Hebrews

Joyce Webb    2018

Chapter 7

Vs. 1 Melchisedec was the king of Salem in Old Testament times. He was also the high priest. The name Melchisedec means “king of justice”. The name salem means “peace.”.

There is no record of his mother or father or grandparents. There is no record of his beginning or end. He is called a “priest forever”——no beginning, no end.

This is why Jesus is called a priest after the order of Melchisedec.

There is no record of Jesus’ beginning. Jesus was begotten by God the Father. And He lives forever with no end.

Melchisdec met with Abraham after Abraham won a battle with several kings in the area. Melchisedec blessed him.

Abraham took 1/10 of all he won in the battle (10%) and gave it as an offering to Melchisedec the high priest.

The priest in the Old Testament from the tribe group of Levi, collected tithes from the people. This was a law given by Moses.

The tithe is 10%. This money was used to pay the priests and to take care of the tabernacle church.

The Levi group were one of the 12 tribe groups. They collected this money from the people of the other 11 tribes. They were all family relatives.

Melchisadec was not related to Levi. But he received this tithe money from Abraham. He blessed Abraham. God had already put a blessing on Abraham.

The person who blesses is greater than the person who receives the blessing.

Vs. 8 Tithes are paid to Jewish priests—-who will die someday.

But Melchisadec is greater than they are, because he lives on—(because we never hear or read of his death.)

In a way, we could say that the Levites —who collect the tithes— paid their tithes to Melchisadec—through their great, great, grandfather Abraham.

Even though Levi was not born yet, the “seed” of Levi was in the body of Abraham—then Isaac, then Jacob, then Levi.

If being a priest could have done God’s purpose——-

because the law was built on the priesthood——why did God need to send a different priest from the line of Melchisadec (meaning Jesus) instead of using a man of the tribe group of Levi and Aaron?

(In other words, if the law and the Levite priest were perfect then why did God need to send Jesus?)

The priesthood was changed. So the law must be changed to go with the new priest.

Jesus belongs to a different tribe. He is from the tribe of Judah. His relatives do not serve as priests. Moses never talked about men of Judah being priests.

This change in God’s law is shown by the fact that a different priest has now come. One who is like Mechisadec.

The old law is changed. We see the proof because God chose someone who is not a Levite to be priest.

Jesus became a priest, not by being from the tribe of Levi, but because he has the power of life that can never be destroyed.

King David said a prophecy about the Messiah to come, in ——-

Psalms 110:4 he says, “Thou are a priest forever after the order of Melchisadec.”

The old law about the priesthood was put aside, away because it was weak and useless.

The old law did not make anything perfect. Now a better hope has taken its place.

Through this priest Jesus is how we come near to God.

Vs. 20 God made a promise that Jesus would be a priest forever, but he never made that promise to any other priest.

Only to Jesus did he say:

“The Lord has taken an oath/promise and will not break this promise, ‘You are a priest forever‘ .” Psalms 110:4

Because of God’s promise it is Jesus who guarantees this better promise.

Vs. 23 In the old way there were many priests. When one priest died, another one took his place.

But Jesus is a priest forever. He never dies. So he is able to save everyone who comes to him. He lives forever and is able to speak to God for us.

Vs. 26 He is holy and without blame or sin. He is set apart and away from sinners. He has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.

He does not need to offer sacrifices every day like the priests long ago. They had to offer sacrifices for their own sins first, and then for the sins of the people.

But Jesus had no sin. He offered himself as a sacrifice once and for all when he died on the cross.

The priests long ago under Moses’ law were limited because of man’s weakness.

But after the law was given, God appointed or chose his Son to be priest, and his Son has been made perfect forever.