Hebrews 7 - The Perfect Priest!

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Melchizedek the Priest

7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

The name Melchizedek has a lot of significance. "Zedek" is the Hebrew word for "righteousness", and "melch" is a word which means "king". So the word would mean "king of righteousness".  Salem, is ancient for the city of Jerusalem. Melchizedek was an unusual person who was both a "priest" and a "king". He reconciled and he ruled.  

The order is subtle but important. First, Melchizedek in his very name was called “king of righteousness.” Then he was called “king of peace.” As always, righteousness comes before peace. Righteousness is the only true path to peace. People look for that peace in escape, in evasion, or in compromise, but they will only find it in righteousness. “Peace without righteousness is like the smooth surface of the stream ere it takes its awful Niagara plunge.” (Spurgeon)

4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

The writer uses the story of Abraham, who after rescuing his nephew Lot and defeating foreign kings, met Melchizedek and gave him a tenth of the spoils of his victories. This was in accordance with the Law of Moses. The Levites collected a tenth (or tithe) from the Israelites of their produce or first fruits of their land. Though Abraham came before the priesthood of Levi, the people who would give that tenth would come from his offspring. 

The fact that Melchizedek blessed Abraham shows he was greater than Abraham. “The blessing here spoken of… is not the simple wishing of good to others, which may be done by inferiors to superiors; but it is the action of a person authorized to declare God’s intention to bestow good things on another.” (Macknight, cited by Clarke)

Jesus Like Melchizedek

11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Now the author makes the connection between Melchizedek and Jesus. Jesus in that same sense came from the order of Melchizedek. The fact that another priesthood was needed shows the other priesthood was inferior and incapable of fulfilling God's purpose. 

The term Levitical priesthood simply describes the Jewish priesthood of the Old Testament. It is called Levitical because most of the instructions for the Old Testament priesthood are found in the Book of Leviticus.

Jesus was born and descended from the tribe of Judah not Levi. Melchizedek's priesthood came directly from God, which is why it was indestructible. The same can be said of Jesus' priesthood. 

Jesus’ priesthood is not based upon law or heredity (a fleshly commandment), but upon the power of God’s endless life. You are a priest forever: This could be said of the Messiah, who was a priest according to the order of Melchizedek. It could never be said of a priest according to the order of Aaron, none of who had the power of an endless life and each of who served a limited term as priests – limited to their own life span.

18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. 20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant. 23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

The Law has no power to change a life. It can only point out why we fall so far short of God's glory. The law is perfect and good, because it was established by and revealed by God to Moses. A priest was called by God to offer the prescribed sacrifices, which atoned for the sin of the people, but this was only temporary just as a priest's life was limited. 

 The law does not  give you a better hope. The law does not draw you near to God the way God’s grace given in Jesus does. Yet many Christians live a legal relationship with God instead of a grace relationship with Him.“Although the law performed a valuable function, its essential weakness was that it could not give life and vitality even to those who kept it, let alone to those who did not. In fact its function was not to provide strength, but to provide a standard by which man could measure his own moral status. Its uselessness must not be regarded in the sense of being totally worthless, but in the sense of being ineffective in providing a constant means of approach to God based on a totally adequate sacrifice.” (Guthrie)

26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

The priests of Israel had to make sacrifices for their own sin too. These priests had to offer sacrifices daily on behalf of themselves and their people. This is why when Jesus gave us the Lord's Prayer he teaches us to pray, "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us!" 

Jesus' sacrifice is a "once and for all sacrifice". Jesus ended the priesthood and the sacrificial system.  Jesus came to fulfill the Law not to abolish it. The Law cannot save us, but it is still a guide for holy living. We have been chosen and set apart and have been justified or made right with God by faith. Our faith is in new covenant which Jesus sealed in his own precious blood. 

Jesus is a much better priest because he is a priest forever and lives to intercede for us. Jesus can deliver those who are slaves to sin and could never be saved by the Law. 

Jesus’ intercession on our behalf is not a matter of placating an angry Father who wants to destroy us. It is not a matter of continually chanting prayers on behalf of His people. It means that He continually represents us before the Father so that we can draw near through Him, and that He defends us against Satan’s accusations and attacks.