College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Hebrews 7:1-3
III.
Seven proofs of the superiority of Christ's priesthood. Hebrews 7:1 to Hebrews 10:39.
A.
He is a Priest after a higher order than Aaron, Hebrews 7:1-19.
1.
As seen in Melchizedek as a type, Hebrews 7:1-3.
Text
Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, Hebrews 7:2 to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation, King of righteousness, and then also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Hebrews 7:3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God), abideth a priest continually.
Paraphrase
Hebrews 7:1 Now, that ye may know the nature of Melchizedek's priesthood, to which God likened the priesthood of his Son, I observe, that this Melchizedek, king of Salem, and priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he returned from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Hebrews 7:2 To whom Abraham imparted even a tenth of all the spoils, (Hebrews 7:4.), being first, according to the interpretation of his name, King of righteousness, a most righteous king, and next also, King of Salem, which by interpretation, is King of peace, king of a peaceable and virtuous people;
Hebrews 7:3 Was without father without mother as a priest, so that he was not a priest by descent; and without genealogy in the scripture, consequently there is no evidence of his being related to Abraham in any respect. Moreover, having neither beginning of days nor end of life as a priest, but being made a type of the Son of God, he remained a priest all his life.
For this Melchizedek
No doubt it was a rare thing to find one like Melchizedek living in the midst of idolatry, superstitions, yet being true.
See Milligan for suggestions as to his identity. p. 195. There are many theories concerning who he was:
a.
Christ.
b.
Holy Spirit.
c.
An angel.
d.
Enoch.
e.
Shem.
f.
An emanation from the Deity.
g.
Melchizedek himself.
Scarcity of knowledge about him.
a.
Genesis 14: Three short verses.
b.
Psalms 110:4: Appears about 1,000 years later.
c.
Hebrews 7:1: Another 1,000 years later.
It is doubtful that he was Shem, for Shem's genealogy is given.
Let him be Melchizedekbe himself.
King of Salem
What is Salem?
a.
We know it as Jerusalem.
1.
Salem meant peace.
2.
Habitation of peace, or city of peace, is its name, but it has seldom known peace.
b.
This city David later chose as his capital when Hebron was too far south for his united kingdom.
Who were the people over whom he ruled?
a.
Genesis 14:18 is the first mention of the City. Melchizedek was king and he was the priest of the Most High God.
b.
He seems to have been an actual king, in that others such as the king of Sodom were mentioned in the same words.
priest of God Most High
It seems a little strange that in a country abounding in corruption, a man would be found preserving the pure worship of God.
a.
Sodom and Gomorrah was on one side and the Canaanites on the other, yet here was a king who acted also as priest.
b.
The world had seemed to turn from God, but here was Melchizedek remaining true.
Christ came into a world of sin, yet he remained true and faithful and became our sinless High Priest.
and met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings
Lot had been taken prisoner, Genesis 14, by several kings.
a.
Amrapheal, King of Shinar.
b.
AriockKing of Ellasar.
c.
ChedorlaomerKing of Elam.
d.
TidalKing of Nations.
Abraham completely routed these men and released Lot, Being a priest of the God that Abraham worshipped, we can see why these two would be on friendly terms.
and blessed him
The blessing:
a.
Genesis 14:19: Blessed be Abraham of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth.
The word who establishes the fact that Melchizedek did the blessing. Newell, p. 211: It is idle to contend that Melchizedek was not connected with sacrifice but with blessing only, See Hebrews 7:15; Hebrews 7:17; Hebrews 7:24.
to whom also Abraham divided a tenth part of all
In Genesis 14:20 it is difficult to find who paid tithes to whom, but this verse leaves no doubt, This act of devotion on the part of Abraham indicated a custom that was practiced in early times.
a.
We see Jacob, Genesis 28:22, vowing to tithe.
b.
There must have been a custom of divine origin going back to Adam, of which we know little.
Abraham paid voluntarily, but no doubt it was in harmony with what he knew to be an ordinance.
being first by interpretation
The word or name is translated for us to give its meaning. Words were significant in those days, such as:
a.
Eve: mother of all living.
b.
Joshua: saviour.
Actually, he was king in a double sense.
a.
Hebrews defines his name to mean King of righteousness, then points out the fact that he was King of Salem.
b.
This double relationship likewise fits Christ.
King of Righteousness
Jesus is also righteousness.
a.
Zechariah 2:10: Rejoice, O daughter of Zion, behold thy righteous king cometh unto thee.
It is actually in Christ's priestly function that He becomes our righteousness. See Hebrews 9:25-28.
and then also King of Salem, which is King of peace
Abraham had moved into the territory of Melchizedek, but we see him making a peaceful gesture toward Abraham, the victorious warrior.
a.
Genesis 14:18: He brought bread and wine.
b.
In Psalms 104:15 we read: Wine maketh glad the heart of man and bread strengtheneth the heart of man.
This gesture refreshed Abraham's servants, and thus proved Melchizedek's right for receiving the tithe, as well as being king of a city whose name is peace.
without father without mother
Since the archeologists find this expression, we know that it was a current expression.
Milligan says, It is folly to ransack the archives of antiquity with the view of discovering more about him than Genesis 14 tells us. He comes out suddenly from the dark invisible background of the drama of human redemption, then retires forever without leaving any trace of predecessors or successors.
Greeks, Romans, and Jews spoke of a person as being with our parents:
a.
When their names were not knownobscure parentage.
b.
An orphan.
c.
Their gods.
without genealogy
Without traced ancestry. This may mean in his position, for none are recorded before him or after him.
having neither beginning of days nor end of life
His birth and death are not recorded, as though eternity were ascribed to him. Calvin says this omission of birth and life was done to give us an idea of one above the common order of men. Wescott agrees (p. 173).
The interference is that the silence is intentioned and significant.
but made like unto the Son of God
Made like is also translated, being like, Some say he was like God's Son in that no lineage is given, but Christ had lineage, Newell; There is no note of the beginning of his priesthood nor of its ending, He comes on the scene as a continual priest without earthly or human connection, Milligan says: Like Jesus, he completely fills up the entire era of his royal priesthood in his own proper person.
abideth a priest continually
The words continually, perpetually, forever are related terms, and are simply indicative of the period to which they are applied, whether it be long or short. Newell, p. 219: It does not say that the man Melchizedek is a continual priest today.
Study Questions
1113.
Name some ideas that men have concerning who Melchizedek was.
1114.
How can we rule Shem out?
1115.
How may we account for him in a land of idolatry?
1116.
Can we account for him the same as we do Abraham, who was living in a center of moon worship?
1117.
What is Salem, over which he was king?
1118.
How do we know that he was not an idolatrous king?
1119.
Who would be the Most High God?
1120.
What is the slaughter of the kings referred to here?
1121.
Who had been taken captive?
1122.
Name the kings of Genesis 14.
1123.
How may we account for the fact that Abraham was able to accomplish a great victory?
1124.
May we assume that Abraham was a mighty chieftain leading a vast army?
1125.
May we presume that Melchizedek's army helped since he met Abraham on his return?
1126.
Who was blessed here? Who blesses, the lesser or the greater?
1127.
What all is involved in blessing?
1128.
Where did Abraham get an idea of a tithe?
1129.
Could this custom be a part of God's original command when Cain disobeyed God?
1130.
What is interpreted here?
1131.
Was he doubly a king?
1132.
Was Jesus King of Righteousness? Cf. Zechariah 9:9.
1133.
In what way was Melchizedek king of peace?
1134.
If he were not, would he be inclined to make war on Abraham, an invader from Ur?
1135.
What had he done to prove that he was peaceful? Cf. Genesis 14:18.