Christ the True and Better
The True and Better High Priest
Christ Our Promise & Forever High Priest
Hebrews 7:4-10 pt.8
READ: Hebrews 7:1-3
REVIEW:
- What is the significance of the tithe? - Tithe is the firsts, “...is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord.” - Leviticus 27:30-33; All the “tithe is the Lord and Holy unto Him. - Numbers 18:21; Though God had given the priest the tithe to provide for them, the priests were not exempt from paying tithes with the tithe they were given. - Numbers 18:26; The tithe was commanded to be totally given and not withheld and must be the firsts. - Leviticus 27:31
- Who is Melchizedek? - HE is King of Righteous, King of Peace, not of or from mankind. HE is Eternal. - Genesis 14:17-24 & Psalm 110:4 & Hebrews 6:20 - 7:10
The Majesty of God demands a worthy response, Holiness requires a heart of awe and wonder. Abraham responds to Melchizedek with the only response worthy of His Majesty, an offering of value from the heart—the firsts of all he had acquired from God’s favor in his victory over the kings. - Hebrews 7:4-5 - “See how great (pelikos: distinguished) this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch (the forefather of faith and the promises) gave a tenth of the spoils! (top of the heap, best, first fruits) 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take (to take or exact, demand and obtain from anyone) tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham.”
Genesis 14:18-20 ‘“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was the priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
The example left for God’s people to learn is, that the giving of firsts should not be because of obligation to a command but solely from the heart in response to God’s Greatness and Majesty. You don’t bless God by what you give, you give because God is the only one worthy of it, and in response He blesses you. - Hebrews 7:6-7 - “But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.
The blessing Abraham received, went beyond him and was also received by those who would eventually come from him. The very act of Abraham’s offering was once for all as unto Levi, Christ's offering of being the First Fruits was once for all unto the saints. - Hebrews 7:8-10 - “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. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.”
