Hebrews 7: The Eternal Priesthood of Melchizedek and Jesus

Hebrews 7

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, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like to the Son of God; stays a priest continually.

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

5 And truly 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 brothers, 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 receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.

9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.

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

11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertains to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.

15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there rises another priest,

16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17 For he testifies, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18 For there is truly a cancellation of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw near to God.

20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said to him, The Lord swore and will not repent, You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

24 But this man, because he continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

25 Why he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.

26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27 Who needs not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

28 For the law makes men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, makes the Son, who is consecrated for ever more.

Hebrews 7 reveals the transition from the temporary, imperfect Levitical priesthood to the eternal and perfect priesthood of Jesus Christ, who serves according to the superior order of Melchizedek Hebrews 7:11-12LUJ 114.1+1.

The Identity and Greatness of Melchizedek

Melchizedek was a real historical personage, the king of Salem and a priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham and blessed him after the slaughter of the kings Genesis 14:18-19ARSH March 20, 1856, page 193.8+1. His name signifies "King of Righteousness," and his title "King of Salem" means "King of Peace" Hebrews 7:2EVCO 61.2. He stands as a unique figure in Scripture because the record provides no genealogy, beginning of days, or end of life, which serves as a divine design to make him a perfect type of the Son of God Hebrews 7:3ARSH March 20, 1856, page 193.8+1.

His greatness is demonstrated by several factors:

• Superiority to Abraham: Abraham, the friend of God, recognized Melchizedek’s higher spiritual rank by receiving a blessing from him and paying him tithes of all the spoils Hebrews 7:4-7ARSH January 9, 1900, page 25.9+1.

• Superiority to the Levites: Because Levi was still in the loins of his forefather Abraham, the entire Levitical priesthood effectively paid tithes to Melchizedek through Abraham Hebrews 7:9-10SITI August 9, 1883, page 355.5.

• A Kingly Priesthood: Unlike the Jewish system where the royalty of David and the priesthood of Aaron were separate, Melchizedek combined both offices in one person Hebrews 7:1BHOTV1 61.3+1.

How Jesus is Like Melchizedek

Jesus is not a priest after the order of Aaron, because He sprang from the tribe of Judah, a tribe for which Moses spoke nothing regarding the priesthood Hebrews 7:13-14BSSL 24.1+1. Instead, He is the antitype of Melchizedek, fulfilling the deficiencies of the Aaronic order Hebrews 7:15ARSH March 20, 1856, page 193.8.

• An Unchangeable Priesthood: Aaronic priests were many and temporary because death prevented them from continuing; however, because Jesus has the "power of an endless life" and continues forever, His priesthood is unchangeable and does not pass to a successor Hebrews 7:16, 23-24LOM, page 39.3+1.

• Established by an Oath: The Levitical priests were appointed without a divine oath, but Christ was consecrated by the oath of the Father, who swore, "The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek" Hebrews 7:21+1CWCP 55.3+1.

• The King-Priest Union: Jesus is a royal priest who currently shares His Father’s throne in heaven, uniting the triple crowns of King, Priest, and Prophet Zechariah 6:12-13+1BHOTV1 61.3+1.

• Lack of Pedigree: Just as Melchizedek is recorded without a priestly descent, Jesus’ priesthood is not based on a carnal commandment or human lineage but on His own divine nature and the Father's appointment Hebrews 7:3, 16ADRE September 1850, page 45.1+1.

The Necessity of a Change in the Law

The transition to the Melchizedek priesthood necessitated a change in the law because the Levitical system could not bring perfection or truly take away sins Hebrews 7:11-12, 19BSSL 24.1+1. The Aaronic priesthood and the earthly sanctuary were merely "shadows" and "examples" of the heavenly reality Hebrews 8:4-5LUJ 114.1+1. When the antitype—the sacrifice of Christ—was reached at the cross, the ceremonial law of works and the typical priesthood ceased to be obligatory Daniel 9:27+1STTHD 239.1+1.

The Benefits of Christ's Priesthood

Because Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek, He provides a "better hope" by which we draw near to God Hebrews 7:19CWCP 76.3.

• Perfect Salvation: He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by Him, as He ever lives to make intercession in the heavenly sanctuary Hebrews 7:25ADRE September 1850, page 45.1+1.

• Sinless Advocate: Unlike earthly high priests who had to offer sacrifices for their own sins, Jesus is holy, harmless, and separate from sinners, having offered Himself once for all as a perfect sacrifice Hebrews 7:26-27ADRE September 1850, page 45.1+1.

• Surety of a Better Covenant: By His oath and His blood, Jesus has become the surety of a better testament, ensuring that every soul who enters the inheritance is cleansed and purified from sin Hebrews 7:22ARSH January 30, 1900, page 73.9+1.

• Royal Priesthood for Believers: Through our connection with the heavenly High Priest, all children of God are now called to be a "royal priesthood" and an "holy nation," offering up spiritual sacrifices to Him 1 Peter 2:5, 9SA 143.1+1.