READ: Heb. 7:1-10: … Melchizedek … without father, without mother, without genealogy … remains a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was … Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better … Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak …
This passage in Hebrews also looks back to the history of Abraham, namely, his encounter with Melchizedek, described in Gen. 14. After Abraham had recovered the great spoil taken by Chedorlaomer and his allies following his victory, he met Melchizedek, the king of Salem, who was a priest of the God Most High.
Melchizedek blessed Abraham on behalf of God and reminded him that it was God who had given him the victory. Abraham then recognized this priest as a servant and representative of God and gave him a tenth of the spoils.
Now, the author of Hebrews asks that, based on this story, the readers consider how great Melchizedek was. His name says a lot: king of righteousness, and his title, king of Salem, means king of peace. He was not a priest by descent; we do not know his genealogy. Yet, like the Son of God, he was a priest forever.
Abraham gave him a tithe. Later, the Levitical priests, according to the law, demanded tithes from the produce. How remarkable is it then that Abraham himself gave a tithe to Melchizedek.
You can then see that not only Abraham but also the Levitical priests were of lesser stature. These priests, in a sense, were already in the loins of Abraham when he gave a tithe to Melchizedek (v.9,10). Thus, they are under this priest of the Most High, who is a type, a reflection of the High Priest Christ and remains a priest forever (v.3). Melchizedek takes his office to God’s throne (see Heb. 12:23).
Verse 8 says of Melchizedek that it is testified of him that he lives on. For the explanation of this, you can refer to verses 3 and 17; this pertains to his eternal priesthood, just like Christ.
How does our priesthood stand (HC Lord’s Day 12)?
Singing: Ps. 110:4