Melchizedek and Abraham
(Genesis 14:17–24)
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. 1 He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, Gen 14:18-20Heb 6:20Mic 6:6Psa 57:2Dan 5:18Gen 16:14-16Mrk 5:7Psa 76:2 and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Num 18:211Ch 22:91Sa 8:151Sa 8:172Sa 23:32Sa 8:15Gen 28:22Psa 45:4-7 Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time. Heb 7:17Exo 6:20-27Heb 7:23-28Heb 7:6Mat 4:31Ch 6:1-3Exo 6:18
Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder. Gen 14:20Act 2:29Act 7:8-9Gal 3:28-29Gen 12:2Gen 17:5-6Jas 2:23Rom 4:11-13 Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham. Lev 27:30-332Ch 31:4-6Num 16:10-11Num 18:21-321Ki 8:19Heb 7:10Neh 13:10Num 17:3-10 But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Rom 4:13Gen 13:14-17Gen 17:4-8Heb 7:3-4Heb 11:17Act 3:25Gal 3:16Gen 12:2 And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater. 2Ch 30:27Gen 48:15-201Ki 8:551Ti 3:162Co 13:142Sa 6:20Gen 27:20-40Luk 24:50-51
In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on. Heb 6:20Heb 5:6Rev 1:18Heb 7:23Jhn 14:19Heb 3:16Heb 9:24-25Jhn 14:6 And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham. Rom 5:12Gen 14:20Heb 7:4 For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor. Gen 35:11Gen 46:26Heb 7:51Ki 8:19
A Superior Priesthood
Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron? Heb 8:7Gal 2:21Gal 4:9Heb 7:17-19Heb 5:6Heb 7:15Heb 7:21Heb 8:10-13 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well. Jer 31:31-34Isa 66:21Act 6:13-14Ezk 16:61
He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. Heb 7:11Heb 7:142Ch 26:16-21Num 17:5Num 16:40 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, a tribe as to which Moses said nothing about priests. Mic 5:2Isa 11:1Luk 3:33Rev 5:5Gen 49:10Rev 22:16Rom 1:3Eph 1:3
And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, Psa 110:4Heb 7:11Heb 7:17-21Heb 7:3 one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life. Col 2:20Gal 4:3Gal 4:9Rev 1:18Col 2:14Heb 10:1Heb 7:28Heb 7:3 For it is testified: Psa 110:4Heb 5:6Heb 7:21Heb 7:15Heb 5:10Heb 6:20
“You are a priest forever
in the order of Melchizedek.” 2
So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless Rom 8:3Act 13:39Gal 4:9Heb 7:11-12Heb 7:19Heb 8:7-131Ti 4:8Gal 3:17 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. Act 13:39Heb 4:16Heb 9:9Rom 8:3Heb 10:1Heb 11:40Heb 6:18Rom 5:2
And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, Heb 5:6Num 18:7Psa 110:4 but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: Psa 110:4Heb 7:17Heb 6:16-181Sa 15:29
“The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind:
‘You are a priest forever.’” 3
Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 1Co 11:25Heb 8:6-12Gen 44:32Heb 12:24Heb 13:20Heb 9:15-23Luk 22:20Gen 43:9
Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office. Neh 12:10-111Ch 6:3-14Heb 7:8 But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Heb 7:28Jhn 12:34Isa 9:6-7Rev 1:18Heb 13:8Heb 7:8-251Sa 2:35Rom 6:9 Therefore He is able to save completely 4those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them. Rom 8:341Jn 2:1-21Ti 2:5Jhn 14:6Jud 1:24Eph 2:18Isa 45:22Rom 5:2
Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 2Co 5:211Pe 2:22Heb 4:14-151Jn 2:2Heb 8:1Heb 1:31Jn 3:5Eph 4:8-10 Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself. Heb 9:12Heb 9:28Heb 9:14Eph 5:2Heb 10:6-12Heb 5:3Rom 6:10Tit 2:14 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever. Heb 2:10Heb 1:2Heb 7:21Heb 5:1-2Luk 13:32Psa 110:4Exo 32:21-22Heb 3:6