Hebrews 7:1-10 - Homiletics

Melchizedek.

The author here returns from his long digression, and enters upon the central theme of the treatise.

I. WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT MELCHIZEDEK . ( Hebrews 7:1-3 )

1. As a man.

Such omissions respecting a personage so exalted are contrary to Oriental custom. The points which the Holy Spirit has studiously concealed about Melchizedek are—his personal parentage, his priestly pedigree, and the dates of his birth and death.

2. As a type. ( Hebrews 7:3 ) The brief notice of Melchizedek in the Book of Genesis has been framed so as to exhibit in him as striking as possible a prefiguration of Christ. Melchizedek was "made like unto the Son of God," at once in the events of his personal career, and in the shape given to the Bible narrative respecting him. The Lord Jesus Christ is both "King of righteousness" and "King of peace;" he dispenses spiritual peace upon a basis of righteousness. He is a royal Priest, wearing both the miter and the diadem. He had no predecessor in his office, and he shall have no successor. His priesthood is of older date, and of superior dignity to that of Levi. In all these respects Melchizedek was a type of Christ.

II. THE SUPERIORITY OF MELCHIZEDEK 'S PRIESTHOOD TO THE LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD . (Verses 4-10) "Consider" this, says the apostle. Although the theme is recondite, and "hard of interpretation" ( Hebrews 5:11 ), it deserves careful study, since it concerns the dignity and glory of the Son of God ( Psalms 110:4 ).

1. Melchizedek is superior to Abraham, the ancestor of the Levites. (Verses 4-7) No Old Testament name is more illustrious than that of "Abraham, the patriarch;" no heraldic escutcheon could boast marks of greater honor than that which bears the arms of "the father of the faithful"—"the friend of God." Yet we see this venerated founder of the Hebrew nation humbly acknowledging the superiority of Melchizedek.

2. The Levitical priests were dying men ; Melchizedek appears only as a living priest. (Verse 8) Aaron's sons obtained the sacerdotal dignity by descent; they died and succeeded one another. But Melchizedek's priesthood was inherent and underived. He is exhibited on the inspired page only as a living priest, in order that his office may the more. suitably prefigure the intransferable priesthood of Christ.

3. The Levitical priests virtually paid tithes to Melchizedek. (Verses 9, 10) All the sacred honor with which Aaron and his sons were invested was derived from Abraham, as the head of the nation; and so, when Abraham confessed the religious superiority of Melchizedek, the long line of Aaronical priests may in a sense be said to have done so also.

Learn in conclusion:

1. The unparalleled majesty and glory of the Lord Jesus. Abraham was greater than Aaron; Melchizedek was greater than Abraham; but Christ is infinitely greater than Melchizedek.

2. Christ's priestly benediction is more efficacious than that of Melchizedek. He has been sent "to bless us, in turning away every one of us from our iniquities" ( Acts 3:26 ).

3. If Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe of the spoils, should not we dedicate to the Lord Jesus Christ, not our tithes only, but our all?