Welcome back to our study of Hebrews! I hope you can feel me giving you a pat on the back for sticking with me as we studied some pretty heavy theology in Hebrews 6. Were you already aware of the controversy that exists concerning the sixth chapter of Hebrews? If not, I hope you learned something over the past few weeks. I know I did as I studied that chapter.
Today, as we move into chapter seven, we meet someone we met briefly before in our study of Hebrews. Today we will sit a spell and get to know Melchizedek, King of Salem and Priest of God Most High. Let’s pour a cup of coffee and visit with King Mel.
HeBrews: A Better Blend
Have you ever met someone who just seemed to have it all together and have everything going for them? They were beautiful, popular, financially successful, had a nice home, lived a godly life, had a husband who adored her and children who were obedient and well behaved. Basically she was too good to be true!
Meet Melchizedek! He appears to be that ‘too good to be true’ person in Scripture. Today we will visit with Melchizedek on the pages of holy writ in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Let’s consider Melchizedek in his first appearance in Scripture in Genesis 14: 18-20.
18Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High,19and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.20And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Now, let’s meet King Melchizedek in Hebrews 7: 1-10.
1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. 4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarchAbraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people–that is, their brothers–even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Let’s summarize what we learned about Melchizedek:
- King of Salem, King of Righteousness, King of Peace
- Priest of God Most High
- Blessed Abram
- Received a tithe from Abram
- Without father or mother
- Without genealogy
- Without beginning of days or end of life
- Like the Son of God
- A priest forever, yet not descended from Levi
