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Hebrews 7.1-10
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. 4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
My youngest son Joe loves to solve mechanical puzzles like Rubiks Cube or those metal puzzles where you try to figure out how to separate two items without tearing them apart. He will twist and turn the various parts for days. Eventually, two things happen. He will either solve the puzzle or he will eventually do some research to solve the puzzle and then he takes great delight in helping others work out the solution.
I was thinking about Joe’s love for mechanical puzzles as I was reading this passage because Hebrews has presented us with a puzzle in the form of a name, Melchizedek. This is the third time we’ve seen the name Melchizedek only here, Hebrews is giving us some answers as to who he is.
Melchizedek’s name shows up in Psalm 110.4 and then again in an encounter with Abraham in Genesis 14.17-20. In Hebrew, his name means two things. Melech means king, and zedek means righteousness, so he is a “king of righteousness.” But he is also the king of Salem (that is Jerusalem). Salem means peace and so Melchizedek is also the king of peace.
But we also know that Melchizedek is a priest as well from Psalm 110.4
This is where things get interesting because Melchizedek is both a king and a priest. In the Old Testament, kings and priests were two separate groups. Priests were from the tribe of Levi, and kings were from the tribe of Judah. So the question for the readers of Hebrews that naturally pops into their minds is how can Melchizedek be both king and priest?
Hebrews gives us an interesting answer in verse three. It’s tempting to think that Hebrews is telling us that Melchizedek is without ancestors or parents, or that he is some sort of supernatural being. That’s not the point. The point is simply that there is no mention of where Melchizedek received his priesthood from, only that he holds both titles of king and priest together. The point Hebrews is making is that Melchizedek's titles are not dependent upon being born into a certain family like the tribe of Levi or Judah.
That’s the point that Hebrews will be making about Jesus in the passage to come. Jesus is both King over all things and our great high priest who continues today, and the point of it all is to encourage us to place our trust in Christ alone because His kingship and priesthood are without end, they are permanent.
That’s incredibly encouraging to us today as we look around at the chaos in our world and culture. It would be tempting to give in to hopelessness if we placed our trust in the things of this world or in world leaders or a political party because, ultimately, all of those things are finite. But we do have a hope that is sure, a hope that is fixed upon Jesus, who alone is our one True King over all and our Great High Priest forever.
Remember this great promise from Jesus, our True King, and our Great High Priest.
John 16:33
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
God bless you, and know that I am praying for you constantly.
Scott
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