MELCHISEDEC

Hebrews 7:1-11

The name Melchisedec means “King of Righteousness,” and he was the king of Jerusalem which translates as “Peace.”  We know nothing about his parentage, but he lived in the time of Abraham who paid a tithe to him from the spoils after he rescued his nephew.  He is called “high priest” before the priesthood was reserved for the tribe of Levi. He was a type of Christ who was also not a Levite, but his priesthood is far superior to that of Levitical priests as we shall see. His name is sometimes spelled with a “z” in place of the “s” I have used as that is the spelling of my King James Bible.   

1 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;

(Genesis 14:18-20, Hebrews 7:6, Mark 5:7)

A TITHE

A tithe is one tenth of the total income before any deductions. Abraham gave a tenth of all that was taken in the battle. God defines that portion as his, says, “Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation, Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in  in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”  Malachi 3:9,10  God is the same, yesterday, today, and for ever. We don’t owe it to Him. It is His, and he has, if anything, lent it to us as a test. Here, He tells us to test him.  Our first check of the month, should be to him. I personally make it a habit to write the tithe and the offering checks, then the one for the month’s rent, followed by other accounts as they arrive. I have never found that there is not enough to pay them all so that I “owe no man anything.” I also never have to worry about rising interest rates on my credit card that way. There is no interest.

2 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 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.

(Hebrews 7:6,  Matthew 4:3, Hebrews 7:1, Hebrews 7:28)

HIS PRIESTHOOD WAS UNIQUELY SUPERIOR

When it began, the priesthood was limited to Levites, and among them the high priest. Like a royal birth, one had to qualify, then be ordained and set aside. In our lifetime, most of us have seen and understand how the Catholic church chooses a new pope. For them, of course, he must be first a priest, and the cardinals choose one from that limited field. I only use that illustration because we are more familiar with it having witnessed it unfold on television in great detail recently, than we are with the customs of Judaism.

Melchisedec was a priest, a type of Jesus Christ, who serves in a similar way for Christians. He carries our petitions to God; thus we pray in Jesus name. “No man cometh unto the Father but by me,” I  really believe that today, only Christians have the right to approach the Lord, and they through Jesus Christ. Prayer is a precious heritage, let us treat it reverently. The Jewish High Priests had to make sacrifices for their own sins and be ritually cleansed, before they could enter the Holy of Holies, and even then he could do so only once a year. Sinless, Jesus Christ, died for our sins, and the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place, became one. The veil was torn down between them by God. All Christians can now approach God as often as they wish.   

4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

Acts 2:29, Acts 7:8, Genesis 14:20)

5 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:

(Numbers 18:21, Numbers 18:26, 2 Chronicles 31:4)

6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

(Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 6:20)

9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

CHRIST IS SUPERIOR AS ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST

The Levitical priesthood was passed from father to son and consequently there were many priests who lived far from from Godly lives. This is clear in that it was the priests, led by the High Priests, who paid Judas to betray Jesus, and laid slanderous charges, hiring false witnesses, that they might be rid of Jesus.

In stark contrast, Jesus gave his life on the cross of Calvary that we might have life, He will never die again. Our high priest after the order of Melchisadec, is alive and will be for ever.

11 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?

(Hebrews 9:6, Hebrews 9:10, Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 7:17)

12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

21 (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 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR HIGH PRIEST FOR ETERNITY

25 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 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27 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 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.

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READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH THIS YEAR

NOVEMBER

10th  Sunday  -  Ezekiel 16,    Hebrews 9:15-28,    Psalm 122

11th  Monday  -  Ezekiel 17, 18,    Hebrews 10:1-18,    Psalm 123

12th  Tuesday  - Ezekiel 19, 20,     Hebrews 10:19-39,    Proverbs 27:11-20

13th  Wednesday  - Ezekiel 21, 22,    Hebrews 11:1-22,    Psalm 124

14th  Thursday  -  Ezekiel 23,    Hebrews 11:23-40,    Psalm 125

15th  Friday  -  Ezekiel 24, 25, 26,    Hebrews 12:1-11,    Psalm 126

16th  Saturday  -  Ezekiel  27, 28,   Hebrews 12:12-29,   Proverbs 27:21-27

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MEMORY VERSE

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all of them that obey him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”  -  Hebrews 5:9-10

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When John found out he was going to inherit a fortune when his sickly father died, he decided that he needed a wife to enjoy it with him so one evening he went to a singles bar where he spotted the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

Her natural beauty took his breath away. “I may look like an ordinary man,” he told her as he walked up to her, “but in just a few days, my father is going to die, and I will inherit his twenty million dollars.”

Impressed, she went home with him that evening and three weeks later she became his stepmother.