Lesson 12

Hebrews 7:4-18 New King James Version

4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the [a]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.

11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has [b]officiated at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning [c]priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For [d]He testifies:

“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”

18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness,

First Impression?

• Why this great push to elevate the greatness of Abraham? He is a sinner like me, saved by faith.

How great, even the patriarch – The story in Genesis makes Abraham to be this great man slaughtering the armies of many kings to regain his nephew. Here the author puts Abraham up on a pedestal and then Melchizedek even higher. I personally feel the honor was to God for going before Abraham and any honor shown to a priest is shown to God and not the priest. Am I wrong in this?

• I repeat from the first impression, but my group seemed to indicate that they had not thought down this path before either.

Sons of Levi – I am not sure here on verse 5, but I feel as if the author is trying to make the Levitical priests as basically equals to their brethren just serving God in a specific manner. Is this how you read verse 5?

• Others thought the same, but some were not sure and felt maybe the priesthood was a special calling.

Verse 6 – genealogy, tithes, blessing, promises – In my mind, if Melchizedek is God’s priest and Abraham knows this, then this interaction was basically an everyday kind of thing. I do not expect that a man being my pastor makes him any greater than he already was. I do not expect him to be a great man, but the particular man God has put in place to help lead me. Why is the author making a big deal out of the relationship between Abraham and Melchizedek?

• My thought is the goal is to set Christ on a pedestal. I still find it overwhelming that Melchizedek may have been Christ before He was born, but either way, this section of Hebrews is really pushing how great Christ is.

Verse 7 – Any idea why this is an issue? I did not take the blessings to be from Melchizedek anyway, but that he was passing along the blessing God had already decided to provide. Did I miss something?

• We talked through the culture of everyone blessing the king and the king standing in front accepting it. I do not understand blessing to come but from God, but the more specific meaning of good wishes from someone supports the blessing by the greater to be a bigger deal.

Verse 8 – The idea that comes to mind among all these pronouns it that Christ receives the gift of the entire lives of those who believe that He lives. The Levitical priests receive the 10% offerings of the people. There is also something about the idea that people alive then had witnessed that Melchizedek was still alive. Unless Melchizedek is Christ, I do not believe he still lives. What does this verse say to you?

• Not much more for me to say on this piece but giving ones life is a bigger deal than just 10% of your stuff.

Verse 9  and 10 – All I see here is the author trying to say Levitical priests are below Abraham who is below Melchizedek regardless of the time difference between the stories. Unless we construct a hierarchy that goes God, Christ, Melchizedek, high priest, priest, us, then I do not see the point. I can go to God because Christ paid the penalty for my sin, and I take on the robe of His purity to speak to God the father. How does this not fit the narrative?

• No arguments ensued, so maybe I am on to something.

Verse 11 – I see this as the same rhetorical if we could be saved by the law, why did Christ come. Is there something else here I do not see?

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Verse 12 – I thought Christ came to fulfill the law, not to change it. What am I missing?

• I was thinking of this in terms of all the rules that had to be followed to be sinless, but I think His fulfilling the law was in His life and His changing it was in His death.

Verse 13 and 14 – Are these two verses both about Christ or did Melchizedek come from another tribe not listed? How would this fit with everything else being discussed? Did not Moses speak of Melchizedek? Was the tribe of Judah not promised the Messiah? Are not the two the same (i.e. Moses did tell of the Priesthood of Judah)?

• Again, I have to remember Hebrews is the word of God and He can add new data about the story, and it still fit His truth even if not addressed in the Old Testament. I think each statement made is truth and the gap in understanding (as always) is mine.

Verse 15 and 16 – The likeness of Melchizedek, the power of an endless life. When I read Psalm 110:4, I see that Christ will be a priest forever. I do not see that Melchizedek lives forever, only that He will be a priest of the order of Melchizedek. I do not see any Old Testament definition of an endless life for Melchizedek, only that he was a priest and did the duties of a priest. Am I calling fault on the author, or are we supposed to believe the word of the author is the word of God and He is telling us that Melchizedek lives forever? Is Enoch Melchizedek?

• Discussed above. I am not sure.

Verse 17 – Psalm 110:4. Do you think every Bible translator goes back to make sure the Greek outcome matches the Hebrew outcome?

• I do not, but I am biased.

Verse 18 – An annulling of the former commandment. Is there a difference between changing the law and annulling the law?

• In this case, I do not think so, but the term annulling helped me to understand how the law is different from living in Christ as the Old Covenant is bettered by the New Covenant.