CHAPTER 7

INTRODUCTION:
Ordinarily, I don't write introductions to chapters.
However, this chapter is a very important one.
It establishes the Biblical fact that Jesus IS the HIGH PRIEST of ALL mankind!
ONLY Jesus can absolve us of sins!
ONLY Jesus can teach us the pathway to heaven!

The law of God ESTABLISHED the high priest of Israel.
But the OATH of God establishes the true believer's HIGH PRIEST as JESUS!
That "oath" (verse 28 mentions) is found in Psalm 110:4.

VSS 1-3
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham
returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of
righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor
end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

In Gen. 14, verses 18-22, the Scripture declares Melchizedek as "priest of the
most high God."
There are no historical records of Melchizedek's birth or death.
There is no record of him ever having been king of "Salem" (Jerusalem).

Melchizedec physically brought bread and wine to Abraham, after he had conquered
Abraham paid him tithes.

And, yes, I believe this appearance of Melchizedek could have been an appearance of the
pre-incarnate Christ, Jesus.
There are many OTHER places where the pre-incarnate Christ appears to Abraham and to
others in the Old Testament.
((See: Gen. 3:8, Gen. 18:1, Joshua 5:13-14, Judges 6:12, Judges 13:3-20, Isaiah 6:1-6
just for starters.))

VSS 4-6
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the
tenth of the spoils.
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a
commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though
they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him
that had the promises.

Abraham certainly recognized Mechizedec as the High Priest of "El Elyon," or,
the most high God, for he paid "tithes" to him.
Yet, no law of God had yet been given to pay tithes!

Abraham had not yet seen God declare to the Hebrew nation that the tribe of Levi would
be priests, and would collect "tithes" from the Hebrews.

VSS 7-10
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed
that he liveth.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

Indeed, Abraham conceded to Melchizekec as one GREATER or more SUPERIOR than he.
The Levites, who received tithes of the Hebrew nation, DIED after a few years.
Yet, there is no record Melchizedec DYING!

And, Levi, a descendent of Abraham is counted as paying tithes to Melchizedec!

Now, Jesus died on the cross, but was resurrected on the third day.
And, the Scriptures declare that Jesus EVER LIVETH! (See Heb. 7:25)
Jesus is FOREVER!! FOREVER LORD!! FOREVER the HIGH PRIEST of mankind!!

And, Jesus is declared to be "a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedec."

VSS 11-14
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,)
what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not
be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave
attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing
concerning priesthood.

The "Levitical priesthood" is IMPERFECT!
That is because the Scriptures record there is ONE Who will arise will be "after the
order of Melchizedec."
And, this One will arise out of the tribe of Judah. (See Ps. 110 again)

Nobody ever paid tithes to one from the tribe of Judah before.
Yes, they paid TAXES; but that is not TITHES!

VSS 15-17
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another
priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

So, there must be a CHANGE of the priesthood!
For, Jesus arose out of Judah, and lives forever.
But the Levite priest are "carnal" under the same penalty of death for sin as ALL men!

VSS 18-19
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and
unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we
draw nigh unto God.

The commandment for the Levites to be priests, must be SET ASIDE!
The commandment God gave for them was found in "weakness" and was
unprofitable in that the law cannot save anyone.
But there IS an oath, made by God, for the Savior Jesus to be UNENDING!
We must "draw nigh unto God" THROUGH Jesus Christ!!
HE is the "Christ", the ONLY ANOINTED One of God!! (Philippians 2:5-11)

VSS 20-22
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto
him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

In Ps. 110:1 David acknowledge that GOD said David's descendent would be
"Lord" or RULER of all!

Therefore, this Ruler would provide a BETTER "testament," or covenant!

The NEW Testament that God makes with ALL mankind, is given through Jesus
Who LIVES FOREVER!

VSS 23-24
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

Furthermore, the high priests of Israel, could NOT "continue by reason of DEATH"

But Jesus "continueth ever!"
AND, He has an "UNCHANGEABLE Priesthood!"

Vs. 25
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him,
seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

OH! GLORY!!
Jesus is "ABLE also to save them to the UTTERMOST!"

When we "draw nigh" to God by surrender to Jesus as Lord, HE is ABLE
to give us ETERNAL LIFE!!
He can do for us, what He did - ARISE from the grave to live FOREVER!

VSS 26-27
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,
and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and
then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

The High Priest, in the Old Testament, had to FIRST make a sacrifice for his OWN sins
because he was carnal - physically living to physical death.
THEN, he could offer sacrifices for others.

But Jesus HAD NO SIN!!
And, His offering of Himself upon the cross for ALL man's sins, needed only to be
done ONCE!!

That's BECAUSE.....

VS 28
28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath,
which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

The sacrifices in the Old Testament were based on men who were sinners.
But the SON (JESUS) was NOT as inner; He was God incarnate!

And Jesus' sacrifice is for ALL mankind, and lasts FOREVER!

Let me just add a point here in conclusion.
When a person comes to Jesus, confesses to be a sinner, pleads to become
Christ's child by grace through faith, his/her sins are COVERED by the BLOOD
of THE Lamb of God!!
And, that penitent sinner is declared to HAVE eternal life IMMEDIATELY!!
Now the BIble speaks to that specifically!
"For I am pesuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor
principalitiees, nor powers, nor things prese, not things to come,
Nor hieght, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the
love of God,which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!" (Rom. 8:38-39)