Hebrews Chapter 7
Introduction
Chapter 7 is a very “Doctrinal” Chapter. It reiterates the fact that mankind is saved by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ and NOT by the works of the Law. The Law only condemns (while also teaching us our need for a Savior), but Jesus, by perfectly fulfilling the Law, SAVES. It provides the basis of reassurance that Jesus is our mediator with God as the ultimate and eternal High Priest, and Jesus is the One Who offers the ultimate acceptable Sacrifice (Himself) to atone for the sins of mankind.
The entire focus of Hebrews Chapter 7 is on Jesus’ Role as The High Priest, after the Order of Melchizedek, and that Theophany (Jesus, pre-incarnate), which is presented to us regarding Melchizedek points us to Jesus Christ as our High Priest “after the order of Melchisedec.”
The rationale for Hebrews Chapter 7 was to explain how it was possible for Jesus be a High Priest, despite the fact that Jesus was not of the Tribe of Levi, but rather Judah. The author of the Book of Hebrews (in all likelihood, the Apostle Paul) was likely addressing what was likely a problem for many of the Jews in that day regarding Jesus as the Christ (Messiah), including those who…
1) were newly converted to Christianity and likely undergoing persecution by unconverted Jews,
2) the Jews who were curious whom God might be drawing to Jesus, and
3) the Jews who were naysayers.
The explanations provided in the Book of Hebrews are derived from the Old Testament, which were the only scriptures that the Hebrews had in that day. This exposition from the Old Testament found in Chapter 7 makes clear how Jesus was indeed The Eternal High Priest, Who was previously veiled, “in a mystery”, until this information was newly revealed to them. Moreover, Jesus did not do away with the Law, because Jesus came to fulfill the Law, but rather Jesus was ordained by God the Father as the Eternal High Priest Who came via a Heavenly Decree (“Oath”), which came prior to, and therefore superseded, the carnal Law given to Moses with a “better” covenant. Hebrews 7:7, “And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.“
Hosea 3:4&5 makes clear that there would be a time when Israel would not have a king, a prince, a sacrifice, or a high priest, (in captivity), but that in the latter days they would return and be blessed. “¶For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and [without] teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.” This temporally was fulfilled to a degree until the coming of Jesus, but with His coming, this prophesy was fulfilled spiritually for ever.
Both the Hebrews, and we, are assured in the Letter to the Hebrews that, by receiving the Lord Jesus, we would have a much better High Priest, a Priesthood of a Higher Order Who intercedes before us in the Heavens, and, consequently, offers a better dispensation or covenant, a better law and testament.
We are shown in this chapter where,
- We have a more detailed description of Melchisedec (v. 1-3).
- We are shown the superiority of His Priesthood to that of Aaron’s and why (v. 4-10).
- We are provided more insight on the superior, and eternal, excellency of Jesus’ Person, Office, and Covenant (v. 11-28).
Melchizedec’s Priesthood Foreshadows That of Jesus Christ
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;“
Hebrews 7:2, “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;“
The above two verses point us directly back to the account we read in Genesis 14:17–20 , “¶And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that [were] with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which [is] the king’s dale. ¶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.“
We also know that Jesus is both “The Prince of Peace” and Lord of Lords and “King of Kings” forever and ever as we read in Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God,The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” and in the following three verses:
1 Timothy 6:15, “Which in his times he shall shew, [who is] the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;”
Revelation 17:14, “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful.”
Revelation 19:16, “And he hath on [his] vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.“
And what about the bread and wine? That is neither incidental nor accidental as it is a clear prefigurement of the LORD’s New Testament Covenant that He initiated during the Last Supper in 33AD.
Mark 14:22-25, “¶And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake [it], and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. ¶And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave [it] to them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.“
Hebrews 7:3, “Without father, without mother, without descent (ἀγενεαλόγητος (agenealogētos))G35 , having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
But then we read of additional information regarding Melchisedec that cannot be found in the Old Testament. Nonetheless we know that this additional information is from God, via His Holy Spirit, and is therefore provided to us to help us understand that Melchisedec is not a man, but rather a “theophany“, meaning that Melchisedec was a physical manifestation of God, but taking the form of a man.
The evidence is that we are informed that Melchisedec did not have a father or a mother or “descent”, which means that he had no genealogy. Only The Eternal God can fit that description.
Hebrews 7:4, “¶Now consider how great this man [was], unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.“
Again this points us back to Genesis 14:20, “And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” But the key point is that this “man” was one who even Abraham, the greatest of the “fathers” of Israel, bestowed his tithes to.
Hebrews 7:5, “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:“
We need to look back on the issue of tithing (paying a tenth of all increase) and how the Levites, the Levitical Priesthood (of which Aaron was the High Priest during the time of Moses when this law was given), received tithes of all…Numbers 18:21, “¶And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, [even] the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.” and that even the priests had to pay a tithe on that to God as we read in Numbers 18:26, “Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for the LORD, [even] a tenth [part] of the tithe.“
The point being that the Levitical Priesthood was established via the seed of Abraham (out of his “loins”).
Moreover, regarding “the law”, Romans 4:12&13, “And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which [he had] being [yet] uncircumcised. ¶For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.“
Also in Galatians 3:16-26, “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, [that] the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance [be] of the law, [it is] no more of promise: but God gave [it] to Abraham by promise. ¶Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not [a mediator] of one, but God is one. ¶ [Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] untoChrist, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. ¶For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.“
Hebrews 7:6, , “But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.”
The point here is that Melchisedec had no part in the Levitical Priesthood as he was not descended from either Levi or Abraham and therefore was of a different Priesthood.
Hebrews 7:7, “And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.“
The Order of Melchisedec was a higher (“the better”) Priesthood than the Levitical Priesthood after the Order of Aaron (“the less”). This is a key verse in that the entire Levitical/Aaronic priesthood historically paid tithes to Melchisedec, as they were viewed by God as present in the loins of Abraham when he paid his tithes to Mechisedec. And that this makes clear that the lesser (Levi/Aaron) were blessed of the better (Melchisedec, hence Jesus).
Hebrews 7:8, “And here men that die receive tithes; but there he [receiveth them], of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.”
Aaron, and all others of the tribe of Levi, the levites received tithes, but they were merely men that all eventually died. However, Melchisedec was different because his Order, the Order of High Priest of Jesus, is forever. This is made clear in both Hebrews 5:6, “¶”As he saith also in another [place}, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” and Hebrews 6:20, “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even} Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Remembering the source back in Psalm 110:4, “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art a] priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Also, by implication, if Melchizedek had no beginning or ending of days, then he was eternal, as Jesus is eternal (hence the “Theophany“).
Hebrews 7:9, “And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
Hebrews 7:10, “For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.“
These two verses taken together make this very important point, because they are saying that, from God’s vantage point, what takes place in one man will in effect be witnessed and effectuated by all of those who have not yet been born of him. This is why all of mankind is tainted by the original sin, because, from God’s vantage point, we all were “in the loins of Adam” when he committed the original sin. Bearing in mind Deuteronomy 24:16, “¶The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin.” Nonetheless, 1 Corinthians 15:22, makes clear, “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.“
Hebrews 7:11, “¶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?“
The law could not save, it could only condemn, but through the law there is a Way of escape from the just penalties for transgression against the law. The Higher Order Priest, Jesus Christ, presenting The Lamb (Himself) for the once, and for all, eternal sacrifice.
Hebrews 7:12, “For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.”
The Law of Moses, in Leviticus,Chapter 16, only speaks to the tribe of Levi, and his descendants that included Aaron, and no one else, as being involved in the Atoning sacrifices and going through the veil once a year to the altar on the Day of Atonement.
We also read in Exodus 30:10, “And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it [is] most holy unto the LORD.“
However, it is clear that the Levitical Law was insufficient for Salvation as it only condemns us. That is why we read about Jesus and the better Offering that He Provided, once and for ever in Hebrews 10:7, “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all].
Hebrews 7:13, “For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.“
Hebrews 7:14, “¶For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.”
Jesus is descended (via Mary) from the tribe of Judah (“Juda” in the New Testament) through David (please see Jesus’ Earthly Ancestry). There are also the key references:
Romans 1:3, “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;“
Revelation 5:5, “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.“
And remembering what Moses did say concerning Judah (hence Jesus) in Genesis 49:9, “Judah [is] a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him [shall] the gathering of the people [be]. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes [shall] be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.“
And to the faithful student/teacher of the Bible, the believer, you should immediately realize that everything in this prophesy is fulfilled ONLY in the Lord Jesus Christ and NO OTHER!
Hebrews 7:15, “And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude (ὁμοιότης (homoiotēs))G3665 of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,“
Note that the Greek word translated as “similitude” is the same word translated “like as” in Hebrews 4:15 and is not found anywhere else in the Bible. It means to “resemble”, in the “likeness of”, in the “form of.” It seems to be consistent with pointing to Melchizedek as a “Type” to represent Jesus, and most likely Jesus, pre-incarnate (given the attributes of Melchizedek). It should be noted however that God does refer to “similitudes” (דָּמָה (dāmâ))H1819 in the Hebrew Old Testament as we read in Hosea 12:10, “I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.”
Psalm 110:4, “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” (We also addressed this earlier in Hebrews 6:20, “Whither the forerunner (πρόδρομος (prodromos))G4274 is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.“)
The word in the original Greek that is translated in English as “forerunner” is only found once in the Bible and so is impossible to cross-reference, but it would seem that this could be saying that Jesus came as the First High Eternal Priest Who came as the precursor, in advance, where the other (temporal, Aaronic High Priests) were to follow after.
Hebrews 7:16, “Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.”
God established the Aaronic Priesthood via the Law given as a commandment to carnal man via Moses. But Jesus was established as the “True” High Priest ordained by God the Father for eternity.
Hebrews 7:17, “For he testifieth, Thou [art ]a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.“
This repeats the references above as applied to Hebrews 7:15. Jesus is our ETERNAL High Priest in Heaven.
Hebrews 7:18, “¶For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.“
Romans 8:3, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:“
Galatians 4:9, “But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?“
The bottom line for the above verses is that the office of the High Priesthood of Jesus is not dependent on any earthly ordinances, but on the Deity of Jesus Christ, the eternity of His life, and the effectiveness of His One Personal Sacrifice that there is a decided change (by supersession) of the law concerning the priesthood.
Justification by Faith
Hebrews 7:19, “For the law made nothing perfect (τελειόω (teleioō))G5048, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.“
Acts 13:39, “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.“
Rom 3:20 &21, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.¶But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;“
Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;“
Romans 3:28, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
Romans 3:31, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”
Galatians 3:10&11, “¶For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith.“
The Law Brings Us to Jesus
Galatians 3:24&25, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.“
Romans 3:20, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin. And therefore the need for a savior, Jesus, for that sin
The Better Hope
Hebrews 6:18, “That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”
Romans 5:2, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Ephesians 2:18, “For through him (Jesus) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.“
Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.“
The old law of ceremony, sacrifice, and earthly priesthood is replaced only because it made nothing and no one perfect while Jesus Christ does. It is though Jesus that we draw nigh to God.
Hebrews 7:20, “¶And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]:“
Hebrews 7:21, “(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)“
The key point is that the Aaronic priests were ordained without an oath made by God. They obtained their priesthood by being born to the Tribe of Levi.
Again we are led back to Psalm 110:4, “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” and again we also addressed this earlier in Hebrews 6:20, “Whither the forerunner (πρόδρομος (prodromos))G4274 is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.“
The Better Covenant and Better Promises
Hebrews 7:22, “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.“
Hebrews 8:6, “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.“
The New Testament is a Better (above) Testament, or Better Covenant as we read in Matthew 26:28, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (see also Mark 14:24 and Luke 22:20)
2 Corinthians 3:6, “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”
Hebrews 9:15, “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.”
Hebrews 7:23, “¶And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:“
Hebrews 7:24, “But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.“
There were many Levitical/Aaronic priests, but there is One Jesus Christ of the Order of Melchizedek. They were mortal, therefore they ALL died. Jesus Is Immortal, eternal, and therefore He lives forever and His Priesthood is unchangeable.
Jesus Is Our Intercessor and Advocate With The Father
Hebrews 7:25, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.“
The Aaronic priesthood could not put away sin, and was only representative and ineffectual. Jesus, on the other hand, is able to save to the uttermost all that come to God by Him, seeing that He Is and always will be our High Priest interceding for the believers.
Romans 8:34, “Who [is] he that condemneth? [It is] Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.“
1 Timothy 2:5, “For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;“
1 John 2:1, “¶My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:“
Hebrews 7:26, “¶For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;“
Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.”
2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.“
Jesus is Raised Up Higher Than the Heavens
Ephesians 1:20, “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places],“
Ephesians 4:9&10, “(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”
Hebrews 7:27, “Who needeth 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.“
Jesus only had to offer Himself once as the acceptable Sacrifice.
Hebrews 9:24-28, “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.“
Aaron Required a Sin Atonement for Himself
Leviticus 9:7, “And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.”
Leviticus 16:15, “¶Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that [is] for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:“
Jesus Provided Himself as the Atoning Sacrifice for Sin
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Romans 6:10, “For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.“
Genesis 22:8, “And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.“
Hebrews 7:28, “For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated (τελειόω (teleioō))G5048 for evermore.“
The Law came before the Oath that we read about in Psalm 110:4. We are also led back to:
Hebrews 5:1, “¶For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things [pertaining] to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.“
Hebrews 5:2, “Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.”
Hebrews 2:10, “¶For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.“
Hebrews 5:9, “And being made perfect (τελειόω (teleioō))G5048, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;“
Jesus Is consecrated/perfected as the High Priest forever.
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