July 30, 2014
MEL-KIZA-WHO?
Hebrews 7:1–10
Karla Summey
Central Truth
Melchizedek is a foreshadow of Jesus; both have the dual role of king and priest. Melchizedek remains "a priest perpetually" in the sense that the Bible, the eternal Word of God, records no birth or death for him. Jesus IS the eternal Word of God (John 1:1).
Key Verse | Hebrews 7:3
He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. (Hebrews 7:3)
Hebrews 7:1–10
The Priestly Order of Melchizedek
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, 1 7:5 Or brothers and sisters though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Dive Deeper | Hebrews 7:1–10
I love names and their meanings. My husband and I spent our first year of marriage living in Jerusalem, and my list of potential baby names grew that year, in large part because of the beautiful meaning behind Hebrew names. So what does the name Melchizedek mean? From our passage we learn it translates to "king of righteousness," but I like the less common interpretation, "My king is righteousness." What a powerful image, especially as we consider how the writer of Hebrews compares Jesus to this mystery king from Genesis 14:17-20.
We know that Melchizedek was king of Salem (translated "Peace"), which according to Psalm 76 is the city of Jerusalem. In Hebrew, the word for peace holds a broader definition that includes wholeness, completeness, health, and prosperity. And we know that Melchizedek was also a priest of the Most High God. He even brought out bread and wine to Abraham and blessed him (Genesis 14:18). His dual role of king and priest is a foreshadow of Jesus: our Righteousness, our coming King, our Prince of Peace, and our High Priest. He is seated at the right hand of God and interceding on our behalf (Romans 8:34).
But the writer of Hebrews also highlights what we do not know about Melchizedek. The Bible is filled with genealogies, birth stories, and the circumstances of people's deaths, but we know none of these details about Melchizedek. By leaving out these details from Scripture, it can be said that Melchizedek's life story doesn't have a beginning or an end and that he remains a priest forever. He is made like the Son of God. Jesus, on the other hand, really did exist before the foundation of the world (John 1:1; 1 Peter 1:20) and really will reign forever (Revelation 11:15).
Discussion Questions
1. Have you accepted Jesus as your King of Righteousness and King of Peace? If you haven't, ask Him to reveal Himself to you. If you have, spend a few minutes contemplating the deep meanings of the words righteousness and peace.
2. When you consider that Jesus, our High Priest, is seated at the right hand of God at this very moment, interceding on your behalf, how does it change your perspective about your current circumstances and challenges? (Read Romans 8:26-39 for a fuller picture of this concept.)
3. In today's passage, it mentions more than once that Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the choicest spoils. In other words, Abraham tithed to Melchizedek. How have you been giving recently? Do you give to God from your "choicest spoils" with gratitude for all He has done in your life? Or are you holding things back from Him?