Hebrews 7:1-10 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

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A Priesthood Superior to Aaron' s

Hebrews 7:1-10

Melchizedek was probably a literal king and priest in Salem. The blue smoke of his sacrifices rose morning and evening on the hill. Amid the turbulent lawlessness of those wild days, his realm was peace. Like him, Jesus meets us when flushed with success or wearied with some great effort, and therefore peculiarly liable to temptation. Notice the order! It is invariable! First righteousness, then peace, Zechariah 9:9.

The silences of Scripture are significant. In the case of this ancient priesthood no mention is made of parenthood. This was a matter of comparative indifference. So with our Lord. It is true that He did not come of the priestly family of Aaron, but this is quite unimportant. The one thing for us to notice is that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, thus confessing him to be the greater. Levi was, so to speak, included in his grandfather's act, so that the Hebrew priesthood, which sprang from Levi, was confessedly inferior to Melchizedek's. If, then, Melchizedek is a type of Christ, we are taught that Christ's priesthood is evidently and eternally superior to all other priesthoods whatsoever.

Related Commentaries of Hebrews 7:1

Hebrews 7:1-10

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;

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;

3 Without father, without mother, without descent,a having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

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:

6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.