Melchisedec’s Priesthood (Part 2) – Heb 7:4-12

Click here for the Entire Series and the Outline.

Click here for more sermons on many different aspects of Jesus Christ.

Click here for previous sermon.

Click here for next sermon.

Heb 7:4 – Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

1. In the book of Hebrews, Paul wrote to the Jews who were zealous of the law of Moses, setting forth the superiority of Jesus Christ.
2. Christ is “so much better than the angels” (Heb 1:4).
3. Christ is “counted worthy of more glory than Moses” (Heb 3:1-3).

iii.    Christ’s priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood (Heb 7:23-28).

1. Christ’s New Testament is “a better testament” (Heb 7:22) than the Old Testament (Heb 8:13).
2. Christ is the high priest of a “greater and more perfect tabernacle” (Heb 9:11).
3. Christ made an infinitely greater sacrifice than all the sacrifices that were ever made under the law of Moses (Heb 10:11-12).

vii.  Christ is greater than the temple (Mat 12:6).

viii.Christ is also greater than Jonah (Mat 12:41) and Solomon (Mat 12:42).

1. Christ is greater than John the Baptist (Joh 5:36).
2. Paul now goes on to show that Jesus was greater than even the patriarch Abraham.
3. Melchisedec was a greater man than Abraham because Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils (Heb 7:4 c/w Gen 14:18-20).
4. Jesus was made a priest after the order of Melchisedec (Heb 6:20 c/w Psa 110:4).

iii.    Therefore, Jesus is greater than Abraham.

1. Paul concluded this by simple reasoning from two passages (Gen 14:18-20 & Psa 110:4).
2. Jesus affirmed this as well (Joh 8:58).

Heb 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:

1. The Levites were commanded to take tithes of the people, even though the people were sons of Abraham just as were the Levites.
2. The same principle still applies in the NT: preachers are to be financially supported by their brethren to whom they preach (1Co 9:13-14).

Heb 7:6 – But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

1. Melchisedec did not descend from Abraham or Levi, and yet he received tithes of Abraham.
2. Melchisedec blessed Abraham.
3. Jesus, of whom Melchisedec was a type, blessed the spiritual children of Abraham (Act 3:26; Mat 5:3-11; Mar 10:14-16).

Heb 7:7 – And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

1. Paul reinforces his premise that Melchisedec is better than Abraham, for he that blesses is superior to him who is blessed.
2. The Jews were familiar with the concept of the lesser being blessed by the greater (Heb 11:20-21).
3. This is further proof that Jesus is greater than Abraham.

Heb 7:8 – And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

1. The Levitical priests, who received tithes from Israel, were mortal men that would eventually die (Heb 7:23).
2. Melchisedec typified Jesus Christ who is immortal (Rom 6:9; 1Ti 6:16; Rev 1:18).

Heb 7:9-10 – And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 10) For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

1. This is an example of the doctrine of federal headship.
2. The classic example of this is the fact that Adam’s sinful nature was passed down to all of his progeny (Rom 5:12).
3. Abraham’s actions were imputed unto his descendents before they were yet born.
4. This shows that the priesthood of Melchisedec is superior to the priesthood of Levi.

Heb 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?

1. Paul already established that Melchisedec was a priest who was not of the order of Aaron (Heb 7:6).
2. Paul already established that Jesus Christ was made a priest after the order of Melchisedec (Heb 6:20 c/w Psa 110:4).
3. Now he asks the next logical question: if the Aaronic priesthood was sufficient, then why would another priest arise from a different order?
4. There must therefore have been some deficiency in the Aaronic priesthood.
5. Furthermore, it was under the Aaronic priesthood that Israel received the law of Moses (Deu 27:9-10; Deu 31:9-13).
6. If the priesthood was insufficient, then must also the law be so, which leads to the next verse.

Heb 7:12 – For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

1. The fact that the priesthood has been changed demands that the law that established it must also have been changed.
2. The law of Moses gave meticulous rules for how the priests were to exercise their office.
3. If the priesthood has changed, the law would need to be updated to reflect it which means that the law has changed.