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Hebrews 7 – Text and Notes
- It is important and comforting to remember that studying Melchizedek is not considered the elementary principles or teachings of the word of God.
- Why are we told the story of Melchizedek in Genesis 14?
- Because Jesus was coming.
- What is the significance of Melchizedek in the O.T.?
- His name means King of Righteousness and Peace
- He was both king and priest
- He existed prior to Aaron
- He was considered greater than Abraham
- Abraham paid him tithes
- Melchizedek blessed him
- He was not an Israelite (i.e., descended from Abraham)
- What is the significance of Melchizedek in the N.T.?
- The receiving of the priesthood – no lineage
- Jesus was not of the tribe of Levi
- Change of law and priesthood
Vv.1-3 – Description of Melchizedek
1 [See Genesis 14:17-20 and Psalm 110; Heb.5:6, 10; 6:20] [Extended Notes] For this Melchizedek, king of Salem [i.e., Jerusalem (Ps.76:2); From a Christological viewpoint, it was important to connect Jerusalem to both Melchizedek and Christ.] priest of the Most High God [This is one of the ways that Melchizedek was the antitype to Christ. (Zech.6:9-15)], who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him [i.e., Melchizedek blessed Abram], [Both priest and king – Zech.6:12-13]
2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem [i.e., Jerusalem (Ps.76:2)], which is king of peace. [Salem meant “peace.” Jesus is called the Prince of Peace (Isa.9:6-7)], [Righteousness comes before peace (Rom.5/:1)]
3 [Extended Notes] Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made [perfect] like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. [cp., Num.25:13]
Vv.4-10 – Melchizedek Greater Than Abraham
Ways Melchizedek Was Great (vv.4-11)
- He took tithes from Abraham (v.4)
- He blessed Abraham (v.6-7)
- Mortal vs. “living” (v.8)
4 Now observe [present imperative] how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. [Argument for the superiority of a priest like unto Melchizedek. According to Peake’s commentary, he suggests the opposite – that if Abraham gave spoils to Melchizedek, that the receiver is inferior to the giver. (Peake’s commentary on the Bible, section 156d, 157c,d)] [Argument through Necessary Implication]
5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in [lit., according to] the Law to collect [present] a tenth [or, tithes] from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended [perfect] from [lit., have come out of the loins of] Abraham.
6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected [perfect] a tenth [or, tithes] from Abraham and blessed [perfect] the one who had the promises [epaggelia (1860) Heb.4:1; Heb.6:12; Heb.6:15; Heb.6:17; Heb.7:6; Heb.8:6; Heb.9:15; Heb.10:36; Heb.11:9; Heb.11:13; Heb.11:17; Heb.11:33; Heb.11:39].
7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater [usually translated as “better” in Hebrews – kreittōn (2909) – Heb.1:4; Heb.6:9; Heb.7:7; Heb.7:19; Heb.7:22; Heb.8:6; Heb.9:23; Heb.10:34; Heb.11:16; Heb.11:35; Heb.11:40; Heb.12:24]. [Argument for the superiority of a priest like unto Melchizedek. This chapter is filled with Necessary Implications.]
8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed [martureo (3140) – Heb.2:4; Heb.7:8; Heb.7:17; Heb.10:15; Heb.11:2; Heb.11:4; Heb.11:5; Heb.11:39; Witnessed by whom? Scripture (Ps.110)] that he lives on.
9 And, so to speak [aorist], through Abraham even Levi, who received [perfect] tithes, paid tithes, [Argument for the superiority of a priest like unto Melchizedek.]
10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Vv.11-28 – Christ Greater Than Levitical Priests
11 Now [oun (3767) – then, therefore, accordingly, consequently, these things being so (Thayer); Heb.2:14; Heb.4:1; Heb.4:6; Heb.4:11; Heb.4:14; Heb.4:16; Heb.7:11; Heb.8:4; Heb.9:1; Heb.9:23; Heb.10:19; Heb.10:35; Heb.13:15; the book of Hebrews is filled with “necessary implications” – When using necessary implications, we need to be careful that they are truly necessary and validly implied] if perfection [teleiosis; i.e., reaching the goal (2:10; 5:9; 6:1; 7:7, 19; 9:9; 10:1, 14; 11:40: 12:23)] was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received [perfect] the Law), what further need was there for another [heteros (2087) – “another of a different kind” (The Discovery Bible, p.524); Vine’s says that allos and heteros “have a different meaning, which despite a tendency to be lost, is to be observed in numerous passages. Allos expresses a numerical difference and denotes ‘another of the same sort’; heteros expresses a qualitative difference and denotes ‘another of a different sort'” (NT, p. 29).] priest to arise [present] according to [kata] the order [taxis] of Melchizedek, and not be designated [present] according to [kata] the order [taxis] of Aaron?
12 For when the priesthood is changed [metatithemi (3346) – to change by transferring; Acts 7:16; Gal.1:6; Heb.11:5 (twice); Jude 4], of necessity [necessary implication; 9:16] there takes place a change [metathesis (3331) – from 3346 – to change by transferring; Heb.11:5 (taken up); 12:27 – removing/metathesis (3331)] of law [nomou] also. [This verse proves that Ps.110 was never intended to refer to all the kings of the Davidic line. If that were true, and some argue such, then the law would have necessarily been changed a thousand years earlier.]
13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs [perfect] to another [cf., v.11] tribe, from which no one has officiated [perfect] at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended [lit., rose; perfect] from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. [Extended Notes]
15 And this is clearer still [necessary implication], if another [cf., v.11; different from the Levitical priests; not another from Melchizedek ] priest arises according to [taxis] the likeness [taxis] of Melchizedek,
16 who has become [perfect] such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power [dunamis (1411) – “inherent ability; ‘inherent capacity of someone or something to carry something out’ (DNTT); power by virtue of one’s own ability and resources (Vine)” (The Discovery Bible, p.539)] of an indestructible life [zoe (2222) – “that inextinguishable and indestructible quality that is self-existent in God and shared with animate creation; God’s gift to man animating him both physically and spiritually and making him an eternal being; ‘the absolute fullness of life . . . which belongs to God’ (Thayer)” (The Discovery Bible, p.537)].
17 For it is attested of Him,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For, on the one hand [v.19], there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness [“Law may be wholly useless for one purpose and yet indispensable for others.” (Moses E. Lard)]
19 (for the Law made nothing perfect – [this is the flaw]), and on the other hand [v.18] there is a bringing in of a better [kreittōn (2909) – Heb.1:4; Heb.6:9; Heb.7:7; Heb.7:19; Heb.7:22; Heb.8:6; Heb.9:23; Heb.10:34; Heb.11:16; Heb.11:35; Heb.11:40; Heb.12:24] hope, through which we draw near to God. [Great lesson – God does not take away unless he replaces with something better. Great lesson for new believers]
20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath
21 (for they indeed became [perfect] priests without an oath [i.e., through succession], but He with an oath [i.e., through Divine appointment] through the One who said to Him,
“The Lord has sworn
And will not change His mind,
‘You are a priest forever’”); [Argument for the superiority of a priest like unto Melchizedek.]
22 so much the more also Jesus has become [perfect] the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed [perfect] in greater numbers because they were prevented [present] by death from continuing [present],
24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues [present] forever, holds His priesthood permanently. [Argument for the superiority of a priest like unto Melchizedek.] [Does Jesus remain High Priest in heaven even after His Second Coming?]
25 Therefore [hothen (3606) – Heb.2:17; Heb.3:1; Heb.7:25; Heb.8:3; Heb.9:18; Heb.11:19; again necessary implication] He is able also to save [present] forever [or, completely] those who draw near [proserchomai (4334); Heb.4:16; Heb.7:25; Heb.10:1; Heb.10:22; Heb.11:6; Heb.12:18; Heb.12:22] to God through Him, since He always lives to make [present]intercession for them. [Isa.53:12] [Argument for the superiority of a priest like unto Melchizedek.] [Theme of Hebrews: Concept of Religion – Access to God]
26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy [hosios (3741) – “that which is committed to God; ‘religiously observing every moral obligation, pure, holy, pious’ (Thayer)” (The Discovery Bible, p.535)], innocent, undefiled, separated [perfect] from sinners and exalted above the heavens; [Except for the last one, all the rest are goals we have for ourselves.]
27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer [present] up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. [A major difference between the priesthood of Christ, the priesthood of Levi, plus that of Melchizedek.] [See Extended Notes]
28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made [perfect] perfect forever.
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