Hebrews 7:9

And so to say, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes; for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him.

These verses are the end of the third division of our outline of Hebrews, because with the next verse the subject of the covenant is introduced; but the subject matter of this remarkable book is so interwoven, unified, and interrelated that it defies any elementary classification; therefore, such divisions as people set up are, in reality, merely matters of convenience to students.

The words "and so to say" should not be construed as softening or compromising the statement that follows. Lenski informs that some commentators have made just such a mistake and warns against it in these words:

This common phrase (although found only here in the New Testament) = "to use the right word," "to use a strong expression," (or "to speak out freely"). Any one of these meanings is fitting, for this is exactly what the writer does when he says that Levi was still in the loins of Abraham when Abraham paid the tenth to Melchizedek; he uses the proper expression.[12]

For notes on "loins" see under Hebrews 7:5. The burden of the argument in this place is simply that the priesthood of Melchizedek (and therefore of Christ) is greater than the Levitical priesthood; and the proof offered is that the whole Hebrew nation, including of course the Levites, in the person of Abraham, were tithed by Melchizedek whose priesthood has actually never ended. It should be noted that the purpose of the author is to glorify Christ, not Melchizedek. His argument for the continuity of Melchizedek's priesthood is not that it is an eternal priesthood that was merely extended to Christ; but that it was, by reason of two amazing facts, typical of the truly eternal priesthood of Christ. Those two facts supporting the eternal implication of Melchizedek's priesthood, to the extent of its being typical of an eternal priesthood in Christ, are: (1) the scriptures reveal no end of discontinuation of it, and (2) many centuries after Melchizedek's time, God spoke of Melchizedek's priesthood as a reality in Psalms 110:4. Since it is shown that Christ is a priest forever "after the order of Melchizedek," the superiority of the antitype over the type is evident. For this reason, the superiority of Melchizedek over the Levites, since it was merely typical, is extended and enhanced in Christ.

To be sure, there have sometimes been voiced strong objections against the view that anything done by an ancestor, like Abraham, could have been binding upon his descendants; and yet the whole human race is bound, jeopardized, and committed through the conduct of its common ancestor, Adam (Romans 5:12ff). However people might scoff and sneer at such a thing, the principle of "federal representation," as it is sometimes called, stands, not only from the foundation of the world, but in the countless affairs of men, corporations, and governments all over the world until this day. As Milligan said,

Individuals, corporations, and governments are every day making arrangements, signing pledges, and sealing documents which involve largely the interests and fortunes of others as well as of themselves.[13]

When Edward VII of England renounced his throne, the abdication not only bound him but any posterity that he might have had afterward. The fact, therefore, of Abraham's taking a tithe of the chief spoils and paying them to Melchizedek, priest of God Most High, clearly made any priesthood developed through the descendants of Abraham to be subordinate to that of Melchizedek. Even more significantly, the Aaronic and Levitical system of priests was not confirmed with an oath on the part of God; but God did swear with an oath that the Messiah should be a priest "forever after the order of Melchizedek" (Psalms 110:4); and that oath, or the announcement of it, coming so many centuries after the Levitical system had been in operation, is proof of the most convincing nature that the priesthood of Melchizedek had not expired but was endless, else God would not have spoken of it so long afterward.

[12] R. C. H. Lenski, op. cit., p. 220.

[13] R. Milligan, op. cit., p. 203.