [was],
unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
Abraham is set forth in Scripture as the father of righteousness by faith (Rom 4:3,11-13).
Yet, Abraham acknowledged Melchizedek's superiority by paying a tithe to him. Gen 14:18-20
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 sons of Levi (the priestly tribe from which Aaron came)...
were set apart from the other tribes of Israel, to serve God in teaching and administering the righteousness of the Law. Therefore, they were supported by tithes received from the other tribes. Num 18:21-24
7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them {ie., neither from Abraham nor Levi} received tithes of Abraham,
and blessed him that had the promises. {ie., Abraham, Gen 12:1-3}
Melchizedek's superiority is demonstrated in that he...
7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
7:8 And here men that die receive tithes;
but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
here... there...- ie., in the Levitical system versus in Melchizedek's priesthood.
they die... he liveth.- This theme runs throughout ch. 7.
The Levitical priests received tithes,
though their service for God was brief (cut short by death).
In contrast, Melchizedek, who had no recorded beginning or end, received tithes from them.
In a similar way, Christ the true King of Righteousness, is worthy of honor, for He has life in Himself, and authority from God to judge or to bless. Joh 5:24-29
7:9 And as I may so say,
Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
7:10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
Thus, in Abraham, the Levitical priests honored Melchizedek as their superior. Therefore, Jesus Christ, "Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec," is superior to the Levitical priesthood. Heb 5:5-10
Melchizedek (the King of Peace) foreshadows Christ as...
B. The One who is our Peace, the Author of Complete Rest (v.11-22)
7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood,
(for under it the people received the law,) what further need [was there]
that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and
not be called after the order of Aaron?
if... perfection were by the Levitical priesthood...-
The goal of the Levitical priesthood was to prepare men for God's presence.
But neither the priests, nor the Law under which they served, could bring the process to completion. v.19; Rom 3:19,20; Heb 10:1-4
...what further need that another priest should rise... not after the order of Aaron...-
Aaron was the son of Levi to whom the priesthood was committed.
The Levitical and Aaronic order (of priesthood) are one and the same.
Because true righteousness and peace with God could not be obtained through the Levitical priesthood.
There was need for...
another {GK=heteros, another of a different kind of} priest... after the order of Melchisedec -
Jesus Christ is that priest, who did what the former priests could not. Rom 8:3,4; Gal 2:21
Peace with God was secured for us by Christ (who is not of the Aaronic order). Rom 5:1
7:12 For the priesthood being changed,
there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Upon what principle (law) is this new priestly order established?
Christ could not be a priest according to the principles (rules) governing the Aaronic order.
7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe,
of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
7:14 For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; {Mic 5:2; Mat 1:1-3-16} of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
7:15 And it is yet far more evident: {because it was God's stated purpose, v.17}
for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment,
but after the power of an endless {lit., indissoluble} life.
In v.16-22, three principles are identified [see (1) (2) (3) below], by which...
Christ is made priest --
not by carnal commandment- That is...
not by human physical succession (from Aaron to his sons).
not by human legal action (eg., ceremonial consecration).
(1) but by the power of an endless life.- ie.,
Divine appointment (by the living God).
Divine essential right (as the One who ever lives). Rev 1:18
Note the timelessness of the divine appointment (restated in v.17).
7:17 For he testifieth,
Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. {Psa 110:4}
That a priest of this new order would arise (v.15) is necessitated and established...
(2) by God's Word.
7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before
for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
The new priestly order supersedes the old system which was ineffective (v.11).
7:19 For the law made nothing perfect {GK=teleioo, finished, complete},
7:20 And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]:
7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath;
but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent {will not change His mind},
Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) {Psa 110:4}
those priests - ie., the Aaronic priests,
who entered the priesthood through natural physical succession.
this {priest} - ie., Christ, who was made a priest...
(3) by God's oath. His oath makes Christ's priesthood unchangeable.
7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
by so much {ie., in so many ways, or, to such a degree}...
7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice,
first for his own sins, and then for the people's:
for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
(6) Perfect in His sacrifice -
In contrast to the Aaronic priests who sacrificed...
first for their own sins, then for the people's sins,
(due to their inherently sinful condition.)
daily {day after day, repeatedly},
(due to the ineffectiveness of animal sacrifice. v.11,19; Heb 10:1-4),
Christ offered Himself once {lit., 'once for all,' cp. Heb 10:12} for the sins of others. (The sufficiency of His one sacrifice will be explained more fully, in ch. 9-10.)
Christ's sacrifice of Himself is the only sacrifice offered under the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek "brought forth bread and wine" signifying to Abraham that God's promises are sure. Jesus used the same elements signifying that God's promises are fulfilled in His sacrificial death. The church partakes "oft" of these elements, not in repetition of the sacrifice, but in commemoration of His finished work. Gen 14:18; 1Cor 11:23-26
7:28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity;
but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son,
who is consecrated for evermore.
(7) Perfect in His Person -
men... which have infirmity - served as Aaronic priests under the Law.
the Son... who is consecrated {lit., perfected} for evermore - is the only High Priest under the Word of God's Oath (v.20,21).
Because God spoke the Word of the Oath (recorded by David in Psa 110:4) long after He gave the Law through Moses, it is evident that, in God's eyes, Christ's perfections fulfill the demands of the Law. Heb 1:1-3; Rom 8:1-4
Jesus Christ is the one supreme and eternal Priest of the Most High God.
Is He your High Priest?
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (Joh 14:6)