HEBREWS: THE INFINITE SUPREMACY AND SUFFICIENCY OF JESUS CHRIST

IX. The Superiority Of Melchizedek's Priesthood Behind Christ's Priesthood

(Hebrews 7:1-25)

I. Introduction

A. We live in an era of great need for an encouraging word amid man's discouraging spiritual failure, so a word from God on the infinite supremacy and sufficiency of His Son Jesus Christ is both desirable and fitting.

B. The Epistle of Hebrews offers it, and Hebrews 7:1-25 clarifies the superiority of Melchizedek's priesthood over all other priesthoods that is behind Christ's priesthood, and we view it for our insight and edification:

II. The Superiority of Melchizedek's Priesthood Behind Christ's Priesthood, Hebrews 7:1-25.

A. The author of Hebrews in Hebrews 7:1-2a referred to the king-priest Melchizedek who met Abraham as he was returning from his victory over the city-state kings when Melchizedek blessed Abraham and Abraham gave him a tenth of his spoils of war in Genesis 14:14-20.

B. Melchizedek was actually a Canaanite godly king-priest, a surviving member of a declining group of godly priests who traced their lineage back to Noah as seen in Melchizedek's reference to Abraham's God in Genesis 14:18-20 as El Elyon, the "Most High God," a term used by Gentiles in the area at that time. (H. C. Leupold, Exposition of Genesis, 1974, vol. I, p. 463; Zon. Pic. Ency. Bib., vol. Four, p. 177) However, the author of Hebrews saw Melchizedek as a type of Christ, and drew upon Scripture's reference to him to show his spiritual greatness as the head of a priesthood that is behind Christ's priesthood, Hebrews 7:2b-3 (as follows):

1. Both Melchizedek and Christ are kings, "Melchizedek" meaning "king of righteousness," Heb. 7:2b.

2. Both Melchizedek and Christ are kings of "peace," for Melchizedek ruled the city of "Salem," the ancient word for "Jerusalem," Hebrews 7:2c with Genesis 14:18 and Psalm 76:2.

3. Both Melchizedek and Christ are unique in Scripture, with Melchizedek not having Scripture mention his ancestry, genealogy or longevity, resembling typologically Christ as the eternal priest, Hebrews 7:3.

C. Also, Melchizedek's priesthood is superior to all other priesthoods, making Christ's priesthood that is based on Melchizedek's priesthood superior to all other human priesthoods today, Hebrews 7:4-25; Ibid., p. 177-178:

1. Israel's patriarch Abraham paid a tenth of his spoils of war to Melchizedek, Hebrews 7:4.

2. Since Abraham's descendant Levi, the tribal head of the Aaronic priesthood in Israel, was yet to be born through Abraham's line, Levi paid tithes through Abraham to Melchizedek, Hebrews 7:5-6a, 9-10.

3. Not only did Abraham pay tithes to Melchizedek, he did so after Melchizedek had blessed him, indicating that Abraham accepted that blessing and viewed Melchizedek as his spiritual superior, for only the superior party blesses the inferior one, Hebrews 7:6b-7.

4. Furthermore, since Israel's king David in Psalm 110:4 predicted that his descendant, the Messiah, would be made a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, he indicated that Israel's Aaronic priesthood was temporary, that it would be supplanted by the Melchizedekian priesthood of the Messiah that combined the offices of king and priest, Hebrews 7:11-19.

5. In addition, a divine oath given in Psalm 110:4 secured the supplanting of the Aaronic priesthood with the order of the Melchizedekian priesthood in the Messiah, Hebrews 7:20-22.

6. Also, the Melchizedekian priesthood of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, is eternal as is typified in the Scripture record of Melchizedek, for unlike the other priests who die, Christ continues forever, Hebrews 7:23-25.

7. Since God called Abraham to be used of Him to bless all the families of the earth as their spiritual superior (Gen. 12:1-3), when Abraham accepted Melchizedek's blessing as his spiritual superior, paying him tithes, Melchizedek's priestly order was set as superseding all other human priesthoods after the Noahic Flood!

Lesson: The ancient king-priest Melchizedek is not only a type of Christ, since he as Abraham's superior blessed Abraham through whom all the world's families would be blessed, and Abraham then paid Melchizedek tithes in Genesis 14 along with David's Psalm 110:4 prophecy all mean that Melchizedek's priesthood supersedes all other priesthoods after the Genesis Flood. Since Christ's priesthood is based on the Melchizedekian priestly order, Christ's high priesthood supersedes all other human priests and priesthoods today.

Application: (1) May we see the supremacy of Christ's royal priesthood after the order of the king-priest Melchizedek as being absolutely superior to all other priests and priesthoods, that we thus go to our Great High Priest in prayer for all needs in relating to God. (2) May we also refuse to seek after any priest or priesthood in any other religion for blessing, noting that it is inferior to Christ and is false.