The Melchizedek Priesthood Is Superior Hebrews 7:1-28

Melchizedek, the Man Both priest and king (Genesis 14:18-20) King of righteousness – meaning of his name and, Fudge says, meant the faithful performing of all duties proper to a relationship Abraham paid tithes to him to maintain his worship and support of true religion According to scripture (Hebrews 7:1-3) No parents, no beginning, no end Without father or mother in the priesthood (of the tribe of Judah) No one served as priest after him, thus priest forever

Melchizedek’s Superiority to Abraham Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham from the best of the spoils (Hebrews 7:4-7) Priests of Levi were brethren to the Jews and were commanded to collect tithes, while Abraham gave voluntarily Every nation will be blessed through Abraham’s seed, yet he received a blessing of Melchizedek The one who is blessed is lesser than the one doing the blessing (i.e. sons are blessed of their father and nations are blessed by kings – Genesis 27:1-29; 2 Samuel 6:18-19

Melchizedek’s Superiority to Levi Aaronic priests died, but there is no scriptural reference to Melchizedek’s death (Hebrews 7:8-10) He did not receive his priesthood by birth, nor did he pass it on through the family (1 Chronicles 6:49-53) Levi received tithes under the law, yet was in Abraham’s loins when he paid tithes to Melchizedek (Genesis 35:11; 46:26; 1 Kings 8:19)

Problems with Levi’s Priesthood Perfection was not found under the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 7:11-12) Redemption under Moses’ law stands or falls with the Levitical priests (Galatians 3:21-24) Since the priesthood changed under Christ, the law must have changed (2 Corinthians 3:6-14; Galatians 3:19-29; 4:19-31) It was changed at the cross (Colossians 2:10-17)

A Change of Priesthood Jesus was of the tribe of Judah and could not serve at the altar (Hebrews 7:13-17; Numbers 16-28:7; Isaiah 11:1-5; Micah 5:2; Revelation 5:5; Matthew 1; Luke 3) After the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4) Not from an earthly, fleshly, perishable line but from the eternal power of God The law of Moses just gave the priesthood to descendants with no thought of other qualifications Christ received the office of the priest because he was eternal, like Melchizedek’s uninterrupted priesthood

Annulling Moses’ Law The law of Moses had to be set aside, made void, or abolished before a new law could take effect (Hebrews 7:18-19) It had to be replaced because it could not bring to perfection The new law is better because it allows one to draw closer to God through the blood of Jesus

God’s Oath God’s oath concerning Christ’s priesthood stresses its importance (Hebrews 7:20-22) This law would last forever, since God fully keeps his oaths and a Melchizedek priest has no end Aaron’s priesthood had no oath A testament (will) with conditions has an element of a covenant (agreement) Lightfoot says “has become” is in the perfect tense, with the sense of “has made and is now making” Jesus is the “surety,” or “bondsman,” (“the personal guarantee of the terms of the new and better covenant, secured on the ground of His perfect sacrifice” – Vine) of this agreement

The High Priest Man Needs While all High Priests under Moses’ law died, Christ’s priesthood is unchanging since he lives forever (Hebrews 7:23-26) In the Christian age, there is only one High Priest in contrast to many under Moses’ law Christ will always be ready to intercede at God’s throne in behalf of his people and is able to save completely He came to earth as a man, yet remained without sin, thus separated from sinners like the High Priest on the Day of Atonement He now rules on the throne (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:22-23)

One Sacrifice The Aaronic High Priest had to offer daily sacrifices for his own and the people’s sins (Hebrews 7:27-28) Under Moses’ law, the High Priest was a man subject to human weaknesses Christ, our High Priest, has sacrificed Himself once for all The Perfect Son of God now serves as our High Priest