Hebrews 7:1-10
Four days ago I made the following comments regarding Melchizedek and his relationship to Jesus: “One might argue that there are four references forward to Jesus. (1) Melchizedek was a king; Jesus is King of Heaven and Earth; (2) Melchizedek was a priest; much of what we are currently reading in Hebrews explains Jesus’ high priesthood; (3) Melchizedek brought bread and wine; Jesus instituted the sacrament of Holy Communion when He offered bread and wine at the Last Supper; and (4) Abraham paid a tithe of his goods to Melchizedek (see also Hebrews 7:4); we pay tithes to Jesus’ church. Even with all that, Melchizedek remains a mystery, researched extensively throughout history.” Today I found a fifth: He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life… (v. 3a) No doubt the Bible reports Melchizedek as an historical figure, a human being. And so was Jesus, for 33 years! Yet the book of Genesis says nothing about Melchizedek’s genealogy. That’s very strange for Genesis!
Another interesting thing about Melchizedek is Abraham’s giving him a tenth part of everything… (v. 2b) We Christians today tithe according to our centuries-old traditions, but we give “within the family” – to the church, the bride of Christ. Even the Jews of old gave “within the family”, to the Levites, for their life and temple support. But Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek was “outside the family”, Melchizedek having no blood relationship with Abraham or his family. Strange!
Finally, one other item: For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him… (v. 1). My Study Bible pointed out that blessings go from the greater to the lesser – that is, the greater blessing the lesser. In this first verse, Melchizedek was the greater and Abraham the lesser. Even though Abraham is the “father of many nations”, one of the greatest figures in all of Jewish history, yet here he has the position of the lesser relative to Melchizekek. Again, strange…!
Slava Bohu!
Fred, Thank you!
As for blessings going from the greater to the lesser, see Hebrews 7:7.