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Introduction
Throughout our series in Hebrews, we have seen a couple of themes pop up that will come together today. They are the themes of royal priesthood and a character from Genesis named Melchizedek.
In a moment, I will read Hebrews chapter 7, but before I do, let’s get to know this Melchizedek a bit better by looking at the only other passages that mention him in the Bible. Four verses in total. Three in Genesis and one in Psalm 110.
Genesis 14 – In a bit of a strange chapter in the story of Abram (before God changed his name to Abraham), we read about a battle that took place between two groups of kings. One group had five, and the other had four kings.
Among the group of five was the king of Sodom, which is where Abram’s nephew, Lot, lived. The group of four kings were winning the battle and drove the other group up into tar pits, where they were all but defeated.
The group of four sacked Sodom and as a result, Lot and all of his possessions were captured. Abram heard about Lot and rallied a group of men, attacked the four kings and their remaining armies, drove them out of the area, and rescued Lot.
Following this victory, the king of Sodom came to express gratitude to Abram, along with the king of Salem, whose name is Melchizedek. We come to 14:18-20:
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Psalm 110 – This is the most quoted Psalm in the New Testament and is understood as referring to the Messiah. It is the only place in the OT besides Genesis 14 where Melchizedek is mentioned. I’ll read the entire Psalm…
So, these are the only places in the Bible that mention Melchizedek other than Hebrews, in which he is a major theme. This begs the question: why is Melchizedek suddenly such an important figure? To answer this question, we need to discover what the original audience believed about him.
There are quite a few non-biblical historical sources which mention Melchizedek. He seemed to have become quite a fascinating figure for ancient historians and religious scholars, as we can discover by looking at some ancient documents.
You may have heard about the Dead Sea Scrolls. These ancient scrolls were discovered in the 1940s and 50s in 11 caves east of Jerusalem, along the northwest bank of the Dead Sea. Many of the scrolls go back over 2000 years and contain fragments of every book in the Old Testament except for Esther. These scrolls are the oldest known copies of the Hebrew Scriptures.1
In the 11th cave was a scroll, given the title 11QMelchizedek, which is believed to have been written around 100 BC. This text refers to Melchizedek in a way that suggests he is more than human, attributing to him roles normally reserved for God or high-ranking angelic beings, such as forgiving sins and executing divine judgment.
Several other Jewish documents that have been preserved over the centuries from around the time of Christ reference Melchizedek as a Christ-like figure who symbolizes righteousness and divine priesthood.
The obsession with angels, gods, and goddesses in Greek culture would have fostered the idea that Melchizedek was a divine being due to the mystery surrounding him. Most profound for our purposes today is that he represented the possibility that a divine priesthood existed apart from human lineage, which was the prominent way people entered the priesthood.
As we come to our passage, you will see how the author appealed to this common understanding to show how Jesus is the divine priest that Melchizedek foreshadowed.
[Read Hebrews 7]
How is Jesus like Melchizedek?
The comparison between Melchizedek and Jesus was meant to help the listeners understand the nature of Jesus’ priestly ministry.
It does this in several ways: Melchizedek is the priest-king of Salem (the city later named Jerusalem), which also means peace; Melchizedek is a priest of God Most High; Melchizedek means king of righteousness; Melchizedek is a priest without lineage, without beginning or end, and; Melchizedek is greater than Abraham.
What about Jesus? Jesus is a priest-king over Jerusalem (the city of God) and the king of peace. When Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, he was making the statement that he was their new king. But not a king in the same way as earthly kings.
Jesus is the final priest of God Most High. This is a major theme in Hebrews, which we have already covered quite a bit in this series.
Jesus is the king of righteousness, having fulfilled all the requirements of the law as a human and being completely obedient to God the Father.
The priesthood of Jesus is based upon his indestructible life, as is described in Heb 7:16.
And, Jesus is greater than Abraham, a claim that Jesus made about himself in John 8:58. He said, “Very truly I tell you… before Abraham was born, I am!”
William Lane, in his commentary on Hebrews, identifies that the primary purpose of the comparison between Melchizedek and Jesus is… to show the radical difference that existed between the priesthood of Melchizedek and the more familiar Levitical line of priests. In this context, the silence of the Genesis narrative concerning Melchizedek’s parents or line of priestly descent was significant because of the contrast it posed with the Levitical priesthood, where a recorded line of descent was required for entering the priestly office (Exod 28:1; Lev 21:13–15; Num 3:10; 18:1; Ezra 2:61–63; Neh 7:63–65).2
The comparison implies that Melchizedek’s priesthood was not built on human lineage. It was based on the call of God. Without a recorded priestly genealogy, Melchizedek could not have qualified for Levitical priesthood. Nevertheless, this man was priest of God Most High, and Abraham recognized this.3
By saying that Jesus is a priest in the order of Melchizedek, the author is saying that Jesus is of a higher and more permanent priestly order than the Levites. His priesthood transcends human priesthood.
This brings us to the topic of holiness.
The Holiness of Jesus
7:26 describes Jesus as a holy priest. Blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.
Holy essentially means sacred. It is a word that indicates that a person or object is not like other people or things.
The nation of Israel was called holy by God because they were not meant to be like other nations. They were God’s special possession. Holy.
The Tabernacle was holy because it was not a common tent. It was the dwelling place of God. A sacred space. Holy.
The Spirit of God is called Holy. There are other spirits that exist. But God’s Spirit is unlike any other. God’s Spirit is God himself. Not an angel. Not a spiritual force.
The church is described as holy in various places in the New Testament. This is not only an identity but also a calling.
We are holy because God has made us holy through Jesus Christ. We are also called to live out this holiness in our actions. Those two descriptions of holiness are actually distinct throughout the Bible.
The Israelites were holy in the sense of being set apart as God’s people. But, there is another word for holy that descibes someone who is fully committed to God.
In 7:26, the Greek word used for holy is the second word. It is saying that Jesus is devout, superior in moral qualities, pure, blameless, and innocent.
In other words, Jesus was set apart by God to be his eternal high priest, and he lived up to that calling. It is something that no one else has ever done.
While the human priests before him had to make sacrifices to purify themselves before approaching God’s presence, Jesus didn’t need to. He presented himself as a pure and holy sacrifice because of his obedience and complete devotion to God.
What does the holiness of Jesus do for us? Hebrews says that such a high priest truly meets our needs.
The original audience was tempted to return to the former ways, the Levitical priesthood, the sacrificial system, and the comforts of the Jewish faith.
What comforts do you seek to meet your needs? How do you seek to satisfy your deepest longings?
What needs do you have? I’m not talking about money, energy, or a vacation. I’m talking about the needs that permeate through your entire life.
Jesus said in Matthew 11, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
What burden are you carrying? For many of us, it is the burden to measure up, to prove ourselves worthy of love.
The message that Jesus is holy is the message that he has done the heavy lifting on our behalf. He has measured up. He is worthy of God’s love.
And, because he represents us before God, we are welcomed freely into the same relationship that Jesus has with the Father. We are loved by God the same way that Jesus is.
The only way this love can be experienced is by accepting the holiness of Jesus as your own and living with this as your motivation for everything.
I want to close by reading a passage from Tom Wright’s commentary on Hebrews 7. I read this in order to draw our attention to the importance of knowing Jesus.
We cannot possibly live as faithful Christians unless we have become intimately familiar with who Jesus is and what he achieved in his death and resurrection.
Some Christians face the danger of forgetting just how central and vital Jesus himself was and is to every aspect of Christian faith. It is possible to get so wrapped up in theological technicalities or practical details that Jesus comes into the equation, if at all, almost as an afterthought. Hebrews ought to provide a strong antidote to any such tendencies. This writer can’t get enough of thinking through who Jesus was and is and what he achieved in his death and in the new life that emerged the other side. That alone is worth a good deal of pondering. When we then look at the details of the picture and realize the way in which he has brought to perfection, and so to a stop, the long line of earlier priests, pondering turns to gratitude, and gratitude to assurance and hope.4
1 Israel Antiquities Authority, “Scrolls Content” on https://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/learn-about-the-scrolls/scrolls-content, accessed October 9, 2024.
2 William L. Lane, Hebrews 1–8, vol. 47A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1991), 165.
3 William L. Lane, Hebrews 1–8, vol. 47A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1991), 166.
4 Tom Wright, Hebrews for Everyone (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004), 80.
Hebrews Series Bibliography
Allen, David L. Hebrews. The New American Commentary. Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group, 2010.
Bruce, F. F. The Epistle to the Hebrews. Rev. ed. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990.
Guthrie, George. Hebrews. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998.
Lane, William L. Hebrews 1-8, vol. 47A, Word Biblical Commentary. Dallas: Word, Inc., 1991.
New International Version Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016.
Wright, Tom. Hebrews for Everyone. London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004.