March 16, 2003
First Church of the Brethren
H. Kevin Derr
Hebrews 7:1-10
“Melchizedek, the Royal Priest”
1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever.
4Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5Now 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. 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
What is it that makes Melchizedek such an interesting character? Perhaps it is that there is so little written about him. He makes his appearance in Genesis 14, Psalm 110 and here in Hebrews. But very little about him is actually known. Both Philo and Josephus comment on him in their writings, so we know he was a figure who received a bit of attention in the popular literature of the day.
The author of Hebrews does not focus his attention on who his parents may have been, where he may have come from, even where he may have gone. Yet, what he does is to stress one unique qualification. What is that qualification, that he was called by God to be a priest. He did not choose this job, he did not pursue it, rather God called and appointed him as a High Priest.
Prayer
I. As the author of Hebrews again returns his discussion to Melchizedek , he helps us to
understand Jesus in a different light, as the High Priest Called by God. This is the beginning of
this view of Jesus, it sets the stage, and will be developed in more depth later.
A. The Author of Hebrews writes, 1This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of
God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and
blessed him,
1. Melchizedek was King of Salem and priest of God Most High.
A. The author of Hebrews again identifies Melchizedek for us
B. He draws him back into the discussion
2. He also tells us what he did, After Abraham, the Author of Hebrews uses,
Abraham and not Abram, because as this point his name had not yet been
changed. Melchizedek blessed Abraham.
3. Then Vs. 2 gives us some more specific information, he writes, 2and Abraham
gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of
righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”
A. Abraham also does something here, he gives a tenth of everything, all
the plunder taken from the defeated kings and gives it to Melchizedek
B. You will notice that the author of Hebrews has done nothing but
summerize the story about Abraham and Melchizedek from Genesis 14.
C. And even in the second part of the verse he does nothing but to remind
us of meanings. Melchizedek means “King of Righteousness” and
“King of Salem” means “King of Peace”
4. This pattern of giving information continues, in Vs. 3 he tells us, 3Without
father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of
life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever
A. To be a priest, a man had to be a physical descendent of Aaron through
Levi, that covers the paternal line of the family. But it was not the only
genealogical requirement
B. The mother of a potential had to be a pure Israelite. In other words,
going back so many generations the family all had to be Israelite. The
maternal linage was just as important as the paternal.
C. If you wanted to be a priest, you had to know your genealogy. It was
essential according to the tradition of the covenant. There were some
very specific requirements that had to be met.
B. But Melchizedek was different. He has no known father or mother.
His priesthood was not dependent upon his linage, it had nothing to do
with who his parents were.
A. That is not the only unusual thing about Melchizedek, we also
have no record of his birth or death, which technically means
that he has no beginning and no end, his tenure as priest is
unlimited.
B. This is where the end of the information is found and the
beginning of the interpretation of the meaning is beginning.
1. There is another who’s linage has nothing to do with his
office as High Priest
2. There is another who has no end to his service as high
priest
3. There is another who did not assume the role of High
Priest but is called by God into this role
C. Melchizedek is like the Son of God.
II. Just how important was Melchizedek? He did receive a significant amount of press in the
inter-testamental period, between Malachi and Matthew. He had a name that was known and
enjoyed a bit of celebrity status, not as much as Abraham or Moses, but enough that most of
those in a Jewish Community would have known his name. He also became tied with
thoughts of the Messiah. Psalm 110 is where you will find the tie in.
A. The Author of Hebrews wrote, 4Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch
Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!
1. The Patriarch, the high father, the founder, the supreme example, gave this
Melchizedek a tenth of the plunder, he gave him a tithe
2. Now this may not seem like a big deal but it is a priestly function. And it was
done before the priesthood was formed.
A. Now if you look on to verse 5, we see 5Now 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.
B. Priests collect a tithe from their brothers.
B. Now he tells us, 6This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he
collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
1. Melchizedek is not a descendent of Levi, and yet he collected a tithe from him
and blessed him
2. Remember what the Author of Hebrews is doing here. He is telling us how
great Melchizedek is, telling us that he is greater than Abraham.
3. Here is a man with no genealogy, not right to function as a priest, no promise,
but yet God has called him to be his priest
A. And Abraham gave him a tithe and was blessed by him
C. All of this is for a purpose. The purpose of this all is to say, 7And without doubt the
lesser person is blessed by the greater.
1. Melchizedek is greater than Abraham
2. And in turn Melchizedek’s priesthood is greater than the Levitical priesthood
A. How can I say that? Because Levi came from Abraham, and
Melchizedek is greater than Abraham
B. The superior priesthood is one based on God’s call, and not on a
person’s genealogy
III. God’s call is the basis of the Priesthood of Melchizedek. It is better example. The author of
Hebrews writes, 8In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other
case, by him who is declared to be living. 9One might even say that Levi, who collects the
tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi
was still in the body of his ancestor.
A. The Levitical priest collect a tithe but are subject to death, the will die and another
will take their place. It is a temporary priesthood. One subject to changes and
corruption.
B. However the Priesthood of Melchizedek is said to be a living example. One that will
not die but one that will remain. If you remember Psalm 110:4, “The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
1. The priesthood of Melchizedek was not understood to be temporary but eternal
2. It points to that which is greater, as the tabernacle was a copy of that which is
greeter, the sanctuary of God in Heaven, so the Priesthood of Levi is a copy of
the greater, the Priesthood of Melchizedek
C. A farther example of the superiority of Melchizedek we find that in Abraham’s tithe
to Melchizedek we see Levi bringing the tithe
D. All of this is pointing to central reality:
1. There is a better alternative to the way that things are.
2. This is true for those who are both in Christ and those who are not
A. For those who are not, we can offer them not only a different way of
looking at the world, but also we can show the lost a different way of
life, with different values and goals and a drastically different world
view
B. For those of us who are in Christ we are to be striving for maturity, for
a deeper and more fully developed knowing of God
1. Life in Christ is not like stepping in and out of a room, it is
rather something that is always in process, to quote Aristotle we
are in a process of Becoming
2. We are always in the process of becoming Christlike, that is
until we reach perfection
