Understanding the New and Living Way part 7

Understanding the New and Living Way 

Chapter 7 

Melchizedek Is Greater Than Abraham

7 This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. 2 Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means “king of justice,” and king of Salem means “king of peace.” 3 There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors—no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.

4 Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle. 5 Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel, who are also descendants of Abraham. 6 But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham, the one who had already received the promises of God. 7 And without question, the person who has the power to give a blessing is greater than the one who is blessed.

8 The priests who collect tithes are men who die, so Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on. 9 In addition, we might even say that these Levites—the ones who collect the tithe—paid a tithe to Melchizedek when their ancestor Abraham paid a tithe to him. 10 For although Levi wasn’t born yet, the seed from which he came was in Abraham’s body when Melchizedek collected the tithe from him.

11 So if the priesthood of Levi, on which the law was based, could have achieved the perfection God intended, why did God need to establish a different priesthood, with a priest in the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Levi and Aaron?

12 And if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it. 13 For the priest we are talking about belongs to a different tribe, whose members have never served at the altar as priests. 14 What I mean is, our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never mentioned priests coming from that tribe.

15 This change has been made very clear since a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has appeared. 16 Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. 17 And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied,

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

18 Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. 19 For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

20 This new system was established with a solemn oath. Aaron’s descendants became priests without such an oath, 21 but there was an oath regarding Jesus. For God said to him,

“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow:
    ‘You are a priest forever.’”

22 Because of this oath, Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God.

23 There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. 24 But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. 25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

26 He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. 27 Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins. 28 The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever.

In this Chapter 7 of the book of Hebrews, the author is going to great depths to explain that the Priesthood of Melchizedek was much greater than the Priesthood given in the Old Covenant to the Tribe of Levi.

We also must understand that the Book of Hebrews was written to Christians who were Jews, and that they were breaking free from the traditions of their forefathers.

It might not mean much to us today on the surface BUT until these Christians (like us today) realised and understood what covenant or dispensation or testament they belonged to - they would stay in bondage to the Old Way or the Curse of the Law.

We must also look into this deep explanation, if we want to know and experience the freedom and liberty provided by Christ in this New and Living Way.

We can read from Genesis 12 - 14, how Abram obeyed and was blessed by God.  How he prospered and how he rescued Lot and his family by God's strength.  I would strongly urge you to carefully and prayerfully read these chapters for yourself.   

Abram recognised that it was God alone who had blessed him.  

The Priest of the Most High (God's representative) met Abram and blessed him.  We are told that this Priest was Melchizedek, he was a King and a Priest, who brought Bread and Wine to Abram, which reminds us of Christ's perfect sacrifice.  But we must notice that Abram, gave a tenth of the blessing to Melchizedek as his acknowledgement of God's protection and provision.  This reveals to us that bringing a 'tithe' is not an Old Testament ritual, this was hundreds of years before the Old Testament was given through Moses.  The 'tithe' is an act of worship, to acknowledge God's blessing of provision and protection in our lives.  It is an act of Faith, knowing that God is our security in life.  

It is also important to take note that, 2 kings, came out to meet Abram.  The King of Sodom and the King of Salem who was also the Priest of The Most High.  Lets read these verses and you will see that Abram was willing to recognise Melchizedek as King and Priest, the representative of The Most High God, and therefore received his blessing and also gave him the tithe, but he refused to take anything from the King of Sodom  - because he knew that God alone was the one who had blessed him.

Melchizedek Blesses Abram Genesis 14

17 After Abram returned from his victory over Kedorlaomer and all his allies, the king of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley).

18 And Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought Abram some bread and wine. 19 Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing:

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    Creator of heaven and earth.
20 And blessed be God Most High,
    who has defeated your enemies for you.”

Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of all the goods he had recovered.

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give back my people who were captured. But you may keep for yourself all the goods you have recovered.”

22 Abram replied to the king of Sodom, “I solemnly swear to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take so much as a single thread or sandal thong from what belongs to you. Otherwise you might say, ‘I am the one who made Abram rich.’ 

There is a great lesson to be discovered in these few verses.  The blessing God had given to Abram was ALL he needed - because that blessing contained true 'Wealth' - that is protection, provision and health.  This truth is mostly lost today, amid the traditions and religious systems, and men have become pretty much 'self' sufficient, relying on their own hard work and labour to meet their needs.  Forgetting that everything belongs to God our Father, and only with his blessing can we experience true 'wealth'.  Many times we can read through the Old Testament and only see God's wrath, and the many rules, regulations and sacrifices - BUT - with the correct understanding - the Goodness of God and His great plan of salvation will be revealed.

The many sacrifices were costly, the people couldn't bring a sacrifice that didn't mean anything to them, they had to count the cost - But - what they received in return was God's Protection and Provision and Health.  Every law and regulation was given by God for the good of his people.   

This reveals a great truth and a mystery to us today.  The tithe was a natural act of worship that existed before the Law of Moses.  Therefore it is a principle that still stands today.  It is NOT meant to be a religious act but our act of worship.  It is an expression of both gratitude and trust toward God Alone as our Source and Security.

I also want to point out what it says in  

Hebrews 7 v 3 - "There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors—no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.

As throughout the book of Hebrews, the author is continually showing us the 'Pattern' of things to come.  We clearly see here in verse 3 that Melchizedek although he was greater than Abraham was NOT greater than Christ - but he was made like unto the Son of God. (KJV)

So we see that Melchizedek represented the Order or the Pattern of God given to reveal the Kingship and Priesthood that Jesus Christ God's Son would bring to us as God's Greatest Representative. 

As we close this chapter 7 - take time to meditate on these verses and be blessed.

23 There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. 24 But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. 25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

Amen.