Chapter 7 compares and contrasts between the Priest that came from Aaron called the Levitical Priesthood in scripture and the priesthood of Melchizedek that Jesus came by.
Hebrews 7:1 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.
Remember the last verse of chapter 6 said that Jesus was our forerunner into the Presence of the heavenly tabernacle, after the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 7 sheds the most revelation of who Melchizedek is and what the Holy Spirit desires us to know about Him. Some have labor in much speculation (including myself in the past) trying to figure out who Melchizedek is. I believe the speculation and traditional thoughts should all be dropped. Leave Melchizedek in the context of the written word and there is no room for error. Melchizedek is the priest of the Most High God! Abraham gave a tenth to Him. Melchizedek is the king of righteousness and the king of peace! Without father, mother, genealogy, and having neither beginning of days nor end of life. Made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually! Speculations that cast doubt on these truths need to be thrown out!
Genesis 14:18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.
Melchizedek brought out the bread and wine and blessed Abraham. Jesus after the order of Melchizedek has brought out the bread and the wine to establish the covenant by which we live; Jesus declared His flesh and blood to be the blood and wine. Abraham being blessed by Melchizedek gave a tithe of all! It is a prophetic utterance for the church.
Hebrews 7:4 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.
We are instructed to consider how great this man Melchizedek was. The Holy Spirit now repeats the fact that Abraham gave him a tenth. Now the sons of Levi received a tithe by commandment of law of Moses. However, Melchizedek received a tithes from Abraham not having any connection to the Levi Priests. This being the third mention of Abraham giving him tithes in this 7th chapter of Hebrews.
Hebrews 7:7 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.
Under the law mortal men receives tithes; but there in the Melchizedek priesthood tithes is received by the one who still lives. The priesthood of Levites were subservient to the Melchizedek priesthood as they were in the loins of Abraham when he gave the tithe to Melchizedek. Please see the Melchizedek Priest lives and is receiving tithes. If you want to honor the Priesthood of Jesus Christ you can follow the example of Abraham giving a tithe.
Jacob’s promise
Genesis 28:22 "And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.“
God sends Jacob back to Bethel :
Genesis 31:13 'I am the God of Bethel , where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.'"
Jacob fulfills the promise
Genesis 35:1 Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.“... 7 And he built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God appeared to him when he fled from the face of his brother.
God is the God of the house of God. Jacob fulfilled his promise to tithe by coming back to Bethel by the direction of God. Bring your tithe into the house of God that is where it honors the covenant of Melchizedek. Again a prophetic utterance for when God would establish His church.
Hebrews 7:11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.
A greater priesthood is established after the order of Melchizedek! By the power of the oath of God Himself this priesthood is established with Jesus being the eternal High Priest. With the changing of the priesthood it is necessary there is also a changing of the law!
Hebrews 7:13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah , of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."
Jesus is from the tribe of Judah ; Moses and law spoke nothing of this priesthood. It was hidden in Abraham’s meeting Melchizedek. Psalm 110 prophetically spoke of the Son being made priest after the order of Melchizedek. Jesus did not come according to the law of the fleshly commandment; Jesus came according to the power of an endless life! Under the law the priest had temporary results; Jesus brings eternal results.
Hebrews 7:18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
When Jesus came after the order of Melchizedek there was and is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and not it not being profitable to one in its grip! The could not and does not bring perfection; there is with Jesus the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. The law and grace can not be mixed! We are brought near to God through Jesus. People who teach we are far off are not trusting under the Melchizedek priesthood.
Hebrews 7:20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: "The LORD has sworn And will not relent, 'You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek'"), 22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
God swore by an oath by the very strength of who He is that Jesus became priest after the order of Melchizedek and not from the Levitical priesthood. By the will of God much more Jesus has become the surety of a better covenant!
Hebrews 7:23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Upon the strength of this new covenant Jesus save to the uttermost! This is the unchangeable priesthood that brings eternal results. Jesus always lives to make intercession for those who have come to God through faith in Him.
Hebrews 7:26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
The KJV says such a High Priest became us. Jesus as our High Priest looks good on us! Like a lady who comes in with a new dress; down south they would say, that dress becomes you! Our High Priest is fitting for us! He is holy, undefiled, and separate from sinners. However, He looks good on the believer! It is time for tradition to be thrown out and the believer to see Jesus our High Priest has set us free from sin!. Jesus died for sin once for all when He offered Himself upon the cross!
Hebrews 7:28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
Which priesthood shall we trust in? The law with priests with weaknesses and sins reminder, or trust in the Priest who was appointed by the word of oath by God! This is the one who has been perfected forever; this is the Priesthood of our complete and total deliverance.
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