Picking the flow back up with Melchizedek, as the ancient example of Christ's never ending Priesthood, into which we are set in salvation. And how it is that Christ's Priesthood is far superior in make up and design, to that of Melchizedek's and even that of the Levitical priesthood of Israel's.
Hebrews 7:1-3, 4-10 "For this Melchizedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 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; 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.
Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 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: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him." (KJV)
Hebrews 7:1-3, 4-10 "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. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 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.
See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 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 and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 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." (ESV)
Hebrews 7:1-3, 4-10 "This is the same Melchizedek, King of Salem, Priest of the Supreme GOD, who met Abraham after he had defeated the four kings, and blessed him. It was to him Abraham gave a tent part of all the spoils. To begin to appreciate the significance of this Melchizedek, we must first appreciate the meaning of his name: King of [1]Righteousness and King of [2]Peace. He is the one who administers GOD's promise and guarantees his ability to restore us to blameless innocence and wholeness! (The word, [1, G1343 from G1342 ] dikaiosune, means equity, righteousness, is from (G1342, dikaios, meaning innocence, from G1349 dike, two parts finding likeness in one another, justice; [2, G1515 ] eirene, meaning peace, from a primary verb, eirō meaning join, by implication prosperity: - one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again, in carpentry it is referred to as a dove-tail joint, which is the strongest joint. In Hebrew, the word is [2, H7965 from H7999 shâlam, meaning be safe]shalom , meaning completeness, wholeness, friendship. The Hebrew word for righteousness is [1, H6664 from H6663 tsâdaq, means to be cleansed, be clean] tzedek, referring to the wooden beam in a scale of balances. See the note on 2Corinthians 6:14. The gospel is the revelation of the righteousness of GOD; it declares how GOD got it right to put humanity right with him, again. The English word righteousness comes form the Anglo Saxon word, rightwiseness, wise in that which right.) These exists no record that can link Melchizedek to a natural father or mother; no birth certificate neither any account of his death, nor is there any record of his age. He resembles exactly the Son of GOD: his priesthood abides without beginning or end. (This was at a time where detailed records were not kept of every genealogy.)
Now carefully consider this; the fact that Abraham the great Patriarch gave him a tenth portion of the spoils just goes to show a distinguished man Melchizedek must have been in Abraham's estimation, and what an impression he had made on him! (There two books out there titled "Jasher" and "Enoch," one or the other tells that Abram spent years with Melchizedek growing up. In the Hebrew mind, Abraham was the most important individual standing as a reference to their identity and tradition.) Levi's sons, who were priests by natural birth and by descent, were obliged by law to receive tithes from their brethren, even though they were equals and shared a common Father in Abraham. However, Melchizedek here receives tithes from everyone associated with Abraham, despite his having no natural link to their lineage. In the blessing that he pronounced over Abraham he recognized Abraham as the holder of GOD'S promises. (He confirmed the Good News of the promise of righteousness represented by Abraham's faith in GOD'S Faithfulness, just as did the man Jesus.) In principle, the junior always receives the blessing from the senior person. In the case of the Levites, the duration of their priesthood is contemporaneous with their lifespan; but Scripture declares that Melchizedek's life has no end. My reasoning is that even Levi, who would later receive the tithe, had already paid the tithe to Melchizedek in Abraham. When Melchizedek and Abraham met, Levi was already in the loins of his father. (By the time Levi was born, Melchizedek was still alive; since he had no beginning of time nor end of life, in him time and eternity meet.) (The Mirror, with editing)
Until our next post may the LORD of ALL become our closest friend.
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