“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine; and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: and blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” Gen. 14:18-20. See also Heb. 7:1, 2.
2. Who was Melchizedek? Ans.—“Priest of the most high God.” Heb. 7:1, 2.
3. What is said of his genealogy?
“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.” Verse 3. Note .
4. What is said of his greatness?
“Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.” Verse 4.
5. Of whom did the Levites receive tithes?
“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.” Verse 5.
6. Who received tithes of Abraham?
“But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.” Verse 6.
7. By whom was Abraham blessed?
“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him.” “But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.” Verses 1, 6.
8. Who, then, was the greatest, Melchizedek or Abraham?
“And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.” Verse 7. See also verses 1, 4 above.
9. Whom did Melchizedek represent?
“Made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.” Verse 3.
10. After what order was Christ a priest?
“As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Heb. 5:6. See also chapter 6:20 and 7:17, 21.
11. Then does Christ receive tithes?
“And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.” Heb. 7:8.
12. What did the Saviour teach concerning tithing?
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” Matt. 23:23. Note .
13. Then, as followers of the teachings of Christ, what ought we to do? Ans.—Pay tithes. See note .
14. How were the Levites supported in their work?
“Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?” 1 Cor. 9:13. Note .
15. What has the Lord likewise ordained concerning the support of those who preach the Gospel?
“Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel.” Verse 14. Note .
16. Who commissions and sends out those who preach the Gospel?
“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” John 20:21. See also Matt. 28:18-20.
17. Then whose servants are they? Who employs them?
18. And, in accordance with what has been shown in the above, what provision has the Lord made for the support of his laborers? Note .
