The Greatness of Melchisedec
Study note
The author recounts the Genesis 14 narrative of Melchisedec, king of Salem and priest of the most high God, who blessed Abraham and received a tithe from him. The significance of Melchisedec's name ('King of righteousness') and title ('King of peace') is noted. His lack of recorded genealogy, birth, or death in Scripture makes him a type of the Son of God -- a priest whose ministry has no beginning or end. The fact that Abraham, the patriarch from whom the Levitical priests descended, paid tithes to Melchisedec proves Melchisedec's superiority: in a sense, even Levi paid tithes through his ancestor.
1 Now, this Melchisedec was both the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was on his way home after winning a battle against several kings, Melchisedec came out to meet him and gave him a blessing. For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 Abraham then gave Melchisedec a tenth of everything he had won. The name Melchisedec means "King of Righteousness," and being King of Salem means he was also the "King of Peace." To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 There is no record of his father, his mother, or his family line. There is no mention of when his life began or when it ended. He was made to be like the Son of God, and he remains a priest forever. Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 Stop and think about how important this man must have been. Even Abraham, the great patriarch, gave him a tenth of the best things he had won in battle. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 Now, the priests who come from the tribe of Levi are told by the law to collect a tenth from the people. They do this even though those people are their own relatives, fellow children of Abraham. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6 But Melchisedec, who was not even related to them, collected a tenth from Abraham himself. Then he blessed the man who had already received God's promises. But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 There is no question about this. The person who gives a blessing is always greater than the person who receives it. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 In the Levitical system, the men who collect the tithe eventually die. But in Melchisedec's case, the Scripture says he is still living. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9 You could even say that Levi himself, who normally collects the tithe, paid a tithe through Abraham. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 That is because Levi had not been born yet -- he was still inside his ancestor Abraham when Melchisedec met him. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
The Imperfection of the Levitical Priesthood
Study note
If the Levitical priesthood could have brought perfection, there would have been no need for God to appoint another priest after the order of Melchisedec. The change of priesthood necessitates a change of law, since Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, from which no priest had ever served. Christ became priest not by the law of physical descent but by the power of an indestructible life. The earlier commandment is set aside because it was weak and unable to bring perfection, and a better hope is introduced through which believers draw near to God.
11 If the priests from the tribe of Levi could have made everything right — and remember, the whole law system was built on them — why would God need a totally different kind of priest? Why one like Melchisedec instead of like Aaron? If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 When the type of priesthood changes, the law has to change along with it. For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 The person this points to comes from a totally different tribe. No one from that tribe has ever served as a priest at the altar. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 Everyone knows that our Lord came from the tribe of Judah. Moses never said anything about priests coming from that tribe. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 All of this becomes even more obvious when a new priest shows up who is like Melchisedec. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 This priest did not get his position because of a rule about who his parents were. He received it because he has the power of a life that can never end. Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 God confirmed it about him: "You are a priest forever, in the same kind of priesthood as Melchisedec." For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 The old rule was set aside because it was too weak and did not truly work. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 The law was never able to make anything truly perfect. But now a better hope has taken its place, and through that hope, we can come close to God. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Christ's Permanent Priesthood Guaranteed by God's Oath
Study note
Unlike the Levitical priests who served without any divine oath, Jesus was installed with God's sworn declaration from Psalm 110:4: 'You are a priest forever.' This makes Jesus the guarantee of a better covenant. Furthermore, while Levitical priests were many because death ended each one's service, Jesus holds his priesthood permanently because he lives forever. He is therefore able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede on their behalf. The chapter closes with a summary of Christ's qualifications: holy, blameless, pure, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens, and one who offered himself once for all.
20 And here is something else important: Jesus did not become a priest without God making a solemn oath. The other priests were installed without any oath at all. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 But Jesus became a priest with God's sworn promise. God said, "The Lord has given his word and will never take it back: 'You are a priest forever, in the same kind of priesthood as Melchisedec.'" (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22 Because of that oath, Jesus backs up a much better agreement between God and his people. By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 Under the old system, there were many priests because death kept cutting their service short. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But Jesus lives forever, so his priesthood will never be passed on to someone else. But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Therefore he is able to save anyone who comes to God through him, completely and for all time. He is always alive, and he never stops speaking to God on their behalf. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 Jesus is exactly the kind of high priest we need. He is perfectly holy, completely innocent, and pure. He is set apart from sinners and raised higher than the heavens. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day the way other high priests do -- first for their own sins and then for the people's sins. He cared for it once and for all when he offered up himself. Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 The law puts imperfect men in the position of high priest. But God's sworn promise, which came after the law, put the Son in that position -- and he has been made perfect forever. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.