Hebrews 7:1-10

The Greater Priest

Introduction
Symbols point to a greater reality. For example, what does this symbol make you
think of? How about this one? One more. A symbol points to a greater reality.
Melchizedek is like that for the author of Hebrews. He sees in the historical person of
Melchizedek a prophetic symbol that points to a future and greater reality. Theologians
call this prophetic symbol a “type” and the fulfillment the “antitype.” Melchizedek, priest
of the most-high God, is a prophetic symbol, or type, that points to a greater priest.
Jesus is the future and greater reality, the antitype. That’s the main point of Hebrews
7:1-10, Melchizedek points to the greater priest. As I mentioned, the reason the author
wants his readers to see this is so that they will hold on to faith in Jesus.
I’m guessing none of us are tempted to go back to Judaism. But we might be
tempted to leave Jesus for something more culturally acceptable. Something more
vaguely spiritual but less religious. But here’s the thing. For all our secularism, we’re
still very religious. Consider this observation:
Even in this permissive, materialist age, people go to extraordinary lengths to
atone for their guilt. Consider the vast numbers of Americans who spend their
days maniacally trying to prove their upright status in the eyes of secular deities –
conspicuously announcing their support for enlightened causes, loudly
denouncing bigotry and xenophobia, and proclaiming their loyalty to ethically
manufactured products.1

You might be tempted to leave Jesus, but you won’t ever leave trying to prove your
upright status – it’s built in to every one of us. So, the author’s message is as relevant
for us as it was for his original hearers.

1 https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-new-take-on-the-apostle-paul-11558048430

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 Hebrews 7:1-10
The Greater Priest
In Hebrews chapter 5, the author introduced Jesus as priest “after the order of
Melchizedek.” After a slight detour, he’s finally ready to unpack this Melchizedek thing.
He begins by reminding us of the story of Melchizedek. Look at verses 1-2.

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham
returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham
apportioned a tenth part of everything. (Heb. 7:1-2a)

The story of Melchizedek and Abraham is found in Genesis 14. It’s around 2000 BC.
We read that Abraham’s nephew Lot was captured by a coalition of kings. Abraham
gets wind of what has happened and recruits 318 men to rescue Lot. Abraham, with his
special ops forces gives chase, attacks the kings, and defeats them. He rescues Lot,
his family, and many others. (You didn’t know Abraham was such a bad dude!) Now
picture Abraham – Rambo-like – victoriously riding his camel back home. In Genesis 14
we read:
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of
God Most High.) And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. (Gen. 14:18-20)

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The Greater Priest
Two verses in Genesis is all we know of Melchizedek. But we learn a couple important
things. He’s king of a city called Salem (probably an older name for Jerusalem.) He’s
priest of the Most High God. This is the first time “priest” is used in the OT. Long
before God appoints priests from the tribe of Levi Melchizedek serves as God’s priest.
Priests had a number of important functions. They offered sacrifices on behalf of the
people. This enabled sinful people to relate to a holy God (at least temporarily). The
priest also prayed to God on behalf of the people; they asked God to help his people.
After reminding us of Melchizedek’s story, the author goes on to tease out the
significance. Melchizedek is a prophetic symbol that points to a future and greater
reality. Melchizedek points to the greater priest. And his name is Jesus. Specifically,
the author identifies three clues that show how Melchizedek points to the greater priest.
1. Melchizedek’s character points to the greater priest
2. Melchizedek’s qualifications point to the greater priest
3. Melchizedek’s superiority points to the greater priest

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 Hebrews 7:1-10
The Greater Priest
1. Melchizedek’s character points to the greater priest.
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God… He is first, by
translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem,
that is, king of peace. (Heb. 7:1a, 2b)

In Hebrew “Melek” means “King” and “Sedeq” means “Righteousness.” So,

Melchizedek literally means “king of righteousness.” And that means his
character was “righteous.” He did what was right in God’s sight. Contrast this
with the Levitical priests who had to offer sacrifices for their own sin. The
implication: Melchizedek possessed greater righteousness. And this priest’s title
“king of Salem” means “king of peace.” A number of OT prophecies point to a
person where righteousness and peace are two prominent character qualities.
For example, Isaiah 9:6-7 speaks of a person who is known as “Prince of peace”
who goes on to rule with “righteousness.” The NT specifically identifies Jesus as
“The Righteous One” (1 John 2:1) and the one who is “our righteousness” (1 Cor.
1:30). The NT also says of Jesus, “For he himself is our peace” (Eph. 2:14).
Jesus, in his person, brings together two character qualities: righteousness and
peace. Psalm 85 also pointed to Jesus when it says, in the Lord “righteousness
and peace kiss each other.” So, Melchizedek’s character points to the greater
priest. And his name is Jesus!
Even in our day, we know the importance of character. Historians
consistently rate Abraham Lincoln and George Washington as our greatest
presidents. Why? In part because they possessed great character and integrity.
Character and greatness are related. Jesus is the greater priest because he is
the king of righteousness and peace!

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 Hebrews 7:1-10
The Greater Priest
Now, I think this teaching would have excited the original readers. They knew
they needed a priest in order to come to God. For us, talk of a priest seems
outdated and boring. But I think deep down you know you need a priest. For all
our secularism we are still very religious. For example, we talk about “clean”
eating. Sounds very OT to me. Moral psychologist Jonathan Haidt, in his 2012
book The Righteous Mind, says, “an obsession with righteousness is the
normal human condition.” Meaning that the longing for righteousness is deep
within each of us. And with it, an obsession with trying to establish a sense of
our own “rightness.” We want to prove our upright status. We want to feel good
about ourselves. We use school, work, parenting, romance, food – anything – to
prove to ourselves and others that we are worthy of love and acceptance. In that
way, we are very religious. I recently heard an interview with Elton John where
he admitted that if he did 100 shows last year, he feels like he should do 120
shows this year. “Why?” he asked himself. “I don’t know” was his answer. But
there is an answer. Like many of us, “he equates busyness with worthiness.”
Elton, like every one of us, wants to prove he is worthy, that he’s enough, that
he’s “righteous.” But Elton’s experience is our experience – it’s never enough.
The good news is that Jesus is the greater priest who provides the perfect
righteousness you know you need; and the perfect righteousness required to
come to a holy God. By receiving Jesus’ life and death for you, God declares
you “righteous” now. The verdict is in. Court is adjourned. And you have peace
with God. When you trust Jesus, his righteousness is your righteousness. No
more having to prove your upright status. You are free to work; not to prove you
are worthy but to glorify Christ and please him. You are free to parent; not to
prove how great a parent you are but in love and service your children. You are
free to eat “clean” or “unclean” because neither proves – or disproves – your
upright status. In Jesus the verdict of “righteous” is given and court is adjourned!
So, how does Melchizedek point to the greater priest? First, Melchizedek’s
character points to the greater priest. Second, Melchizedek’s qualifications point
to the greater priest.
2. Melchizedek’s qualifications point to the greater priest.

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The Greater Priest
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.
(Hebrews 7:3)

The author of Hebrews uses a common interpretive practice from his day
called the “argument from silence.” He observes what is NOT said in Genesis
about Melchizedek. There is no reference to his genealogy. That is significant
because all Levitical priests had to be able to trace their lineage back to Levi.
But Melchizedek is “without father, without mother, without genealogy.”
Melchizedek can’t trace his priestly qualifications back to a genealogy; only to the
call of God. In this way, Melchizedek’s qualifications point to Jesus, the greater
priest. Jesus traced his earthly genealogy to Judah not Levi. So, like
Melchizedek, Jesus’ priestly qualifications were based solely on the call of God.
As well, Levitical priests served a limited term. Death came for every priest.
But Melchizedek was different. In Genesis 14 there is no mention of his birth or
death. That’s how the author can say that Melchizedek had “neither beginning of
days nor end of life.” This suggests a continuous priesthood. So, Melchizedek’s
qualification of an endless life points to the greater priest. In fact, the comparison
goes both ways. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead means he continues a priest
forever. In this way, Melchizedek, “resembles the Son of God in that he
continues a priest forever.”

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The Greater Priest
We get the importance of qualifications. If you were going in for surgery,
you’d want a surgeon with excellent qualifications. An AT&T commercial picks
up on this. There’s a man in a hospital bed waiting to have surgery. His wife
asks the nurse about the surgeon. The nurse says, “he’s OK.” “Just OK?” the
man asks a little worried. At this point the doctor comes down the hallway
shouting “Guess who just got reinstated?” When he enters the room, he
confesses he wasn’t officially reinstated. He then asks the man if he’s nervous.
“Yeah” he answers. The doctor says, “I’m nervous, too, but don’t worry we’ll
figure it out”. The tagline is “Just OK is not OK.” If that’s true with a surgeon how
much more for a priest! Melchizedek’s qualifications point to the greater priest!
It may seem like a leap for the author to use the “argument from silence.” But
really, he’s following an important interpretive principle: Scripture interprets
Scripture. The author of Hebrews is a careful interpreter. He notices that David,
inspired by the Holy Spirit, refers to Melchizedek in Psalm 110:4, “The Lord has
sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever after the order of
Melchizedek.’” So, he’s reading Genesis 14 in light of Psalm 110. No
genealogy, birth, death in Gen. 14 fits with Psalm 110. Then, in light of Jesus’
resurrection he sees Jesus fulfills the Psalm 110 promise of a forever priest.
That’s how Melchizedek’s qualifications point to the greater priest.
Here’s why that is significant for you: Jesus is not a dead priest! If you’ve
received Jesus as your great high priest, he always lives to make intercession for
you. He is a living priest who right now sympathizes with your suffering. Some
of you are sick. Some of you are out of work. Some of you have experienced
profound loss. Jesus knows life in a fallen world is hard. He sympathizes with
you and is now praying for you. He is a living priest who also knows what it’s like
to face temptation. Some of you are tempted to lust. Some are tempted to
despair. Some are tempted to greed. All of us are sufferers and sinners. Jesus,
your living priest, knows what it’s like to face temptation and is now praying for
you. He’s for you! You have a priest who always lives to pray for you. Today,
tomorrow, and next week.

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 Hebrews 7:1-10
The Greater Priest
The author of Hebrews wants us to see that Jesus fulfills this mysterious
priesthood Melchizedek represents. He identifies three clues that show how
Melchizedek points to the greater priest. We’ve looked at the first two.
Melchizedek’s character and qualifications point to the greater priest. Finally,
Melchizedek’s superiority points to the greater priest.

3. Melchizedek’s superiority points to the greater priest.

In recounting Melchizedek’s story from Genesis 14, the author mentions two
important actions: Melchizedek blessed Abraham and Abraham gave
Melchizedek a tenth of everything. These actions show Melchizedek’s
superiority.
Verse 4 begins, “See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch
gave a tenth of the spoils!” The principle is simple: the inferior pays tithes to the
superior. This is significant because Abraham is the greatest OT figure. He is
THE patriarch. The head. The father of the nation Israel. In this sense he’s
superior to his great grandson Levi and the Levitical priests. So, Abraham – the
greatest OT figure – when he met Melchizedek gave him tithes. This
demonstrates Melchizedek’s superiority.
But maybe you’re thinking, “wait a minute” the Levitical priests received tithes
from their fellow Israelites. That doesn’t mean they were superior. The author
anticipates this objection in verses 5-6, “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. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes
from Abraham…” The author’s point is that the Levites receive tithes from their
fellow Israelites because God commanded it, not because the Levites were
naturally superior to their brothers and sisters. But it’s different with Melchizedek.
Abraham, by instinct – not command, paid tithes to Melchizedek. This speaks to
Melchizedek’s natural superiority.
He builds on this superiority theme by pointing out that one living priest who
receives tithes is superior to any number of dead priests.

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The Greater Priest
Further, we see the superiority of Melchizedek over the Levitical priesthood in
the idea of covenantal representation. It’s the idea that, in a sense, what the
father does the children, grandchildren, and great-children also do because they
are, so to speak, “in” the father. “One might even say that Levi himself, who
receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his
ancestor when Melchizedek met him.” So, Melchizedek’s priesthood is superior
because the Levitical priests, so to speak, paid tithes to Melchizedek. The
inferior pays tithes to the superior.
Melchizedek’s superiority is also seen in that he formally blessed Abraham.
Like paying a tithe, Abraham instinctually knows he should receive the blessing
from Melchizedek. The principle: the superior blesses the inferior. We see this
in a number of formal blessings. For example, Isaac blesses Jacob. Jacob
blesses his sons. In Abraham’s case it’s very significant. God promised
Abraham directly, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Yet
Abraham is blessed by Melchizedek. And the author of Hebrews says, “It is
beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.” And the point of all
this is that Melchizedek’s superiority points to the greater priest.
Queen Elizabeth is the head of the British Empire. When people come to
meet her, they bow or curtsey. These acts demonstrate Elizabeth’s superiority.
It would be shocking to see her bow or curtsey to someone else. It’s the same
with Abraham. Though he is the head of Israel, yet shockingly he pays tithes and
is blessed by Melchizedek. And these acts demonstrate Melchizedek’s
superiority.

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The Greater Priest
Here’s why that’s significant: Jesus is the greater priest who provides a
superior sacrifice for you. As the author says later, “it is impossible for the
sacrifice of bulls and goats to take away sins.” These point to the reality of
Christ’s sacrifice of himself on the cross. A once for all sacrifice that takes away
sins! All your sins – past, present, future. No doubt, many of you come this
morning with a sense of guilt and shame. Maybe for something you did – or
didn’t do – this morning. Or last week. Or last year. Or ten years ago. God
says that because of Jesus’ once for all sacrifice he will remember your sins no
more. You can believe that because that’s what God says Jesus’ superior
sacrifice accomplished!
And through this superior sacrifice your greater priest secures for you a
superior blessing. God’s favor, acceptance, and love. Peace and relationship
with your Creator. Listen to me. Blessing is what we all seek. In fact, we pursue
the things we do because we believe they will bless us. Money, fame, romance,
sex, porn, comfort, drugs, success all promise blessing. That’s why we pursue
them. And with most of these there is a temporary blessing. But ask any rock
star if money, fame, drugs and success provide real and lasting blessing. They
don’t. They can’t. Because we were made for the superior blessing of Knowing
God. And Jesus, your greater priest, provides a superior sacrifice that secures
this superior blessing. Today, tomorrow, and 10,000 years from now.

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Conclusion
The author of Hebrews wants us to hold fast to Jesus. Though Melchizedek gets
only two verses in the historical narrative, the author sees in Melchizedek a
priesthood that is greater than the Levitical priesthood in every way. Like a road
symbol sign points to a greater reality, Melchizedek points to the greater priest.
Melchizedek’s character, qualifications, and superiority all point to the greater priest.
Jesus is that greater reality; that greater priest. Because Jesus has greater
character, he’s able to give us the righteousness we need; because Jesus has
greater qualifications, he always lives to make intercession for us; because Jesus is
superior, he gives himself as a superior sacrifice that results in a superior blessing.
You probably won’t be tempted to go back to Judaism but most of us will be tempted
to leave Jesus for something more vaguely spiritual but less religious. But don’t be
fooled. We can never escape our “obsession with righteousness” because God has
fixed it in our hearts. And God has also “fixed a day on which he will judge the
world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has
given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” On that day, none of our
efforts to prove our upright status will make the grade. Only those who trust in
Jesus, the greater priest, have the verdict “righteous.”

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