Reading: Hebrews chapter 7 verses 1-28:
• If you were asked to name the 10 most important people in the Old Testament:
• I doubt that Melchizedek's name would be on your list.
• For many Christians he wouldn’t even make the top 50 list;
• And many Christians would not have a clue who he actually was.
He is only mentioned twice in the Old Testament;
• Once, in Genesis chapter 14;
• And in one single verse in Psalm 110 verse 4.
• A total of 5 verses in all;
• Blink and you would miss him!
• Yet the writer of this letter to the Hebrews:
• Was led by the Holy Spirit to reach back into the Old Testament;
• To this unusual character called Melchizedek;
• And to use these two Bible passages to present to us some important truths:
Note: the writer of this letter to the Hebrews:
• Now unlike us Gentiles, these readers who were Jewish converts to Christ;
• Had grown up understanding the priesthood and sacrificial system:
• They know the Old Testament scriptures concerning the priesthood;
• Or they may even have seen it in practice.
• This priesthood of Aaron in the O.T. was still functioning at the time of Jesus;
• And it was still functioning at the time this letter was being read.
Ill:
It was around up until A.D. 70 when the Roman emperor Vespasian (Ves-pas-I-an):
• Sent his son Titus to crush a Jewish rebellion and destroy Jerusalem.
• He besieged the city for five months,
• Eventually, the Roman army breached the walls, slaughtered men, women, and children,
• Demolished the city, and destroyed the temple.
• Ever since the year A.D. 70
• The Jews have not had a temple or a priesthood to serve them since.
But the writer of this letter makes it very clear:
• That this priesthood of Aaron in the Old Testament had been made redundant;
• Long before Titus and his Roman armies destroyed the temple.
• It ended as far as God was concerned one Friday afternoon.
• When Jesus Christ, the Son of God cried from the cross “It is finished”.
• And the curtain in the temple was torn in two;
• From the ‘top to the bottom’ (note: ‘top’ all of God’s doing).
Ever since that moment:
• That the whole Jewish ecclesiastical and sacrificial system:
• Was all completed and fulfilled in Jesus Christ!
• Again and again in this letter;
• The writer explains to these Hebrew Christians how Jesus has done all this.
In teaching his readers the writer of this letter:
• Contrasts the priesthood of Aaron (Old Testament priesthood);
• With the priesthood of Melchizedek.
• And he goes on to show us the superiority of Jesus Christ over Melchizedek;
• He teaches them by presenting various typological ideas:
• Typology is a form, a style, a method of teaching.
Question: What is a ‘type’ or ‘typology’?
Answer:
• A type in the Old Testament was a person, practice or ceremony;
• That has a New Testament counterpart.
Example 1:
• In Numbers chapter 21 The children of Israel were bitten by poisonous snakes;
• God told Moses to set a bronze serpent high on a pole;
• And if those who have been bitten;
• Looked at the serpent they would be healed and live.
• In John chapter 3 verse 14. Jesus said that this incident was a picture (a type) of himself;
• He would be lifted up on a cross; and people who looked to him would be healed of sin.
Example 1:
• Throughout the Old Testament an innocent lamb was sacrificed for guilty people.
• John the Baptist said in John chapter 1 verse 29;
• That this was a picture of Jesus.
• He was the innocent lamb being sacrificed for the sins of the world
Note: Two things to remember concerning types:
(1).
• The type is always imperfect and temporarily;
• Compared to the antitype, which is perfect and eternal.
• e.g. The bronze serpent is no longer set on the pole;
• e.g. Lambs are no longer sacrificed in the temple.
• Now the type may have physically disappeared.
• But the analogy still holds strong;
• The truth still remains:
• e.g. Christ was lifted up and by looking to him we find deliverance.
• So remember the type is always imperfect and temporarily;
• Compared to the antitype, which is perfect and eternal.
(2).
• The type is always limited, it is a frail illustration at best.
• It is only a type of Christ in certain limited aspects.
• e.g. The bronze serpent on the pole;
• The type is only making one basic point.
• That is: Christ was lifted up and by looking to him we find deliverance.
• There is no more mileage in the type, it is making a clear but limited comparison.
Now in the same way when it comes to Melchizedek:
• He is in no way equal to Jesus Christ.
• After all he is only a man, whereas Jesus is the Son of God.
• But Melchizedek’s unique priesthood and even his name,
• Typify Jesus Christ and his work in a number of significant ways.
• So remember, the type is always limited, it may be a good illustration,
• But it is also a limited illustration - it is only a type of Christ in certain limited aspects.
5 points to note:
(1). Melchizedek's status (verse 1):
“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.”
Melchizedek was a priest and king and so is Jesus Christ.
• In previous weeks we have noted already that,
• In the Old Testament system:
• The throne and the altar were separated.
• You could not be both a king and a priest.
• Kings had to come from the tribe of Judah.
• Priests had to come from the tribe of Levi;
• Therefore the two ministries could never be combined.
• Because no one person could physically be born from two different tribes.
Ill:
• Occasionally some individuals foolishly tried to cheat the system & combine the two roles;
• e.g. King Saul in 1 Samuel chapter 13.
• Fed up waiting for Samuel the priest to arrive;
• King Saul decided he would offer the sacrifice instead.
• But he was severely judged by God.
• And as a result lost his kingdom.
Now in previous studies:
• We have already touched on:
• How Jesus was qualified to be both a priest and a king?
• We noted he was born from the line of Judah (qualified him to be king).
• But he did not come from the tribe of Levites;
• Like all those in the Aaron priesthood (all Old Testament priests).
• He qualified as a priest, because he came from a different even older order;
• That is the order of Melchizedek.
• Therefore he like Melchizedek was qualified to combine the two positions.
• He is both a priest and a king.
The thought of Christ as priest dominates the central section of this letter:
• And as king, Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
• Worshipped, enthroned and crowned with glory and honour.
• We have already noted in previous weeks that our priest is sitting down.
• Because unlike any priest of Aaron his work has been completed.
Quote Hughes:
Our Lord's dual titles of king and priest are highly appropriate:
'As king he is just, and as priest he justifies all who trust in his atoning sacrifice.
(2). Melchizedek's name (verse 2)
“And Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means king of righteousness; then also, king of Salem means king of peace.”
In the Bible, names and their meanings are often important.
• We name our children today without much consideration for what their names mean,
• But this was not the case in Bible days.
• Ill: Names were passed down through the family;
• Ill: And if that tradition was broken; it was changed & given for its descriptive meaning.
• Ill: ‘Jesus’: ‘Save his people from their sins’.
The Meaning of Melchizedek’s name:
• In the Hebrew language, the name "Melchizedek" means "king of righteousness".
• The word "Salem" means "peace" (he did not fight in the war with Abraham),
• So that Melchizedek is
• "King of peace" as well as "king of righteousness."
Worth noting: The order in the name is very significant;
• Righteousness must always come before peace.
• Without righteousness there can be no peace.
Ill:
As Paul has it in Romans chapter 5 verse 1:
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Ill: Again in Romans chapter 14 verse 17:
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
• The order is always the same;
• First; righteousness and then peace.
• Righteousness is simply being ‘right with God’ saying “Your will be done”.
• Result of being right with God is the he gives us his peace.
(3). Melchizedek's uniqueness (verse 3):
“Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life,
like the Son of God he remains a priest forever”.
Melchizedek has no genealogy recorded in the Bible;
• He appears and then he disappears;
• There is no genealogy given for Melchizedek.
• There is not even a reference to his father or mother.
• We do not know, where he came from or anything about his background.
This was unusual for two reasons:
(a). It is the reverse of the habitual practice of Genesis.
• Genealogies are a feature of Genesis;
• Where long lists of a man's ancestors constantly occur.
• But Melchizedek breaks that pattern;
• He arrives on the scene, as it were, from nowhere.
(b) Far more important-it is the reverse of the rules which governed the Aaronic
priesthood which depended entirely on descent.
• Under Jewish law a man could not under any circumstances;
• Become a priest unless he could produce a certificated pedigree going back to Aaron.
Ill:
If a priest was going to marry;
• His bride; if her Father was a priest must produce her pedigree for four generations back;
• And if her Father was not a priest for five generations.
Quote:
“Character and ability had nothing to do with being a priest:
The one essential that was needed was pedigree.
The Jewish priesthood was founded on genealogy.”
Ill:
• Ezra chapter 2 verses 61-63;
• Nehemiah chapter 7 verses 63-65.
• Tell us that when the Jews came back to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon;
• Certain priestly families could not produce their genealogical records (lost or destroyed);
• And because they had no records of genealogies;
• They were therefore excluded from the priesthood for ever
• To be an Old Testament priest (priest of Aaron).
• Genealogy was literally everything!
We have already noted that Melchizedek has no genealogy:
• We are told of no time when Melchizedek began or ended his priesthood;
• We are told of no time when he was born or died.
• Therefore symbolically he had no beginning and has no end;
• And symbolically his priesthood had no end either;
• Symbolically it is still going,
• Symbolically Melchizedek is still serving as a priest and king today.
Ill:
• I have to sign in and out, when I visit most Schools;
• If I forget to sign out, the record shows I am still on site.
• Until I sign out and officially end my visit;
• As far as the school is concerned I am still ‘at work’ on their premises.
The antitype is clear
• Melchizedek is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ in that,
• Jesus is truly eternal, without beginning or end.
• Though Jesus Christ was born at Bethlehem;
• The Bible makes it quite clear that he pre-existed in heaven (John chapter 1 verse 1)
• Even though Jesus Christ did physically die on a cross,
• Again the Bible makes it very clear; this was not the end of him
• For He arose from the dead and today verse 17 says:
• He lives in "the power of an endless life" or “Indestructible life”
So for the writer of this letter, the point he is making is clear:
• Melchizedek is superior to Aaron and his priesthood of the Old Testament;
• In a variety of ways:
(a).
• Neither Aaron nor any of his descendants could claim to be "without genealogy".
• That was the very thing they had to prove to be a priest.
(b).
• They could not claim to have an eternal ministry.
• Because they physically died and were replaced by someone else.
(c).
• Nor could they claim to be both kings and priests,
• Their very qualification to one office barred them from the other.
Note:
• Having showed us how superior Melchizedek is compared to Aaron;
• The writer now shows us how superior Jesus Christ is compared to Melchizedek:
(a).
• For Melchizedek was human, flesh and blood, a literal person in history.
• In contrast Jesus was and is the Son of God (Hebrews chapter 1).
(b).
• For Melchizedek these truths were symbolic
• (He appeared without genealogy, but of course he had human relatives)
• But for Jesus these truths are real;
• He was not created or will not die of old age etc.
• His is eternal (“The same yesterday, today, forever”);
• And therefore his priestly ministry is eternal! (verse 27 “permanent priesthood”)
(4). Melchizedek's superiority (verse 4-10):
“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, their brothers--even though their brothers 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 person is blessed by the greater.
8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men 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.”
In this section the writer of the letter:
• Wants to show his readers that even Abraham, the father of the Jewish race;
• One of the greatest figures in Judaism.
• Recognised Melchizedek as someone great and by his own actions;
• Abraham made himself inferior to Melchizedek.
(1). Superior because Abraham gave Melchizedek tithes (vs 4-10).
“And Abraham gave him a tenth of everything”.
• The word "tithe" means "one-tenth."
• Abraham gave Melchizedek a 10th of the spoils of war he had won (Genesis chapter 16)
Tithes were important to Old Testament priests:
• Under the Jewish law (Numbers chapter 18 verses 20-21),
• Aaron is told by God, that the Levites will have no actual territory in the promised land.
• But they would not go hungry or without;
• They would receive a tenth part of everything (Crops, herds, and flocks etc);
• For their services in the tabernacle.
• These tithes were brought to the Levites (Numbers chapter 18 verse 21) at the tabernacle;
• And later at the temple (Deuteronomy chapter 12).
• If the trip was too long for transporting grain, fruit, or animals,
• The tithe could be converted into money (Deuteronomy chapter 14 verses 22-27).
• Tithing, however, did not originate with Moses.
• Because Abraham practiced tithing long before Moses and the Law.
THE WRITER BRINGS TO HIS READERS ATTENTION (VERSES 5-6):
• The difference between tithes to the priests of Aaron;
• And the tithe Abraham gave Melchizedek.
(a). The priests received the tithes from their fellow Jews (verse 5);
“Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, their brothers--even though their brothers are descended from Abraham.”
• But when Abraham tithed to Melchizedek;
• There was no racial connection with him whatsoever;
• Melchizedek was not a Jew,
• He was a foreigner, if anything a Gentile!
• Question: So why would Abraham the first Jew, voluntary tithe to this stranger;
• Answer: Abraham recognised Melchizedek as someone greater than himself?
(b). The Jews were under law to tithe (verse 5).
“Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people”
• This tithe was the result of legal enactment.
• The Jewish people had no choice in the matter, according to the law they had to pay it!
• But Abraham was not under the law,
• For the law came through Moses, and it had not yet been given;
• Again the Question is:
• Why would Abraham tithe to this stranger, unless he were not greater than he was?
(c). The Jews tithed to priests who would die (verse 8):
“Priests are given a tenth of what people earn. But all priests die, except Melchizedek, and the Scriptures teach that he is alive.”
• The Jewish people tithed to priests who like all human beings at some stage died.
• Then they tithed to those who replaced them.
• But Abraham tithed to Melchizedek who as far as we know never died!
The conclusion of verses 5-6:
• The very fact Abraham voluntarily offered tithes to Melchizedek the foreigner;
• Is evidence that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham.
• And as all the Jews, including the priests descended from Abraham;
• The writer of this book argues that;
• All Abraham's offspring were represented in Abraham;
• When he offered the spoils of war (tithe) to Melchizedek.
• At that time Levi was not yet born;
• He was still in the body/loins of his ancestor Abraham when Melchizedek met him,
• So through Abraham it was as if Levi and all his tribe;
• Also paid tithes to this priest-king.
• Therefore says the writer:
• Melchizedek must also be greater than them!
(2). Melchizedek superior because he blessed Abraham (vs 4-10):
“Yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7 And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater.
8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men 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.”
In the Jewish culture it is always the superior who blesses the inferior;
• Therefore by allowing Melchizedek to bless him;
• Abraham was publicly declaring that Melchizedek was superior to himself.
Now remember again the cultural context:
• Abraham was the founder of the Jewish race; the number one Jew!
• He alone was the unique recipient of the promises of God.
• Yet he allowed this foreigner, this Gentile to bless him;
• That indeed gives Melchizedek a unique position as superior to Abraham.
The writer of the letter makes it very clear:
• As far as Abraham (the founder and number one Jew) was concerned;
• Melchizedek was greater than he was.
• But says the writer;
• Much of the information we have concerning Melchizedek is limited, not complete.
• He was a real human figure in history;
• And as a type, a picture of someone greater who was to come – Jesus Christ!
Note the antitype: Jesus - UNIQUE PRIESTHOOD
• The writer of this letter goes on to tell his readers:
• That the priesthood of Jesus Christ is far greater;
• Than anything they have ever known in their unconverted days.
• It’s superiority is based on three contrasts;
• Between Jesus and all other priest.
(1). Its oath (verse 20-21).
“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.'”
• We have noted that Old Testament priests (Aaron)
• Were entitled to their position by a physical tie to the tribe of Levi (verse 20).
• In contrast by quoting Psalm 110 verse 4:
• We are told Jesus was established as a priest with an oath from God himself!
• “The Lord has sworn” when God said something it was done (he always tells the truth);
• But when God ‘swears’ something it is the ultimate emphasis that it will happen!
• Not only that note verse 21: “And will not change his mind”:
• Reliability, God cannot go back on his word! It is like a triple promise!
(2). Its guarantor (verse 22).
“Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.”
• Under the Old Covenant a guarantee was lacking.
• But under the New Covenant, Jesus himself is the guarantee (verse 22).
Ill:
• A surety or guarantee is only as good as the person or company that makes it.
• If I sold my car I could guarantee it,
• But I may not have the power or wealth to keep that guarantee.
Notice in verse 22 who our guarantor is:
• “The guarantor is Jesus!”
• Note: In the Greek text the name Jesus stands in the most emphatic place;
• We are accepted by God and can approach him in confidence;
• And the proof of that is Jesus, he is our living guarantor and representative in heaven.
(3). Its priest (verse 23-28).
• The ministry of human priests was temporary;
• Death prevented them from continuing (verse 23).
• Ill: Conveyer belt system, one died and another priest replaced them.
In contrast to that system the ministry of Jesus is permanent:
• Verse 24: “He lives forever”.
• Verse 25: “He always lives to intercede for them”
The writer of this letter goes on to portray five aspects of Christ’s character:
• Verses 23-24: His permanent achievement.
• Verses 25: His limitless power.
• Verses 25: His present ministry.
• Verse 26: His sinless character.
• Verses 27-28: His perfect offering.
Conclude with a very old hymn by WATCHMAN NEE & WITNESS LEE were co-workers who loved the Lord Jesus and faithfully served Him throughout their lives.
