Hebrews 7:1-10

https://www.biblestudytools.com/hebrews/passage/?q=hebrews+7:1-10

Melchizedek the Priest

1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. 4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

Study Notes: These will be added as I am able.

7:2ff The writer of Hebrews uses this story from Genesis 14:18-20 to show that Christ is even greater than Abraham, father of the Jewish nation, and Levi (Abraham's descendant). Therefore, the Jewish priesthood (made up of Levi's descendants) was inferior to Melchizedek's priesthood (a type of Christ's priesthood).

7:3-10 Melchizedek was a priest of God Most High (see the note on Genesis 14:18 and his Profile in Genesis 16). He is said to remain a priest forever (see also Psalm 110:4), because his priesthood has no record of beginning or ending--he was a priest of God in Salem (Jerusalem) long before the nation of Israel and the regular priesthood began.

7:7 The "lesser person is blessed by the greater" means a person who has the power to bless is always greater than the person that he or she blesses.

Melchizedek is special. It was good to have these verses to learn more about him. He gave Abraham a blessing upon his return, and Abraham gave him a tithe, a tenth of all the spoils of victory. But as I sit here what I am seeing is the gift of generosity from God. Neither of these needed to give, but yet, they did. And in doing so, they honored God. Spoils spoil. But God's gifts are everlasting.

Thank You, Lord, for the gifts You give to us. Thank You for generous hearts and minds that we can share with others. Thank You for Your Word that tells us about Melchizedek and Your Son and their similarities. Father, we need to recognize You as the source of these good gifts. We seemed to have strayed from that remembrance. Help us take a moment out of this day to recognize those gifts and blessings that You give freely to us. Let us find joy in them and You, and give back to You praise and honor and glory. Thank You especially for Your Son, my Savior. It is in His name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

A Song: https://youtu.be/4m8xhXEpp6s

Have a blessed day.