Off the Shelf Sunday School--Hebrews

Melchizedek (7:1-10)

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness;” then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who became priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, their brothers—even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.?(NIV)

1.?????We know that Melchizedek was king of Jerusalem (Salem) and that he was a priest. He was righteous before God. He was either an exceptional person (like Enoch and Elijah), or he may be the pre-incarnate Jesus. Melchizedek reigned as both king and priest, which is what Jesus will do when he returns. He is a priest forever, like Jesus. The Old Testament mentions various appearance of angels and God in human form. (Gen 18:1-2; 32:24-29; Jud 6:11-12)?

2.?????When Abraham met Melchizedek, he gave him a tenth of the spoils from a battle. In return, Melchizedek blessed him. The writer says that Melchizedek was the greater person in terms of commanding honor and respect. This was shown by their actions. This must have baffled the Jews, who honored Abraham as the father of their nation. Melchizedek is not a Jew, yet Abraham honors him.????

3.?????The author says that the priesthood of Melchizedek surpasses that of the Jewish priesthood. This is shown by the fact that the Levite priests collected tithes from the other Jewish tribes. The author points out that Abraham, in giving tithes to Melchizedek, was like the Levites paying homage because they were part of Abraham (his descendants).???