Hebrews 7:1-10 (NKJV)
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the 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.
We know next to nothing about the Old Testament figure named Melchizedek. He was a king and a priest of the true God who had a brief encounter with Abraham as Abraham was returning from his victory over the kings who had kidnapped his nephew Lot. We are told nothing in Holy Scripture of the origin of this priest-king and nothing of his end.
Melchizedek’s name isn’t mentioned again in Scripture until he is mentioned in a cryptic prophecy in Psalm 110, speaking about the coming Christ: “The LORD has sworn and will not relent: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” The writer to the Hebrews explains this verse for us and demonstrates throughout this chapter that Melchizedek’s priesthood was greater than the Levitical priesthood, and, therefore, Christ’s New Testament priesthood, being in the order of Melchizedek, is also far greater than the priesthood of those who served under the Old Testament.
How was Melchizedek greater than the Levitical priests? He was a king; they were not. He “lives,” that is, his death is not recorded in Scripture, nor are there any limitations placed on his priesthood by God, whereas the Levitical priests all die, making their ministry temporary. Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham, and blessed Abraham, and paid tithes to no one, proving that he was greater than Abraham, whereas the Levitical priests, being descended from Abraham, were lesser than he and even paid tithes to Melchizedek through their ancestor, Abraham.
In other words, the inspired writer is starting to make the case, based on the Old Testament, that the Old Testament was always pointing ahead to its own replacement by the New Testament to be instituted by the coming Christ, who is greater than the Old Testament priests in every way. Therefore, the Hebrew Christians had not lost anything by giving up their Old Testament priesthood and ceremonies. If they had Christ, they had something far better!
Let us pray: Father in heaven, we thank You for giving us Your beloved Son to be our perfect Mediator and Priest. Amen.