Hebrews 7:4-6 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 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: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
‘Man was’ – He was a man and even greater than Abraham, the source of the Jewish race. There remains no mystery about him given the facts here. Because he had no recorded father, mother, etc. does not make him a man of mystery or a divine person as many have thought. Christ is better than Melchizedek: [1] Christ will be the future eternal king of Jerusalem (Ezek. 43:7; 48:35; Zech. 14:1-21; Rev. 20:1-15); Melchizedek was the past temporary king (7:1). [2] Christ is an eternal priest (Heb. 6:20; 7:17); Melchizedek was temporary (7:1). [3] Christ is God (Heb. 1:8; John 1:1-2, 14); Melchizedek was a man (7:4). [4] Christ is the eternal King of Righteousness (Jer. 23:6); Melchizedek was temporary (7:2). [5] Christ is the eternal King of Peace (Isa. 9:6); Melchizedek was temporary (7:2). [6] Christ is an eternal being (Heb. 1:8; John 1:1-2; Mic. 5:2; Isa. 9:6); Melchizedek was not (7:3, 6). [7] Christ as an eternal being has no father, mother, beginning of days, or end of life (Mic. 5:2); Melchizedek had all these but they were not recorded (7:3, 6). [8] Christ was the antitype; Melchizedek the type of an eternal priesthood (Heb. 6:20; 7:17).
‘Patriarch’ [Greek: patriarches] father or chief of a family or tribe (7:4; Acts 2:29; 7:8-9).
‘Tenth of the spoils’ – The doctrine of tithing is clear in Scripture: Tithing was practised 430 years before the Law of Moses (Gen. 14:20; 28:22; Heb. 7:1-11). Tithing was practised under the Law of Moses (Lev. 27:30; Mal. 3:10). Tithing was practised in the New Testament: [1] Christ taught it (Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42; cp. Matt. 5:20 with Luke 18:11-12; see Matt. 10:10; Luke 10:7-8). This was teaching for the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 11:11-14; Luke 16:16).
To be continued…
Living the Word 