'Heb 7:1-10

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Heb 7:1-10:18 CHRIST’S PRIESTHOOD AND SACRIFICE

The priesthood of Melchizedek (Heb 7:1-10)

Jesus Christ’s high priesthood is far superior to Aaron’s. Christ belongs to the priestly order of Melchizedek, a priesthood that existed before, and is far higher than, that of Aaron. (For the background concerning Melchizedek see Genesis 14:17-24 and Psalm 110:4.)

Melchizedek was both a priest and a king, a combination not allowed in the Aaronic priesthood. In the Levitical order, people kept strict records of ancestry, birth and death, to confirm a person’s right to be a priest (cf. Ezra 2:62-63; Neh 7:63-65), but no such records exist for Melchizedek.

They are not necessary, because his priesthood is not limited by time or Levitical laws. This is clearly seen in Abraham’s acknowledgment of Melchizedek as the representative of the Most High God long before the Levitical law was given. In all these things the priesthood of Melchizedek foreshadowed that of Christ (Heb 7:1-3).

Abraham was a great man, being the father of all Israel, but Melchizedek was greater, for he blessed Abraham. The one who blesses must be greater than the one blessed. Abraham acknowledged Melchizedek’s superiority by giving him a tithe (one tenth) of his goods. Under the Levitical law ordinary Israelites paid tithes to the Levites, their religious representatives.

But the Levites, being in Abraham (so to speak), paid tithes to Melchizedek. In this they acknowledged the superiority of his priesthood to theirs (Heb 7:4-10).