Heb. 7:1 ¶ 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;
Heb. 7:2 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;
At this point the writer is going to talk a bit more about the priest Melchisedec that he first introduced in chapter 5. At that point we noted the reference to Abraham’s encounter with him as recorded in Genesis 14.
The Genesis record of Melchisedec is the first reference to a priest in scripture, and I think it is significant to note that he is identified as priest of “the most high God.” Abraham, in that same account, goes on to use that same phrase in reference to the LORD, YHWH.
Genesis 14:22 “And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth….”
It would seem that Melchisedec was widely recognized as the priest of YHWH since Abraham did not hesitate to give him tithes of all the spoil from his victory. Not only was Melchisedec a priest of YHWH, he was also the king of Salem, the early name of Jerusalem according to Strong’s. This association of Jerusalem to Salem is actually affirmed by the psalmist.
Psalm 76:1-2 “In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.”
The name Melchisedec means king of justice or righteousness. According to the “Bible Names Dictionary,” the word Salem means complete or perfect peace. It would seem that Melchisedec was a man who ruled his kingdom with righteous judgment in accordance to God’s will and reaped the benefit of his submission to YHWH.
As we go forward, it is important to note, in my opinion, that we are told that Melchisedec is important as a type of Jesus.
Many bible scholars think Melchisedec was the preincarnate Jesus. The fact that he was recognized as the ruling King of Salem and was compared to the Son of God in the next verse gives me great pause concerning that conclusion.
Heb. 7:3 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.
This verse poses many questions. Jesus is the only man identified in scripture as having been born of a virgin. I personally believe this verse to be a reference to the biblical record concerning Melchisedec. There is no record of his birth or his death; in fact, the Hebrew for without descent states “unregistered as to birth.” The writer describes his priesthood as comparable to Jesus’ position as the Son of God; it is eternal. According to the Jewish New Testament Commentary, this is typical of Jewish midrash explanation of scripture used by the rabbis and would be familiar to Jewish recipients of the letter.
Fruchtenbaum: “Insofar as the Melchizedekian Order of Priesthood was concerned, ancestry was not important….For the Levitical priesthood, genealogy was very important….”
“made like the Son of God” – This is an indirect statement regarding the superiority of the Son of the God over Melchisedec since he is compared to the Son of God and not the other way around. This comparison is in direct reference to the description immediately preceding it, “having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” Again, this is a statement based upon the biblical record.
Heb. 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
The writer is driving home the point that this Melchisedec was a man of such authority before God that even revered Father Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils of his victory. Notice that Melchisedec is identified as a man.
Heb. 7:5 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:
Heb. 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
Now the writer begins to draw a contrast. The sons of Levi, those descended from Aaron who served as priests in Israel, were authorized to receive the tithes of the people according to God’s law. The Levites are direct descendants of Abraham, as are all the people of Israel. Melchisedec’s ancestry is not identified. Still, he received tithes from Abraham and gave him God’s blessing. In going back and forth between this section and Genesis, I just noticed that his blessing identified Abraham as “of the most High God.” He recognized Abraham as a man of faith and obedience before God. It would seem that both men were well aware of each other prior to their encounter as recorded in Genesis 14.
The writer also identifies Abraham as possessing “the promises.” This phrase is a direct reference to the covenant promises that ensure the coming eternal blessings that will be enjoyed by his descendants. Those promises are recorded in Genesis 17.
Genesis 17:4-8 “As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. “
Heb. 7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
And now a very important statement to his Jewish audience—It is an accepted truth beyond dispute that the less is blessed of the better. In other words, the biblical record establishes Melchisedec as a man of greater position and authority than Abraham since he pronounced God’s blessing upon Abraham. Abraham obviously considered this to be the case since he voluntarily gave Melchisedec a tithe of the spoils of his victory in response to being blessed by him.
Heb. 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
As is often the case in my studies, I don’t think I’ve ever really processed this verse before. The writer is making the point that the men who serve as part of the Levitical priesthood eventually die. In the case of Melchisedec, however, as far as the biblical record is concerned, he is still alive. This is actually true of every person that dies possessing faith in the LORD, they are still alive!
Heb. 7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
Heb. 7:10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
The writer now goes on to reason that the sons of Levi, who received the tithes from the Jewish people, also paid tithes to Melchisedec through Abraham since they descended from the seed in Abraham’s loins.
Heb. 7:11 ¶ 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?
Now the writer begins to clarify the contrast in the two types of priestly orders. He poses a question to get the people to think. If the Levitical priesthood could have accomplished all of God’s purposes through the law, why was there the need for another priest to be appointed “after the order of Melchisedec?” Why could not another descendant of Aaron have performed according to God’s purpose?
Heb. 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Implied is that the change was necessary. Since the priesthood as descending from Aaron was established by God’s law as revealed to Moses, a change in the priesthood dictates there must be a change in the law based on a new covenant. We noted in chapter 5 that the Psalmist had spoken of God’s plan to reinstate the priestly order of Melchisedec.
Psalm 110:4 “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Heb. 7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
Heb. 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
The writer now continues to make application to Jesus, “our Lord,” as the man appointed to serve in the reinstated order of Melchisedec as declared in chapter 5: “So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
It was well known that Jesus was a descendant of the tribe of Judah, not Levi, the designated priestly tribe. No one from the tribe of Judah had served in the priesthood in Israel; it was the royal tribe of kings. Genealogy did not allow for a man to be both. Moses was silent on the subject, even though he did establish some rules for when the people insisted on having a king once they possessed the land.
Heb. 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Heb. 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
Heb. 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
I think the wording of the NLT is easier to understand: “The change in God’s law is even more evident from the fact that a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has now come. He became a priest, not by meeting the old requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. And the psalmist pointed this out when he said of Christ, ‘You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek.’”
The writer is careful to emphasize that it was the resurrection of Jesus to eternal life that is the significant qualifying factor that positions Him to serve as a priest in the order of Melchisedec.
Heb. 7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
Heb. 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
According to the Greek, the law concerning the priesthood was cancelled or annulled because it was weak and impotent in comparison to the new hope (confident expectation) that we have in Christ that allows the believer to personally draw near to God. The law only provided temporary cleansing from sin. Through the shed blood of Christ, the believer is imputed the very righteousness of Christ Jesus; through Jesus we are presented as perfect and righteous before the Father.
2Corinthians 5:17 & 21 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new….For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Heb. 7:20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
Heb. 7:21 (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:)
Heb. 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
In these verses the writer is drawing a contrast to the method God employed in establishing the Levitical priesthood to Christ’s appointment as priest after the order of Melchisedec. The Levitical priesthood was established through God’s revelation to Moses, and the priests were anointed with special ceremony and ritual. Jesus Christ was appointed to His position by an oath from God. When God uses an oath, He provides sacred affirmation to His action. This seems to be a redundancy to me, but He is using language that the Jewish recipients of this letter would understand to drive home the truth of what is being said. The phrase “will not repent” emphasizes the truth that God is not going to have second thoughts about this appointment; it is eternal. Because Jesus will remain our Priest forever, He can with complete authority guarantee a better covenant. In other words, the New Testament of grace established by Jesus fulfills and supersedes the Old Testament of the law.
Heb. 7:23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
Heb. 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
The Levitical priesthood was administered by a succession of men as necessitated by death. Jesus, however, by His resurrection to eternal life ensures that He will serve as priest forever; He will never be replaced.
Heb. 7:25 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.
It is the fact that Jesus will be our High Priest forever that positions Him to guarantee the salvation of those that come to God through faith in Him. He “ever lives” to intercede for us.
“to the uttermost” – Fruchtenbaum: “…to be saved completely and to be saved forever.”
Guzik: “Jesus’ intercession on our behalf is not a matter of placating an angry Father who wants to destroy us. It is not a matter of continually chanting prayers on behalf of His people. It means that He continually represents us before the Father so that we can draw near through Him, and that He defends us against Satan’s accusations and attacks.”
Heb. 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
Heb. 7:27 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.
It is this type of high priest that suits us and meets our need. One who is:
Holy - pure
Harmless - innocent
Undefiled – ceremonially clean
Separate from sinners – in a position distinct from sinners; not one of them
Made higher than the heavens – possessing the most esteemed character
Does not need to offer up daily sacrifice for his own sins – because He is sinless
It was His character, His total purity and sinlessness that qualified Him as the sacrifice acceptable to God to redeem man from sin. That sacrifice was a “once for all” act of obedience to the Father.
That is a hard truth to process. There have been so many people with so many sins, yet His sacrifice is sufficient for all who will accept it in faith.
Heb. 7:28 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.
Under the law the men who served as high priests were sinful men, just like all the rest of us. They were infirm or weak; they had no power within themselves to provide for the people.
“since the law” – This infers that the law of the Old Covenant is dead and a New Covenant has taken its place. Through God’s oath, the Son, Jesus, has been consecrated to serve in His position as our High Priest forever. Jesus is not infirm; He possesses the power and authority to forgive sin. He actually imputes His own righteousness to every true believer.
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Heb. 8:1 ¶ Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
Heb. 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
This chapter begins with what appears to be an emphasis of the truth discussed in the previous chapter. Jesus, as our High Priest, is seated at the right hand of the Father in the temple in heaven.
This put me to thinking again about “heaven,” the abode of God, and how massive and impressive it is according to John’s revelation. It also points out the great contrast between the earthly tabernacle or temple where the priests of Israel served and the heavenly temple upon which they were patterned. This is an area in which I need to do a lot more study.
I think the key point is that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the throne of God the Father. The mercy seat in the Holy of Holies in the earthly tabernacle and temple represented that throne. The High Priest of Israel was only allowed to enter the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement after following specific preparation to do so. Jesus, however, is seated by the Father’s throne, His work completed. He has complete and unfettered access to the throne and provides that same access to those who have placed their faith in Him as LORD and Savior (cf 4:16). This is in direct contrast to the priests that served in the temple in Jerusalem. There was no place for them to sit in the temple because their work was ongoing. They could never sit down and say, “I’m finished.”
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Heb. 8:3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
The high priest offered gifts and sacrifices to God for the people; these gifts and sacrifices were established to allow man to obtain forgiveness for sin and maintain a right standing before God. Jesus, however, came to make possible a means by which man can obtain a permanent right standing before God. He sacrificed His own innocent, precious blood on our behalf and forever eliminated the need for further sacrifice. His sacrifice was a gift; His salvation is a gift.
Heb. 8:4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
Heb. 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
The priesthood as established on earth according to the law was designated to descend through Levi and Aaron. Jesus would not have qualified to serve in that priesthood; He was of the tribe of Judah.
Note that the wording in verse 5 indicates that the temple priests were currently serving, so the temple was still in use at the time this letter was written. The gifts they offered at the temple were no longer acceptable before the LORD.
The priesthood of Israel served as an “example and shadow of heavenly things.” Moses was specifically told that he was being given instructions according to a pattern.
Exodus 25:8-9 “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.”
The same was true as set forth by David concerning the building of the temple.
1Chronicles 28:11 & 19 “Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat….All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.”
Webster tells us that an example “resembles or corresponds with something else.” One of the definitions of shadow is an “imperfect and faint representation.” That is basically all the earthly tabernacle and temple could be; it is impossible for us to comprehend the limitations of our earthly understanding and capabilities regarding the glory of heaven and its reality. God carefully provided a pattern for the earthly tabernacle and temple and the priesthood that served there to help us through our limited understanding to get a glimmer of the glory of the original.
Heb. 8:6 ¶ But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.
The writer is declaring that Jesus’ position as our High Priest in heaven is a “more excellent ministry” than that of earthly priests because He is the mediator of a “better covenant” established on “better promises.” In the following verses he will begin to explain the comparison.
Heb. 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
The first covenant is based on maintaining fellowship with God through obedience to the law, and the second covenant is based on maintaining fellowship with God through the gift of His grace. The first covenant is with fault because it has no power to produce change in the life of the believer to overcome sin. The covenant of grace, however, provides the believer with power to overcome sin through the provision of God through His Son Jesus in the person of the Holy Spirit.
Heb. 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Heb. 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
The writer clarifies that it is God that declared the need for a new covenant as he quotes from the prophet Jeremiah (chapter 31). It is clear that this new covenant will be with the houses of Israel and Judah, the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob. The covenant of the law was revealed through Moses after God led the people out of Egypt. The covenant of the law provided blessing if the people obeyed the law and judgment if they did not. History records that they rebelled against God and His law.
Guzik re “new” (v8): “There are two ancient Greek words that describe the concept of “new.” Neos described newness in regard to time. Something may be a copy of something old but if recently made, it can be called neos. The ancient Greek word kainos (the word used here) described something that is not only new in reference to time, but is truly new in its quality. It isn’t simply a new reproduction of something old.”
Heb. 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
Heb. 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
In His grace and mercy God determined to make a new covenant with the people of Israel. With the establishment of this new covenant God promised to “put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts.”
Jeremiah 31:33-34 “But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
In other words, God promised to empower them to overcome their sinful, rebellious nature. This new covenant will cause the people to acknowledge God as their LORD. No long will they need the testimony and encouragement of others to get to know Him as LORD; ALL will know Him. Specific note is made that God’s provision will be for all the people of Israel—from the least to the greatest.
I liked Chuck Smith’s input: “You see, it’s God’s work now. He’s going to put His law in my mind and He’s going to write it in my heart. What does that mean? It means that God is going to express His will in my life, as I seek Him and as I submit my life to Him; God expresses His will for my life by putting the desire in my heart to do that which He wants done. He puts it into my mind to do something.”
Heb. 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
God’s mercy is a reference to withholding just judgment. In context, the writer is specifically referring to God’s choice under the new covenant to forgive the sins, both unintentional and willful, of His people and He promises never to bring them to mind again. This is a promise to all those that are saved under the new covenant.
Heb. 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
By declaring the establishment of a new covenant, God is declaring the first one to be old and ready to be discarded. It’s the old covenant based on the law that is being discarded, not the law itself. The new covenant empowers the believer to obey the heart of the law and not just the letter. Man adulterated the law so that it became a system of ritual rather than a response of obedience from the heart.
I can’t leave this chapter without addressing how the new covenant applies to the church as well as Israel. This should not have been an issue to those receiving this letter. Though they were being tempted to return to practicing Judaism, they were aware that Gentiles were becoming part of the “church.” This, in fact, was to be expected from God’s initial promise to Abraham that through him ALL families of the earth would be blessed. (Genesis 12:3) Paul goes to great pains in his letter to the Romans to explain how by faith the Gentiles are being grafted in to become part of true Israel; they are not replacing Israel. (See my journal on Romans 9-11.)
Romans 9:6-7 “…. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children….
Romans 2:28-29 “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
It was through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus that the new covenant of grace was made available.
Romans 10:4 "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”
Though the church began with a distinctly Jewish heritage, it has grown to be comprised mostly of Gentiles.
Romans 10:12-13 “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
The time is coming, however, when God will once again respond to the cry of His people as they turn to Him in faith and repentance as they acknowledge Jesus as Messiah, their Savior. I am reminded of the words of Jesus as He expressed His heart toward Jerusalem (obviously representing its people).
Matthew 23:37-39 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
And in Revelation we read of His future return.
Revelation 19:11-16 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
In summary:
It is the old covenant based on obedience to the law that is being replaced with a new covenant—not the law itself.
It is through Jesus that the new covenant has been established for the church (part of the true Israel, spiritual Israel).
The church has been grafted into one entity with Israel, and the believing remnant of Israel will one day again be grafted in to become part of the one true body of believers when Jesus returns in response to their acknowledgement of Him as LORD and Savior.
The church has not replaced Israel.
Old Covenant
Based on works
Temporary atonement for sin through the shed blood of animals
Written record of man
Mediated by Moses
Blessing dependent on faithfulness of man
No supernatural empowerment to enable man to keep covenant
New Covenant
Based on gift of grace
Permanent forgiveness of sin through blood of Jesus
Written on hearts by God
Mediated by Jesus
Blessing dependent on faithfulness of Jesus
Supernatural empowerment to enable man to keep covenant