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, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Preamble: The mention of Melchizedek in the previous verse (Hebrews 6:20) begins again the Word of God's exposition of his priestly position and service, to now show the superiority of it to Aaron's. And so the Lord Jesus Christ as now the One and Only High Priest of God has been called according to it, and not according to the temporal priesthood that came through Aaron. And so in this section we are shown the marked distinctions between Melchizedek's priesthood and Aaron's.
Commentary
Vs. 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,"
Unlike Aaron, Melchizedek bore two titles and served in two capacities. The first one mentioned is that of being king, specifically king of Salem, which means king of peace. Now Salem geographically corresponds with Jerusalem, and so in Melchizedek we clearly see the precursor for the Lord Jesus Christ's own Kingship, and thus His fulfilling this aspect of that office and service for God, and for us all who believe in Him. Now the second aspect of Melchizedek is that he alone in the days of Abraham was called the priest of the Most High God. This is very important because in being called according to the order of Melchizedek and not Aaron, the Lord Jesus Christ likewise is now the One and only High Priest before God, therefore we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ do not trace our spiritual beginnings to Aaron and Moses, but to Abraham who first believed God (consider Gal 3:5-9, 15-18, 19-25, 26-29 etc.), who was alone blessed by Melchizedek, which then set the stage for the Spiritual descendancy that followed, which we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ all belong too (1 Peter 2:9-10). And so when Melchizedek met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings (that is those kings who had first assailed and taken prisoner Abraham's nephew Lot and the people who dwelt with them (see Gen. 14, vs. 18-20), this Melchizedek, king of Salem, being priest of the Most High God, after Abraham had secured the victory then met Abraham and blessed him alone. Now the nature of this blessing will not be discussed here for the Word of God is not focusing on that, but rather on the importance of the position and person of Melchizedek (as a precursor to Christ) and thus Abraham's response to him as priest of God Most High.
Vs. 2 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,”
Abraham then upon this meeting then gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the spoils from the war. Now this is very significant because by doing so Abraham was acknowledging that Melchizedek was indeed priest of God Most High, and thus far greater than himself. And so imagine if you will that this great man Abraham (the father of the faith) whom God alone had called, by receiving and honoring Melchizedek's person and position did so as his willing subjection to God through God's priest Melchizedek, because his position as priest of God Most High was the precursor for Christ's. Therefore if Abraham received and honored God's priest Melchizedek who blessed him, how much more should we now likewise receive and be in subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ as God's High Priest alone. For the parallels between Melchizedek and the Lord Jesus Christ are so clear and are being shown us all by the Word of God so that no one in anyway would dare lesson Jesus Christ's Person or High Priesthood by seeking to return themselves (or others) to the Law and Aaron's. For again Melchizedek is the precursor of all that God intended to do through the Lord Jesus Christ's own Priesthood. For God's blessing on His people does not come upon us through Aaron and Moses and the Levitical priesthood that came through them, but only through the Lord Jesus Christ's. And so here it is also stated that Melchizedek was first called "king of righteousness" as well as "king of peace", two titles that could never be attributed to Aaron or his descendants and their priesthood, because Aaron was never called by God a king, nor did his person or his service as priest ever bring about a righteous standing with God, or peace with God, for anyone. Only the Lord Jesus Christ has done this for everyone who believes in Him crucified and risen from the dead for all their sins and transgressions, and thus now is subject to Him as God's One and only High Priest who is Lord of all.
Vs. 3 "without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually."
And so this Melchizedek as the precursor of all that God was going to do through His own Son the Lord Jesus Christ, also had to be without a father, and without mother, (that is genealogical parents), having neither beginning of days nor end of life, and thus being made like the Son of God (in regards to these things) remains a priest continually. Now this eternal aspect of Melchizedek's person and priesthood is the critical point being made here, because both Aaron's person and priesthood, and all the priest's, and specifically all the high priests who came through him, were all temporary, they began on earth, and thus their service ends on earth (Rev. 20:6). And so theirs is not the everlasting priesthood for God, theirs was the service that the Law required until the Seed should come through whom all of God's promises and provisions for us all who believe in Him would come to fruition.
Vs. 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,"
Unlike Aaron, Melchizedek bore two titles and served in two capacities. The first one mentioned is that of being king, specifically king of Salem, which means king of peace. Now Salem geographically corresponds with Jerusalem, and so in Melchizedek we clearly see the precursor for the Lord Jesus Christ's own Kingship, and thus His fulfilling this aspect of that office and service for God, and for us all who believe in Him. Now the second aspect of Melchizedek is that he alone in the days of Abraham was called the priest of the Most High God. This is very important because in being called according to the order of Melchizedek and not Aaron, the Lord Jesus Christ likewise is now the One and only High Priest before God, therefore we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ do not trace our spiritual beginnings to Aaron and Moses, but to Abraham who first believed God (consider Gal 3:5-9, 15-18, 19-25, 26-29 etc.), who was alone blessed by Melchizedek, which then set the stage for the Spiritual descendancy that followed, which we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ all belong too (1 Peter 2:9-10). And so when Melchizedek met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings (that is those kings who had first assailed and taken prisoner Abraham's nephew Lot and the people who dwelt with them (see Gen. 14, vs. 18-20), this Melchizedek, king of Salem, being priest of the Most High God, after Abraham had secured the victory then met Abraham and blessed him alone. Now the nature of this blessing will not be discussed here for the Word of God is not focusing on that, but rather on the importance of the position and person of Melchizedek (as a precursor to Christ) and thus Abraham's response to him as priest of God Most High.
Vs. 2 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,”
Abraham then upon this meeting then gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the spoils from the war. Now this is very significant because by doing so Abraham was acknowledging that Melchizedek was indeed priest of God Most High, and thus far greater than himself. And so imagine if you will that this great man Abraham (the father of the faith) whom God alone had called, by receiving and honoring Melchizedek's person and position did so as his willing subjection to God through God's priest Melchizedek, because his position as priest of God Most High was the precursor for Christ's. Therefore if Abraham received and honored God's priest Melchizedek who blessed him, how much more should we now likewise receive and be in subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ as God's High Priest alone. For the parallels between Melchizedek and the Lord Jesus Christ are so clear and are being shown us all by the Word of God so that no one in anyway would dare lesson Jesus Christ's Person or High Priesthood by seeking to return themselves (or others) to the Law and Aaron's. For again Melchizedek is the precursor of all that God intended to do through the Lord Jesus Christ's own Priesthood. For God's blessing on His people does not come upon us through Aaron and Moses and the Levitical priesthood that came through them, but only through the Lord Jesus Christ's. And so here it is also stated that Melchizedek was first called "king of righteousness" as well as "king of peace", two titles that could never be attributed to Aaron or his descendants and their priesthood, because Aaron was never called by God a king, nor did his person or his service as priest ever bring about a righteous standing with God, or peace with God, for anyone. Only the Lord Jesus Christ has done this for everyone who believes in Him crucified and risen from the dead for all their sins and transgressions, and thus now is subject to Him as God's One and only High Priest who is Lord of all.
Vs. 3 "without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually."
And so this Melchizedek as the precursor of all that God was going to do through His own Son the Lord Jesus Christ, also had to be without a father, and without mother, (that is genealogical parents), having neither beginning of days nor end of life, and thus being made like the Son of God (in regards to these things) remains a priest continually. Now this eternal aspect of Melchizedek's person and priesthood is the critical point being made here, because both Aaron's person and priesthood, and all the priest's, and specifically all the high priests who came through him, were all temporary, they began on earth, and thus their service ends on earth (Rev. 20:6). And so theirs is not the everlasting priesthood for God, theirs was the service that the Law required until the Seed should come through whom all of God's promises and provisions for us all who believe in Him would come to fruition.
Vs. 4 4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.
The significance of Abraham giving Melchizedek a tenth of the spoils should not then be lost on any of us, because Abraham here being called the patriarch (of our faith) in doing so was pointing us all through the person and service of Melchizedek to the Person and Priesthood of Christ, whom we are all to honor and be in subjection too (John 5:22-23).
Vs. 5-6 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
And so now an analogy is being drawn between the sons of Levi who received the priesthood from God, and thus were commanded to receive tithes according to the Law from their brethren, who also came through the loins of Abraham, and so all of these who were commanded to receive tithes from the people under the Law first all paid tithes to Melchizedek through Abraham (vs. 9), and thus themselves are likewise subordinate to God's Priest Melchizedek, just as Abraham was, though that is not the whole point here, for though they all came through Abraham who himself paid tithes to Melchizedek, who again did not come from the tribe of Levi, or even through Abraham, but by God. Therefore since Abraham their (and our) father acknowledged and received and honored Melchizedek as being exceedingly greater then himself, received and honored him in anticipation of Christ fulfilling this service for him and for all. How much more then should Abraham's descendants do likewise and be in subjection to God as Abraham was by receiving and honoring His High Priest the Lord Jesus Christ who was also sent to them. And so whether one is of Aaron or Levi or one of the other tribes of Israel is irrelevant, because Abraham their father in submitting himself to God through Melchizedek set the stage for all of his descendants (whether biological or Spiritual) to follow. Therefore if you believe in God then be in subjection to God as Abraham the Patriarch was by honoring and obeying God's High Priest who is not now Melchizedek, but the Lord Jesus Christ.
Vs. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.
Abraham being the lessor of these two great persons; Melchizedek and himself; is blessed by the better, something which Melchizedek did when he came out to meet Abraham after the slaughter of the kings (vs. 1). Again the point is that if Abraham who preceded Moses and Aaron, and thus is the patriarch to whom God gave the promises, in reverence received God's priest Melchizedek who was sent to bless him, how much more should his own descendants hold God's Son and Abraham's and our own High Priest the Lord Jesus Christ in reverence and thus be in subjection to Him. For Christ Jesus the Lord was sent as God's King and High Priest to bless and keep everyone who repents and believes in Him.
Vs. 8 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.
Here on earth mortal men receives tithes, the reference being to sons of Aaron, the priests appointed by God to administer the Law. And so their service was earthly, temporary, they only officiated while they lived and while the Law was governing, while Melchizedek's service did not begin on earth, nor does it end on earth, and thus it is a marvelous model for the Lord Jesus Christ's own High Priesthood which was foretold through it. And thus through Melchizedek's unending service we have the witness that he still lives, and thus if he still lives, so too does the Lord Jesus Christ as our High Priest before God (Heb. 4:14-16). For Melchizedek's service was not pointing to himself, but to Christ Himself.
Vs. 9-10 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Not only did Abraham pay tithes to Melchizedek, but so too did Levi, for as the Word of God makes clear here, when Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, Levi his descendant also did because he was still in the loins of his father Abraham when Melchizedek met him. And so again the point is that Melchizedek's person and position is not only greater than Abraham's but it also preceded and excelled all that came through Aaron, because it was a precursor to Christ's. The next section of Scripture then will bring this truth to bear with even more compelling reasoning's so stay tuned.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
The significance of Abraham giving Melchizedek a tenth of the spoils should not then be lost on any of us, because Abraham here being called the patriarch (of our faith) in doing so was pointing us all through the person and service of Melchizedek to the Person and Priesthood of Christ, whom we are all to honor and be in subjection too (John 5:22-23).
Vs. 5-6 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
And so now an analogy is being drawn between the sons of Levi who received the priesthood from God, and thus were commanded to receive tithes according to the Law from their brethren, who also came through the loins of Abraham, and so all of these who were commanded to receive tithes from the people under the Law first all paid tithes to Melchizedek through Abraham (vs. 9), and thus themselves are likewise subordinate to God's Priest Melchizedek, just as Abraham was, though that is not the whole point here, for though they all came through Abraham who himself paid tithes to Melchizedek, who again did not come from the tribe of Levi, or even through Abraham, but by God. Therefore since Abraham their (and our) father acknowledged and received and honored Melchizedek as being exceedingly greater then himself, received and honored him in anticipation of Christ fulfilling this service for him and for all. How much more then should Abraham's descendants do likewise and be in subjection to God as Abraham was by receiving and honoring His High Priest the Lord Jesus Christ who was also sent to them. And so whether one is of Aaron or Levi or one of the other tribes of Israel is irrelevant, because Abraham their father in submitting himself to God through Melchizedek set the stage for all of his descendants (whether biological or Spiritual) to follow. Therefore if you believe in God then be in subjection to God as Abraham the Patriarch was by honoring and obeying God's High Priest who is not now Melchizedek, but the Lord Jesus Christ.
Vs. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better.
Abraham being the lessor of these two great persons; Melchizedek and himself; is blessed by the better, something which Melchizedek did when he came out to meet Abraham after the slaughter of the kings (vs. 1). Again the point is that if Abraham who preceded Moses and Aaron, and thus is the patriarch to whom God gave the promises, in reverence received God's priest Melchizedek who was sent to bless him, how much more should his own descendants hold God's Son and Abraham's and our own High Priest the Lord Jesus Christ in reverence and thus be in subjection to Him. For Christ Jesus the Lord was sent as God's King and High Priest to bless and keep everyone who repents and believes in Him.
Vs. 8 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.
Here on earth mortal men receives tithes, the reference being to sons of Aaron, the priests appointed by God to administer the Law. And so their service was earthly, temporary, they only officiated while they lived and while the Law was governing, while Melchizedek's service did not begin on earth, nor does it end on earth, and thus it is a marvelous model for the Lord Jesus Christ's own High Priesthood which was foretold through it. And thus through Melchizedek's unending service we have the witness that he still lives, and thus if he still lives, so too does the Lord Jesus Christ as our High Priest before God (Heb. 4:14-16). For Melchizedek's service was not pointing to himself, but to Christ Himself.
Vs. 9-10 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
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