Hebrews Chapter 7
This continues the explanation from
chapter 6 about Jesus Christ being a high priest after the order
of Melchizedek and not after the Levitical priesthood system.
-
Hebrew 7:1 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;
This thought continues from the previous
chapter in discussing Melchizedek. Here is a mysterious
character that we do not know much about. It is speculated by
some that this is Christ. This person was called king of Salem
meaning king of peace. He was a priest of God. He met Abraham
and placed a blessing from God on him.
- 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;
- 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.
There is no genealogy record of a mother
and father of this priest. It doesn't mean that he didn't have
one. Aaron was a priest and so was his descendants and there is
a record of their descent. This man had no record and was not a
priest after the order of Aaron. He seemed to be a priest not by
succession but by the appointment or calling of God. This is the
type of priest Jesus Christ is.
Christ is a priest for eternity, called
of God and abides forever. No one took His place when He died on
the cross for He rose again and is reigning at the right hand of
God the Father. In the priests of the order of Aaron, they were
only priests until they died and another took his place.
Abraham gave this priest a tenth of the
spoils that were taken from the battle he fought to rescue his
nephew Lot. This wasn't a tithe of Abraham's own possessions.
This chapter is not a chapter to teach tithing but the emphasis
is on the type of priesthood that Jesus came to fulfill. Abraham
refused to take anything for himself after that battle but gave
a tenth of spoils to Melchizedek. He also gave a portion to
certain men who fought in the battle with him. I will add here
that although I don't believe in using this verse to teach
tithing, I really believe tithing is a good way to support the
church but I believe in tithing out of love though not
compulsion. It's actually a joy to give if one desires to give
to support the work of God.
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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:
Tithing was instituted to support the
Levites and priests who kept the service of the temple and it
also was a great plan to give food to the poor since the tithe
was mostly food that was brought to the storehouse to be
distributed to the Levites, priests and the poor. The Levites
gave up owning land but were appointed cities. There inheritance
was the service of God so that needed tithes from the other
tribes to survive.
After Christ came to bring another way
and another priesthood, this type of service is not needed. We
now have a different system. We do not need priests or mediators
but only those that teach and preach the word of God for the
edification of believers. We do need godly leadership but not as
lords and dictators but as teachers. There really should not be
a separated clergy from the laity as some practice. In Christ we
are the same and not one is to be exalted over the other.
This doesn't mean that we neglect to
support our local pastors and workers that give up secular jobs
to minister to the believers. We are now to give not by
commandment but by love. Tithing is a good basis to determine
our giving but should never be forced or coerced by warning of a
curse from God if we don't tithe or a promise to get rich if we
do. New Testament giving is as this:
Words of Jesus:
-
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall
be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, and shaken
together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom.
For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be
measured to you again.
We should not teach giving above what
Jesus taught. He did not promise us that we would get rich, in
fact He warned us against seeking riches. Giving and receiving
is more than material riches. We are to freely give what we
freely receive from God which is sharing the gospel and the word
of God. We are to give financially but the spiritual should
always be our main emphasis. If we only give material things, we
may help someone temporarily but they will not hear the gospel
and be saved eternally which is the greater importance. This is
not to get away from giving to the poor for that is our
responsibility as well as supporting our pastors.
What kind of people would we be if we had
plenty but our pastor and his family had very little? Actually
unselfish people usually give more than a tithe and the blessing
from God comes in the joy they receive when they know they are
helping spread the word of God. So if someone asks me if I
believe in tithing. I say yes, but I'm never limited to just a
tithe. It's really a freewill offering though out of compassion. Being able to give is a gift from God and brings joy that
can't really be explained to those who do not want to give to
the work of God.
Jesus' warning that to neglect to help
the poor is the same as not giving to Him. "I was hungry and ye
have me no meat." He is not talking of tithing here but giving
to those that are hungry, thirsty and in need of clothing. I
believe that those brave persons who aided and hid Jews during
the holocaust years will be greatly blessed of God for they
protecting the brethren of the Lord. I realize that the "I was
hungry" scriptures have to do with God's judgment upon the
nations and how they treated Israel and believers in Jesus
Christ, but the same thing can apply to the rich who have plenty
when there are poor nearby as we see from the story of the rich
man and Lazarus.
-
Matthew 25:40 And the King
shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these
my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
I have digressed from the priesthood
discussion a little but the intent of these passages are not to
emphasize tithing and giving at this point but to emphasize the
change in priesthood after Christ came.
- Hebrews 7:6 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.
As great as Abraham was, he was not
greater than Melchizedek. In the same respect, Abraham was not
greater than the Messiah to come, Jesus Christ. A better way was
coming and promised to Abraham when God said to him that in him
all nations would be blessed. That blessing is not material
wealth but the gift of salvation to all who would believe in
this Messiah to come.
- Hebrews 7:8 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, paid tithes in
Abraham.
- 10 For he was
yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.
This whole chapter is to emphasize the
new covenant that replaces the old one and new priesthood of
Christ that replaces the old Levitical priesthood that was done
away with at the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ
and we will see that more clearly in the passages that follows.
- Hebrews 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
Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
- 12 For the
priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a
change also of the law.
- 13 For he of
whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of
which no man gave attendance at the altar.
- 14 For it is
evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe
Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
- 15 And it is yet
far more evident: for that after the similitude of
Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,
- 16 Who is made,
not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the
power of an endless life.
- 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest forever after the order of
Melchizedek.
This shows us a great change in the order
of religion and salvation. The priesthood was changed. Christ
now is the high priest descended from the tribe of Judah. All of
us are now equal in the sight of God and Christ is the only
priest that is called of God to make intercession between the
believer and God. God places in the body those that He wants to
be messengers, leaders and other things described in 1 Corinthians,
to edify, strengthen and instruct in the ways of righteousness
but we no longer need priests or prophets to intercede between
us and God. God may call a prophet for other duties but not to
be a mediator between God and man. We can pray to God ourselves
once we have believed and trusted in Jesus Christ.
- Hebrews 7:18 For there is
verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for
the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
- 19 For the law
made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope
did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
The law showed us the holiness of God and
the sinfulness of man. It showed us how much we needed a savior
from sin. The law itself exposed sin but could not deliver us
from sin. We needed the better covenant that comes by faith in
Jesus Christ. Through Christ one does not just receive
forgiveness of sin but deliverance from sin. The blood of Jesus
cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. Before Christ this
was symbolized by the offering of animal sacrifices until the
perfect sacrifice came. It only pointed to the one to come. By
offering the sacrifices and offerings in the Old Testament they
were exercising their faith in the one that was to come who
could remove their sins in reality. The blood of the animals
could not do that alone. If it could have done the job then,
there would have been no need for Christ to come and die for
sins.
Here is only one of David's prophecies of
Christ to come:
- Psalm 110:1 A Psalm
of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right
hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
- 2 The LORD
shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in
the midst of thine enemies.
- 3 Thy
people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the
beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast
the dew of thy youth.
- 4 The LORD
hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.
- 5 The Lord
at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of
his wrath.
- 6 He shall
judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the
dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
- 7 He shall
drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up
the head.
Jesus came the first time to make an
offering for sin and preach the coming kingdom of God. He is
coming the second time to deliver His people from their enemies
and usher in the literal visible kingdom of God which is
available to us now in the spirit for the kingdom of God comes
within us when we have believed on the Jesus as the one God sent
to take away our sins, but He will literally return and set up
an everlasting kingdom that no one can take away or destroy
replacing all world leaders. He comes visibly in the
clouds with all His believers coming with Him. He will
also bring judgment upon all the have persecuted and harmed both
the nation of Israel and any believer in Jesus from all nations
of the earth that received the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Hebrews 7:20 And inasmuch
as not without an oath he was made priest:
- 21 (For those
priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by
him that said unto him, The Lord swore and will not repent,
Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek:)
- 22 By so much
was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
Jesus became our only way of salvation.
This is a better covenant because not only can our sins be
forgiven but we are given a helper to abide with us to keep us
from returning to the bondage of sin. This helper is the Holy
Spirit given to those who receive this good way.
Before Christ only a few chosen ones had
the Holy Spirit like the prophets but now through Christ this
gift is given to all who repent of sins and believe in the one
God sent, Jesus Christ. It is better because a life is changed.
It is better because one is born again and anew by God's spirit.
Sacrifices, burning incense or other religious works are no
longer necessary. They were only pointing to a better way when
they were practiced.
- Hebrews 7:23 And they
truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to
continue by reason of death:
- 24 But this man,
because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
- 25 Wherefore he
is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto
God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for
them.
Priests who die have their work ending
with them for another to continue. Christ is a priest
continually and is now making intercession for all who believe
in Him.
- Hebrews 7:26 For such a
high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
- 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.
He did not sin so He didn't have to make
a sacrifice for His own sin.
-
Hebrews 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 forevermore.
A better covenant, an eternal mediator,
an unchangeable priesthood is in Jesus Christ. We need no other
mediator. Earthy pastors, teachers and preachers are to be as
servants to God, not as lords over men. Christ alone is our way
of salvation. Not through man, not through a church or any other
organization. DC
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