The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

Introduction
a. objectives
1. subject the importance of Melchizedek as the forerunner of the priesthood of Jesus 2. aim to cause us to understand the supremacy of Jesus as our superior high priest 3. passage Hebrews 7:1-10

b. outline
1. The Biography of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1-3) 2. The Superiority of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:4-10) 3. The Relevance of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:8)

c. overview
1. the importance of certain obscure biblical characters a. The Prayer of Jabez (Bruce Wilkinson, 2000) making Jabez (1 Chron. 4:9-10) well-known b. the book of Hebrews attempting to make Melchizedek well-known c. similarities between these biblical characters 1. both are treated as cursory characters (Jabez: 2 verses, Melchizedek: 3 verses) 2. neither has any genealogy or lineage included in the biblical text 3. their inclusion (historically speaking) does not have any direct impact on the story being told d. the difference between these biblical characters 1. Melchizedek becomes a part of redemptive history by being noted in Psalm 110 a. it is God who likens Jesus to the priesthood of Melchizedek b. this changes the entire perspective of Melchizedek in biblical redemptive history c. this is why the writer of Hebrews alludes to this passage in 5:6, 5:10, 6:20 and 7:17 d. note that Jabez is unrelated to redemptive history, yet was made popular 1. why is Jabez (if his prayer is so important) never mentioned in the N.T.? 2. this is what the writer of Hebrews was getting at in 5:11-12 2. the importance of Melchizedek to the theme of Jesus as a great high priest a. this theme is begun before the polemic (5:10) and continued after (6:20) b. this theme becomes central to showing that Jesus priesthood is superior to the Levitical c. the entirety of chapter 7 is dedicated to Jesus as a high priest from a different line

I.

The Biography of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1-3) Content

a. the literal biography of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20)
1. the surrounding events a. the kings in the area of the Jordan Valley where Lot was living rebel against Chedorlaomer b. Lot was taken captive by these fleeing kings from Sodom (14:12) c. Abraham uses his personal guerilla army to rescue Lot (14:14-16) d. as he returns Lot to Sodom, he meets Melchizedek 1. Melchizedek treats him with hospitality, blesses him, and receives a tenth of the spoils 2. the biography of Melchizedek a. he was king of an area known as Salem (the area around the eventual city of Jerusalem) b. he is listed as a priest of God Most High (El Elyon, v. 18) he worshipped Jehovah c. he was treated by Abraham as a superior (a central point to the writer of Hebrews)

b. the spiritual biography of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1-3)

1. verses 1-2a are a literal recounting of the events of Genesis 14 2. verses 2b-3 are a spiritual rendition of his importance (similar to the Fourth Gospel) a. his name is translated as king of righteousness b. his kingship over Salem means that he is a king of peace

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

2007 To Him Be Glory Ministries

c. he has no recorded parentage or genealogy d. his beginning and his end (i.e. his birth and death) are not recorded e. he resembles (is like KJV) the Son of God 1. Melchizedek is seen here as a prototype of Jesus a. prototype = a forerunner designed to illustrate the qualities of one to follow b. note how car manufacturers will often create a prototype of a new vehicle 2. the recorded Melchizedek has a number of characteristics that are prototypical of Jesus a. this does not mean that Melchizedek was a supernatural or artificial being b. there is no reason to assume that Melchizedek was not a normal historical person c. the writer uses the fact that Moses did not include anything more about him as pertinent 3. the recorded Melchizedek is like Jesus in many ways a. Jesus is the king of righteousness and the king of peace (Rom 5:1)
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

b. Jesus has no earthly father, but is the incarnate Son of the God c. Jesus has no beginning of days he is eternally God with no beginning or end

II.

The Superiority of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:4-10) Content

a. the superiority of Melchizedek to Abraham (vv. 4-7)
1. Melchizedek received a tithe from Abraham the patriarch (v. 4) a. although Abraham was the patriarch of Gods promise, he gave a tithe to Melchizedek 2. normal Israelites give a tithe to the Levitical priests (v. 5) a. the law demanded the giving of tithes to those who served as mediators for the people 3. Melchizedek was not descended from the Levites, but received a tithe from Abraham (v. 6) a. there was someone already in place who was greater than Abraham 4. the superior person blesses the inferior person (v. 7) a. it was Melchizedek who blessed Abraham, not the other way around b. Israelites (the least) Levites Abraham Melchizedek (the greatest)

b. the superiority of the priesthood of Melchizedek to the Levitical priesthood (vv. 8-10)
1. the Levitical priesthood is based on people who are mortal (v. 8) a. the priesthood of Melchizedek is forever (Psalm 110:4 Gods words) 2. the Levitical priesthood is subject to the one established by Melchizedek (vv. 9-10) a. the Levites (by being descendants of Abraham) gave tithes to Melchizedek through Abraham b. this is similar to original sin as discussed by Paul in Romans 5 (our sin through Adam)

III.

The Relevance of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:8) Content

a. the application of our gratitude to Jesus Christ
1. the concept of a monetary tithe as 10% of our gross income is not the key issue here 2. the real application of the tithe of Abraham is his gratitude to God and the response made from it a. tithe = a response of gratitude to God represented by the bringing of gifts to him (2 Cor 9:7)
Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

1. Abels sacrifice was accepted and Cains rejected (Genesis 4) because of attitude b. contrary to popular belief, the tithe goes beyond the giving of money 1. tithing involves the whole persons response to God a. correction: attending church for 2 hours/week = only 1.8% of waking hours 2. it is not limited to the giving of money, but involves worship, fellowship, prayer, and service 3. principle: your priorities are what you give your passions/energy/affections to? a. the contrast of v. 8 is about giving your tithe (i.e. your gratitude) to something that fades away vs. something that is permanent and everlasting 1. the example of my energies spent in developing software that became instantly obsolete 2. the example of selling things at a garage sale and not having the money shortly thereafter b. the focus of the Christian and of the Christian church must be on Christ because he is the only everlasting thing worthy to receive our tithe of gratitude

The Priestly Order of Melchizedek

2007 To Him Be Glory Ministries