HRC New Testament Reading Plan: daily NT reading devotional thoughts.
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.
Hebrews 7:11-12 NIV
What is your response to blessings?
Melchizedek! His name reminds me of superhero character names, and he even has an Order named for him. Yet the Bible says very little about him, most of it here in Hebrews 7. What it does say helps us to better understand our Great High Priest Jesus, and the great blessings we have because of His sacrifice.
Hebrews 7:1 says Melichizedek “was king of Salem and priest of God Most High”. He appears only once in the Bible, in the story where he blesses Abram who had just rescued his nephew Lot after being taken captive in a great battle. In the account of that story in Genesis 14:18-20, Melchizedek greats Abram, brings out bread and wine, and blesses both Abram and God Most High. Abram then gives a tenth of everything to him.
The Hebrew author makes two key points about Melchizedek to build his overall theme of Jesus’ superiority to the old covenant worship of God. First, Melchizedek is presented without a genealogy or any information about his birth or death, so he remains a priest forever. In this he resembles the Son of God: they both have genealogies that are not earthly, serve as priests forever, and were both not in the Levitical line of priests.
Second, by Abram offering a tenth of his possessions to Melchizedek, he was acknowledging that he was the lesser and Melchizedek the greater. The author then makes a point that is somewhat difficult to follow: since Abraham gave a tenth, then his descendants, including Levi also essentially gave a tenth. If the one giving is less than the one receiving these gifts, then Melchizedek was greater than Abram, Levi, the Levitical priesthood. Jesus, as our high priest in the order of Melchizedek, is also greater than all of these.
Abram’s response to Melchizedek’s blessing was to give generously. In giving he was acknowledging his appreciation of the great value of the blessing. REa
The chapter ends with many blessings we have from Jesus being of the order of Melchizedek, a priest forever: He guarantees a better covenant (v. 22), is able to save completely (v. 25), and truly meets our needs (v. 26). Where the old covenant was “weak and useless” (v. 18), he guarantees a new better covenant with a better hope. Where the former high priests only served until their death and had to offer the sacrifices day after day, he sacrificed once for all in an offering of himself. Where the old covenant was unable to save us, the new one truly meets our biggest need of salvation. We are greatly blessed by the Son, “who has been made perfect forever” (v. 28). What is our response to the great blessings we have in Jesus, our Great High Priest?
Questions:
- Melchizedek is only mentioned in a few verses in Genesis 14, Psalm 110 and here in Hebrews. What do these passages tell us about him? What is the significance of his name and his title?
- The Hebrew author has been building the main theme of Jesus’ superiority to the high priests and the old covenant. In what ways is the priesthood of Jesus superior to the Levitical priesthood? How does the priesthood of the order of Melchizedek help us understand this?
- What are the blessings mentioned in this chapter that are from Jesus and his priesthood? Make a list of all the blessings you can find in verses 23 to 28. How have you responded to these blessings in your life?
- How can you share about these blessings with others? Share how you’ve been blessed with someone today.
- Take time to pray in thanks to God for all the blessings we have in Jesus.