Bible Study for 10/11/2014
Study of the Book of Hebrews Chapter 7 ( MELCHISEDEC) Bible Study Part 2
[Note to Blog Readers: Expositor’s Notes are in Bold Italic Font]
Hebrews 7:1-28 (KJV)
MELCHISEDEC
1 For this Melchisedec, King of Salem (an ancient name for Jerusalem [Ps. 76:2; 122:3]), Priest of the Most High God (tells us what He was, but gives us almost no information after that [Gen. 14:18]), who met Abra ham returning from the slaughter of the kings (Gen. 14:14-15), and blessed him (presents Melchisedec in a superior spiritual position); 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all (the first mention of Tithes in the Bible; this means that if Abraham paid Tithe to Melchisedec, his natural and spiritual seed, which includes every Believer, should continue to pay Tithes to this Priesthood [namely Christ, i.e., “His Work”], since it has now replaced the Aaronic Priesthood); first being by interpretation King of Righteousness (Melchisedec was a Type, and, thereby, meant to portray the True “King of Righteousness,” the Lord Jesus Christ), and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of Peace (Jesus is also the “Prince of Peace,” once again of which Melchisedec was a Type [Isa. 9:6]); 3 Without father, without mother (only means there was no record made of the name of his father, his mother, or any of his posterity), without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life (means the Holy Spirit intended Melchisedec to be without genealogy, in order that he may serve as the Type); but made like unto the Son of God (actually says, “to be likened to the Son of God”); abideth a Priest continually. (This refers to Christ of Whom Melchisedec was a Type.) 4 Now consider how great this man was (the Text plainly tells us here that Melchisedec was a man, not an Angel, etc., as taught by some), unto whom even the Patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. (By use of the word “Patriarch” regarding Abraham, we know this speaks of Abraham’s position as “Father of the Faithful.” As well, we are told here how the standard is set as it regards the financing of the Work of God on Earth.) 5 And verily they who are of the sons of Levi (proclaims the Apostle now showing the difference between Law and Grace, and that the former is vastly inferior to the latter), who receive the Office of the Priesthood (specifying those of the Tribe of Levi who were Priests; all were not! only the sons of Aaron were), have a commandment to take Tithes of the people according to the Law, that is, of their Brethren (refers to the fact that the people were to pay Tithes to the Priesthood under the old Mosaic economy), though they come out of the loins of Abraham (the Jews were fond of boasting that they had Abraham as their father, meaning they were his descendants; so, using him as an example, Paul proves that the Aaronic system was much inferior to the Order of Melchisedec, or else Abraham would not have paid Tithes to this man): 6 But he (Melchisedec) whose descent is not counted from them (from Israel) received Tithes of Abraham, and blessed him who had the Promises. (This proclaims the fact that Melchisedec blessed Abraham, despite the fact that it was Abraham to whom the great Promises of God had been given. The only way one could be greater than Abraham is that he would be a Type of Christ, which Melchisedec was.) 7 And without all contradiction (means that what he is saying cannot be contradicted) the less (Abraham) is blessed of the better (Melchisedec, who was a Type of Christ; this has Paul saying that Christ is better than any other system, and is the only One Who can properly Bless). 8 And here men who die receive Tithes (refers to the Levitical Priesthood, which, in fact, was still being carried on at the time Paul wrote these words); but there he receives them (refers back to the Passage in Genesis where Melchisedec is recorded as having received Tithes), of whom it is witnessed that he lives. (This refers to the Eternal Priesthood of Christ, of which Melchisedec was the Type.) 9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives Tithes (because Tithes were paid to Levi, i.e., “the Priestly Order,” in no way means this was the superior Order), paid Tithes in Abraham. (This struck a telling blow in Paul’s argument regarding the superiority of the Priestly Order of Melchisedec. If Abraham paid Tithes to Melchisedec [which he was instructed by the Lord to do], and Abraham is the father of the Jewish people [meaning Levi was in his loins], then Levi also paid Tithes to Melchisedec. This placed the whole of the Jewish system as second to that of Christ.) 10 For he (Levi) was yet in the loins of his father (Abraham), when Melchisedec met him. (This makes the New Covenant better than the Old, which is the argument of the Book of Hebrews.)
CHRIST’S PRIESTHOOD
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical Priesthood (in effect, says this was not the case), (for under it the people received the Law,) (This proclaims the fact that if the Levitical Priesthood [which was a part of the Law] was changed, which it was, then the Law had to be changed also.) what further need was there that another Priest should rise after the Order of Melchisedec (since the Levitical Priesthood brought nothing to completion, not merely another Priest was needed, but another Priest of a different kind altogether), and not be called after the Order of Aaron? (This presents the fact that the Order of Aaron must give way to the Order of Melchisedec, a better Priesthood, which it was always meant to do.) 12 For the Priesthood being changed (refers to the Priestly Order of Aaron now being abrogated to make way for the original Priesthood that preceded it, which, in effect, had predicted this very thing), there is made of necessity a change also of the Law. (The connection between the Priesthood and the Law means a change in one involves a change in the other.) 13 For He (Christ) of Whom these things are spoken pertains to another Tribe (Christ was not of the Tribe of Levi, from which all Levitical Priests had to come, but rather was of the Tribe of Judah), of which no man gave attendance at the Altar. (This carries the obvious meaning that none of the Tribe of Judah officiated at the Altar, as it pertained to the Sacrifices, that being the domain of the Levites exclusively.) 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah (presents a fact that was not questioned, even by the most ardent of the enemies of our Lord); of which Tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning Priesthood. (The Tribe of Judah had nothing to do with the Priesthood, and the Priesthood had nothing to do with the Tribe of Judah.) 15 And it is yet far more evident (something plainly obvious, which speaks here of the Priesthood of Christ): for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there arises another Priest (refers to the necessity of such, and that God had chosen Melchisedec to be the Type of Christ), 16 Who (the Lord Jesus) is made (made a High Priest through His Atoning Sacrifice of Himself), not after the Law of a carnal commandment (the idea is that the Levitical Priesthood was weak and frail, due to man’s frailty of which it was made, and, thereby, needed a replacement), but after the power of an endless life. (This refers to Christ, Who was raised from the dead and lives forever, and will, thereby, be the “High Priest” forever.) 17 For He (God) testifies (Ps. 110:4), You (Christ) are a Priest forever after the Order of Melchisedec. (This Order of Priesthood was made in this way so that it might address the entirety of mankind, both Jews and Gentiles. The Levitical Priesthood only addressed the Jews.) 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the Commandment (presents the end of the Law, which was all done by Christ, and was intended all the time) going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. (This refers to the problems with the Old Law, and that it was of temporary character.) 19 For the Law (Law of Moses) made nothing perfect (the Law was a mirror which showed what man was, but had no power to change man), but the bringing in of a better hope did (refers to Christ and what He did for us at the Cross); by the which we draw near unto God. (The Law of Moses could not open the door to the Holy of Holies for all of mankind, but the Cross did!)
A BETTER SACRIFICE
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath (earthly Jewish Priests were not sworn in by an oath, simply because they were temporary) He (Christ) was made Priest (when Jesus was made a High Priest, God took an oath guaranteeing the unending character of His Priesthood): 21 (For those Priests were made without an oath (the Jewish Priests); but this (the Lord Jesus Christ) with an oath by Him (by God the Father) Who said unto Him (said unto Christ), The Lord sware and will not repent (means the Lord will not change His Mind), You are a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) (Ps. 110:4) 22 By so much was Jesus (proclaims the fact that all of Redemption is bound up totally and completely in Christ) made a surety (guarantee) of a better Testament (a better Covenant). 23 And they truly were many Priests (many Priests were needed under the Mosaic economy because the Sacrifices were vastly inferior), because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death (portrays the inferiority of the Old Jewish system): 24 But this Man (the Lord Jesus Christ), because He continues ever (proclaims the Priesthood of Christ as Eternal, while death was inevitable as it regarded the Aaronic Priests), has an unchangeable Priesthood. (This not only refers to that which is Eternal, but to that which will not change as far as its principle is concerned as well. The reason is the Finished Work of the Cross is an “Everlasting Covenant” [Heb. 13:20].) 25 Wherefore He (the Lord Jesus Christ) is able also to save them to the uttermost (proclaims the fact that Christ Alone has made the only true Atonement for sin; He did this at the Cross) who come unto God by Him (proclaims the only manner in which man can come to God), seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them. (His very Presence by the Right Hand of the Father guarantees such, with nothing else having to be done [Heb. 1:3].) 26 For such an High Priest became us (presents the fact that no one less exalted could have met the necessities of the human race), Who is Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners (describes the spotless, pure, Perfect Character of the Son of God as our Great High Priest; as well, this tells us Christ did not become a sinner on the Cross, as some claim, but was rather the Sin-Offering), and made higher than the Heavens (refers to the fact that He is seated at the Right Hand of the Father, which is the most exalted position in Heaven or Earth); 27 Who needs not daily (refers to the daily Sacrifices offered by the Priests under the old Jewish economy), as those High Priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s (refers to the work of the Jewish High Priest on the Great Day of Atonement, which specified their unworthiness; Christ did not have to function accordingly): for this He did once, when He offered up Himself. (This refers to His Death on the Cross, which Atoned for all sin — past, present, and future, making no further Sacrifices necessary.) 28 For the Law (Law of Moses) makes men High Priests which have infirmity (refers to the fact that the system was imperfect because it depended on frail men); but the word of the oath (the Promise of God that He was going to institute a superior Priesthood, far superior to the old Levitical Order [Ps. 110:4]), which was since the Law (refers to the fact that the Oath was given some five hundred years before the Law was given to Moses), makes the Son (the Lord Jesus), Who is consecrated (means that He, and He Alone, can function in this capacity) for evermore. (This Covenant is perfect because the Son is Perfect, because what He did at the Cross is Perfect, which means it will never have to be replaced.)
Psalms 76:2 (KJV)
2 In Salem also is His Tabernacle, and His Dwelling Place in Zion. (“Salem” is Jerusalem. “Zion” is where the Tabernacle was located, near where the Temple would later be built. God then dwelt in the Tabernacle in the Holy of Holies, between the Mercy Seat and the Cherubim. Due to the Cross, He now dwells in the hearts and lives of Believers [I Cor. 3:16].)
1 Corinthians 3:16 (KJV)
16 Know you not that you are the Temple of God (where the Holy Spirit abides), and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? (That makes the Born-Again Believer His permanent Home.)
Psalms 122:3 (KJV)
3 Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together (this statement in abbreviated form exclaims the fact of Jerusalem’s tremendous troubles of the past, which are now over):
Genesis 14:18 (KJV)
18 And Melchizedek (this man appears on the scene, who is a King and a Priest and, above all, who is a Type of Christ [Ps. 110:4; Heb. 5:5-6]; some Scholars believe that Melchizedek could actually have been Shem, the son of Noah; Shem was alive at this time, and actually lived for about 60 years more; in fact, some think he died when Abraham was about 150 years of age; his name means, “King of Righteousness” and “King of Peace” [Heb. 7:2]) king of Salem (Jerusalem) brought forth bread and wine (the “bread and wine” symbolize the broken Body and shed Blood of our Lord, which was necessary for the Salvation of mankind [Mat. 26:29; Mk., Chpt. 14; Lk. 22:15; Rom. 8:21]): and he was the Priest of the Most High God. (Melchizedek, as a Priest, symbolized the coming Christ, Who is our Great High Priest [Heb. 7:15-17]. David prophesied, about a thousand years after Abraham, “The Lord has sworn, and will not repent, You [Christ] are a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” [Ps. 110:4]. Abraham is here introduced to God by a different name than he had previously known, “El Elyon,” meaning “Most High God.”)
Genesis 14:14-15 (KJV)
14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus.
Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the Government shall be upon His Shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (This glorious Promise pertains not only to the First Advent, but to the Second Advent, as well. The pronoun “us” refers to Israel. From the Seed of Abraham, which spawned the Jewish people, and hence ultimately the Messiah, the greatest Promise of all time would finally be fulfilled. The phrase, “Government on His Shoulder,” refers to the coming Kingdom Age, when Christ will rule and reign over the entirety of the Earth [Dan. 7:13-14; I Cor. 15:24-28; Rev. 11:15; 20:4-10].)
Daniel 7:13-14 (KJV)
THE SECOND ADVENT OF THE MESSIAH
13 I saw in the night Visions, and, behold, One like the Son of Man came with the clouds of Heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. (This “One like the Son of Man” is “The Lord Jesus Christ.” We have here the Trinity represented: God the Father, i.e., “the Ancient of Days,” “The Son of Man,” Who, as stated, is Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, Who inspired this.) 14 And there was given Him Dominion, and Glory, and a Kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His Dominion is an Everlasting Dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (This Verse corresponds with 2:35. This Kingdom of Righteousness will begin immediately after the Second Coming, with Christ as its Supreme and Eternal Head.)
1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (KJV)
24 Then comes the end (does not refer to the time immediately following the Rapture or even the Second Coming, but rather to when all Satanic rule and authority have been put down, which will take place at the conclusion of the Millennial Reign [Rev., Chpt. 20]), when He (Jesus) shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. (He will have put down all of Satan’s rule, etc.; the means of which were made possible by the Cross and the Resurrection.) 25 For He (Jesus) must reign (refers to the 1,000 year reign of Christ on Earth after He returns), till He has put all enemies under His Feet (the subjugation of all evil powers, which will take place at the conclusion of the Millennial Reign [Rev., Chpt. 20]). 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed (abolished) is death (Death is the result of sin [Rom. 6:23], and the Cross addressed all sin. After the Resurrection, when all Saints are given glorified bodies, it will be impossible to sin. Even during the Millennial Reign, sin will still be in the world, but not in the Glorified Saints. It will be eradicated when Satan and all his fallen angels and demons spirits, plus all people who followed him, are cast into the Lake of Fire, where they will remain forever [Rev., Chpt. 20]. Death will then be no more.) 27 For He has put all things under His feet. (God the Father has put all things under the Feet of Jesus.) But when He said all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. (This has reference to the fact that “all things” do not include God the Father being made subject to Jesus. God is excepted, as should be obvious.) 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto Him (implies that in Paul’s day, this total dominion had not yet been exercised and, in fact, has not done so unto this present hour; but the time will come when it definitely shall be, which will be at the close of the Millennial Reign), then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him Who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. (There will be no trace of evil left anywhere in the Universe.)
Revelation 11:15 (KJV)
15 And the seventh Angel sounded (marks the beginning of the last three and one half years of the Great Tribulation); and there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever. (This is said in anticipation, and will definitely come to pass at the conclusion of this three and one half year period at the Second Coming of the Lord.)
Revelation 20:4-10 (KJV)
THE MILLENNIUM
4 And I saw Thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them (refers to the 24 Elders who represent the entire Plan of God, which pertains to the Redeemed of all ages; we aren’t told who these men are): and I saw the souls of them who were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the Beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands (categorizes the Tribulation Saints who gave their lives for the cause of Christ; the idea is that these will be included in the first Resurrection of Life, and will enjoy all its privileges); and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (This is the Kingdom Age.) 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. (This pertains to all the unsaved, in fact, all those who lived and died since the dawn of time. The souls and spirits of these people are now in Hell [Lk. 16:19-31].) This is the First Resurrection (proclaims the fact that these two Resurrections, the Resurrection of the Just and the Resurrection of the Unjust, will be separated by 1,000 years). 6 Blessed and Holy is he who has part in the First Resurrection (this is the Resurrection of Life, which will include every Saint of God who has ever lived from Abel to the last Tribulation Saint; all will be given glorified bodies): on such the second death has no power (the “second death” is to be cast into the Lake of Fire, and to be there forever and forever [Rev. 21:8]; all who are washed in the Blood of the Lamb need not fear the second death), but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years. (All Believers who have part in the First Resurrection will at the same time serve as mediators, so to speak, between the population of the world and God and Christ. The “thousand years” portrays the Kingdom Age, when Christ will reign supreme over the entire Earth.)
SATAN
7 And when the thousand years are expired (should have been translated, “finished”), Satan shall be loosed out of his prison (is not meant to infer a mere arbitrary act on the part of God; He has a very valid reason for doing this), 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the Earth, Gog and Magog (the main reason the Lord allows Satan this latitude is, it seems, to rid the Earth of all who oppose Christ; George Williams says: “The Creation Sabbath witnessed the first seduction, and the Millennial Sabbath will witness the last”; the “Gog and Magog” spoken of by John is a Hebrew term expressive of multitude and magnitude; here it embraces all nations, “the four quarters of the Earth”), to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea (proclaims the fact that virtually all of the population at that particular time, which did not accept Christ during the Kingdom Age, will throw in their lot with Satan). 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the Saints about, and the beloved city (pictures Satan coming against Jerusalem with his army, which will be the last attack against that city): and fire came down from God out of Heaven, and devoured them. (Stipulates that the Lord will make short work of this insurrection. In fact, very little information is given regarding this event, as is obvious.) 10 And the Devil who deceived them was cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone (marks the end of Satan regarding his influence in the world, and, in fact, in any part of the Creation of God), where the Beast and the False Prophet are (proclaims the fact that these two were placed in “the Lake of Fire and Brimstone” some one thousand years earlier [Rev. 19:20]), and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever. (This signifies the Eternity of this place. It is a matter of interest to note that Satan’s first act is recorded in Gen., Chpt. 3 [the third Chapter from the beginning], whereas his last act on a worldwide scale is mentioned in Rev., Chpt. 20 [the third Chapter from the end].)
Psalms 110:4 (KJV)
4 The LORD has sworn, and will not repent, You are a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. (This is addressed in Heb. 5:6 and 6:20. Christ is the Eternal Priest. The Priestly “Order of Melchizedek” was different from the Levitical or the Aaronic Priesthood. The Melchizedek Order was eternal, with the Aaronic Order being temporary [Gen. 14:17–20].)
Hebrews 5:6 (KJV)
6 As He said also in another place (Ps. 110:4), You are a Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. (This is the distinguishing characteristic of this order of Priesthood, and proclaims it as an Eternal One.)
Hebrews 6:20 (KJV)
20 Whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus (presents the imagery of the Great Day of Atonement, when the High Priest entered the most Holy Place on behalf of the people; all of that was a Type of Christ, Who has entered the Holiest for us), made an High Priest forever after the order of Melchisedec. (This presents Christ as not in the line of Aaron, but another Order altogether. The old Levitical Order had an ending. This Order has no ending. Christ is an Eternal High Priest.)
Genesis 14:17-20 (KJV)
MELCHIZEDEK
17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him (Abraham) after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings who were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. (As we shall see here, there is no time so dangerous to the Christian as the morrow after a great spiritual victory.) 18 And Melchizedek (this man appears on the scene, who is a King and a Priest and, above all, who is a Type of Christ [Ps. 110:4; Heb. 5:5-6]; some Scholars believe that Melchizedek could actually have been Shem, the son of Noah; Shem was alive at this time, and actually lived for about 60 years more; in fact, some think he died when Abraham was about 150 years of age; his name means, “King of Righteousness” and “King of Peace” [Heb. 7:2]) king of Salem (Jerusalem) brought forth bread and wine (the “bread and wine” symbolize the broken Body and shed Blood of our Lord, which was necessary for the Salvation of mankind [Mat. 26:29; Mk., Chpt. 14; Lk. 22:15; Rom. 8:21]): and he was the Priest of the Most High God. (Melchizedek, as a Priest, symbolized the coming Christ, Who is our Great High Priest [Heb. 7:15-17]. David prophesied, about a thousand years after Abraham, “The Lord has sworn, and will not repent, You [Christ] are a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” [Ps. 110:4]. Abraham is here introduced to God by a different name than he had previously known, “El Elyon,” meaning “Most High God.”) 19 And he (Melchizedek) blessed him (Abraham), and said, Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, Possessor of heaven and Earth: (Melchizedek blessing Abraham means that the standing of Melchizedek was greater than that of Abraham. The reason? Melchizedek was a Type of Christ [Heb. 7:4, 7].) 20 And blessed be the Most High God, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand. (We find here that Melchizedek did not come forth when Abraham was in pursuit of Chedorlaomer, but when the king of Sodom was in pursuit of Abraham. This makes a great moral difference. Mackintosh says: “A deeper character of communion was needed to meet the deeper character of conflict.”) And he gave him tithes of all. (This is the first time that “tithes” are mentioned in Scripture. It refers to a tenth part. Abraham paid tithe to Melchizedek, who was a Type of Christ; consequently, Abraham’s children, which make up the Church presently, are to continue to pay tithe to those carrying out the Work of God.)
Hebrews 1:3 (KJV)
3 Who being the brightness of His Glory (the radiance of God’s Glory), and the express Image of His Person (the exact reproduction), and upholding all things by the Word of His Power (carries the meaning of Jesus not only sustaining the weight of the universe, but also maintaining its coherence and carrying on its development), when He had by Himself purged our sins (which He did at the Cross, dealing with sin regarding its cause, its power, and its guilt), sat down on the Right Hand of the Majesty on high (speaks of the Finished Work of Christ, and that the Sacrifice was accepted by the Father);
