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We will divide this chapter into 7 parts:
Who was Melchizedek, verses 1 thru 3. To examine this Old Testament character, we must first examine where he lived. The area, upon which the city of Jerusalem was built, was the sight of many cities. Its first name was "Salem". Later is was called "Jebus". About 1400 years before Christ, it was called Uru-salim. In the book of Genesis, about 2000 years before Christ, The Hebrews, under the leadership of Abraham, defeated the King of Elam.
At that time, Elam included the areas of Babylon, part of west Asia and Palestine. Coming back from that battle, we read in Gen. 14:17, that Abraham met and was blessed by Melchizedek. It says that Melchizedek was Priest and King of Salem. His name meant "King of Righteousness". Salem meant "City of Peace". In exchange for food and wine for himself and his army, Abraham gave Melchizedek one tenth of the spoils that he had obtained in the defeat of the armies of Elam. As the result of this encounter with Abraham, his name became synonymous with righteousness, eternity, perfection in government and perfection in priesthood.
Who was Melchizedek? Most Jewish religious scholars believe he was Shem, son of Noah. Some Christian Bible scholars believe he was The Christ, appearing, by special dispensation, to Abraham. Traditionally, it is believed that he was a Canaanite king who reigned over Salem and who knew and worshipped the true God, the God of Abraham. From the account in Genesis, we know that he was recognized by Abraham and Aaron as being "above them". It is hard to justify the Jewish or the traditional belief in light of what the Author says about him. He was without mother or father, he neither had a beginning nor an end, he was "like unto" the Son of Man (in the likeness of or similar)and he was a Priest forever (continually).
In Psalm 110, he is regarded as a "prototype" of the Messiah. Here, in establishing the superiority of the Priesthood of Christ, the Author compares it to the priesthood of Melchizedek, which in itself, was above the priesthood of Aaron.
Who was Melchizedek, you decide. I have given you all I know about him.
How was he superior, verses 4 thru 10. These verses are summed up by the Author in verse 7. "It is beyond dispute that the inferior (Abraham) was blessed by the superior (Melchizedek)." "This was established from the beginning, is now and ever will be." Obviously, one of a few things that were from the beginning and are unchangeable and undeniable.
Here the Author establishes the authority of those who receive the tithe. The Levites were commanded to take a tithe from the people, the descendants of Abraham, but here, Abraham gave a tithe to Melchizedek, a man who apparently was not a Jew. The Author goes further, while in the giving of the tithe to the Levites, the people gave to mortal men, Abraham gave his tithe to one of an eternal order. So verse 8 give some credence to the belief that Melchizedek was the Christ, and thus of a superior Priesthood.
A divine priesthood, verses 11 thru 14. Lets, for a moment, get back to the purpose of this letter, a reprimand of the Hebrews for backsliding. In the process, they were attempting to downgrade the priesthood of Christ and upgrade the Priesthood of Levi. To straighten them out, he refers them to the 110th. Psalm and reminds them that it was written after the Law. In the 110th. Psalm, God promises to set up a priesthood that would be superior to the Levitican Priesthood. "Why", the Author asks, "Would God do this if the Levitican Priesthood had done all that He desired of it?"
The Author goes on to say that with a change in the priesthood, that was a change in the law. The Law of the Gospel supercedes the Law of Moses. The Mosaic Law was no more effective than was the Levitican Priesthood. As Christ is superior to Aaron, so the Gospel is superior to the Law.
The Priesthood of Christ brought up a good question amongst the Jews. Why was the Christ not chosen from the Tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe? Jesus was from the Tribe of Judah. Melchizedek was from a tribe that had never served at the alter. No priest had ever come from any other tribe but the Tribe of Levi. The answer to their question laid in the "change". The new priesthood was so radically different that it must originate from a tribe from which no other priest ever came. Thus it was a "divine priesthood".
An effectual priesthood, verses 15 thru 19. In this world, we rate something by how effective it was. How much money did it make? How many people tuned in? How many pledges did it generate? How many new members did it bring in? In all of these, there must be something with which we can compare. Here, we are comparing the Levitican Priesthood with the Priesthood of Melchizedek. One validated by the Law of Moses and the other by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One imperfect, the other, perfect. Now we must remember that the imperfection of the Law was not because of the Giver of that Law, it was because of the imperfections of those to whom it was given to maintain, the Levitican Priest.
The Law was ineffectual because of the failure of the priests. The Priesthood pf Christ was effectual because it did not depend upon man but rather upon God. The Law demanded obedience but gave no power, the Gospel demands obedience and gives you Grace to obey. "Run John run, the Law demands, but gives you neither feet nor hands." "The Gospel speaks of better things, it bids you fly and gives you wings." In Christ, there is "imputed perfection", under the Law, there was no hope. You tell me which one was the most effective.
An eternal priesthood, verses 20 thru 22. The Levites were never promised to have an eternal hold on the priesthood. God never promised that it would be handed down to them eternally. But the Priesthood of Christ was established with an oath, verse 21, "The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, Thou art a Priest forever." Thus God established the Priesthood of Christ forever. Not only is the priesthood of Christ an eternal priesthood, but it also comes with a better covenant. The Covenant of Grace comes with a surety, a guarantee. We Calvinists call it the Doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints. We are secure because of the Priest. He is our surety. We have an everlasting covenant, it comes with His everlasting Priesthood.
A perpetual priesthood, verses 23 thru 25. The comparison here is very clear. No man, not even the priests, lived forever. There was a continual succession of priests, as one died another took his place. The Law was subject to the interpretation of each priest. Under Christ, the priesthood is perpetual. The interpretation is perpetual. There is no time when we are without a Priest. Our concerns are constantly at the Thrown of Grace, our name, once written in "the books" is there eternally. Isn't it great to know that there is something that is eternal, something that we cannot fowl up, something that is perpetual?
A perfect priest, verses 26 thru 28. Notice His qualifications for perfection:
With the last qualification in mind, what does verse 26 mean when it says, "separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens". Our Priest who now intercedes for us, is now seated at the right hand of God, physically exalted and separated from sinners of this world. He paid the price for our sins, He purchased for all who believe, robes of righteousness and the title of Saint. We are sinners saved by Grace because of the perfection of Christ's Priesthood.
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