nthebrews7

Caution to students of God's Word - Please remember two things when using our studies: #1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say. For example: According to the notes in the "Dake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it? Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "Key Knowledge" lessons. These are pamphlets containing knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
published at http://www.theseason.org/

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

Hebrews 7:1 "For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;"

"Salem" in the Hebrew tongue means "peace". Melchizedek was without a beginning, and there is no end to His life. He is supernatural. Genesis 14 gives us the record of Abraham going to battle with the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, and three other kings, against Chedorlaomer, as well as kings that were his allies. Abraham joined with these men of Sodom because the people of Chedorlaomer and their allies had war and over ran Sodom and the cities surrounding it. Chedorlaomer took many people captive, in which Lot, Abraham's nephew and his family were part of the captives.

Ref. Genesis 14: Chedolaomer - 3540 Kedorla` omer (ked-or-law-o'-mer); of foreign origin; Kedorlaomer, an early Persian king: KJV-- Chedorlaomer.

After the battle there were many spoils from the lands that Abraham and his allied armies had conquered, and when the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and their allies divided up the spoils of the battle, Abraham wanted nothing except that which was Lots in the first place.

Genesis 14:16 "And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people."

Genesis 14:17 "And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale."

Genesis 14:18 "(And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the MOST HIGH GOD."

Genesis 14:19 "And He blessed him, and said, "Blessed be Abram of the MOST HIGH GOD, Possessor of heaven and earth."

Hebrews 7:2 "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;"

"A tenth part of all" is the "tithe", and this word comes from the Hebrew tongue.

Genesis 14:20 "And blessed be the MOST HIGH GOD, Which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand." And he gave Him tithes of all."

"Melchizedec" [in the Greek is spelt "Melchisedec] is the priest of the "MOST HIGH GOD", and is also called "the King of Righteousness, the King of Peace [Salem] and the One deserving of the tithe."

Hebrews 7:3 "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."

Our Heavenly Father is not natural, but He is a supernatural entity. He had no pedigree showing His authority, he just showed up before Abraham, yet Abraham knew Him, and that the tithe was deserving to Him.

Melchisedec was made like the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Remember this giving of the tithe took place almost two thousand years before the birth of Jesus, from the womb of the Virgin Mary. The reason that Melchisedec looked like the Son of God, was that He was the Son of God. This should not be a problem of understanding that this King of peace and righteousness was Christ, because there is only one that will fit this description in the entire Bible.

Why would you marvel at Jesus Christ, the Word of God being present during the time of Abraham, when Christ, the Word was present during the reconstruction of this very earth, following the fall of Lucifer/Satan, and the third of the angels who followed him.

Genesis 1:2 "And the earth was ["became" in the Hebrew] without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

God stated in John 1:1-3 that His Son who is the Word was with Him there. John 1:1 "In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

John 1:3 "All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made."

Let's see what Jesus had to say about who Christ was, in relation to Abraham and Melchizedek. This is in response to the scribes and Pharisees questioning of Jesus as to where He came from.

John 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad."

Jesus is telling them that father Abraham not only saw Jesus, but He rejoiced over the day. Abraham saw Jesus and gave Him his tithe.

John 8:57 "Then said the Jews unto Him, "Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?"

John 8:58 "Jesus said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." Here we have the sacred name of God given [I Am]; "I Am the bread;" "I Am the way;" " I Am the truth;" "I Am what ever I want to be;" God said, "I am the Lord".

God identified Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14; "And God said unto Moses, "I AM THAT I AM:" and He said, "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, `I AM hath sent me unto you.' " In the Hebrew tongue, "I AM THAT I AM'" is "'ehyeh 'asher 'ehyeh", which when fully translated says, "I will be what I will be or become" This is why we can say of Jesus Christ that "He was forever after the order of Melchizedek." Use your common sense and listen to the teachings of Christ when He identifies Himself as our once and for all sacrifice, and High Priest; rather then the listening to the "higher critics", who's self-appointed duty is to tare down God's Word.

The name itself reads "Christ". "Melchi" [mel-ki] means "king" in the Hebrew, "zedek" [s-e-dek] means just, or righteous, King of the Just. There is only one, and He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Hebrews 7:4 "Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils."

Consider how great this man Melchisedec was, when even Abraham gave Him his tithe. You only give what is for God, to whom you believe to be God.

Hebrews 7:5 "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:"

Aaron was of the tribe of Levi, and to Aaron and his sons were given the duties of the priests. It was to these men of the Levitical priesthood that were to receive the tithe. This is what the law says, pay your tithe, and that tithe is designated to the ones that teach the law [Word of God], and offer the sacrifice [fulfill the duties of that office for you]. The priest is the one that takes the tithe from the members of the other tribes of Israel that are not of Levi, or the Aaron priesthood.

Though Levi was not even born yet, for he was in the loins of Abraham when the tithe was offered to Melchisedec. Levi was the son of Jacob, who was the grandson of Abraham, and even Jacob's father Isaac had not been born at this time of the tithe. This is saying that he that was supposed to collect tithes, paid those full tithes to Melchisedec through father Abraham.

Hebrews 7:6 "But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises."

Melchizedek was not of the Levitical priesthood, but He still received tithes from Abraham, from which Levi would come. Remember that Levi was the great grandson of Abraham, the son of Jacob [Israel], and had not yet been born yet. This giving of the tithe took place over four hundred years before the Israelites came out of Egypt. Melchizedek had the power to bless Abraham.

This means that Abraham and the Levitical priesthood was less then the order of the priesthood of Melchisedec. This is because Christ is king of Kings and Lord of Lords, the very creator of all things. How can the creation be greater then the creator? It can't! Keep in mind also that just like the Levitical priesthood came through the loins of Abraham, so also came the Word [Jesus Christ], the very one the Abraham blessed, through his own loins. The lineage of Christ as we read in Luke 3:23-43, came through the seed of Abraham.

Luke 3:34 "Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,"

Hebrews 7:8 "And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth."

So here we see that mortal men that will die, still receive tithes, but Christ received tithes as the Priest after the order of Melchisedec only He did not die but lived on. He still lives today as He sits at the right hand of God the Father.

Hebrews 7:9 "And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham."

Even Levi who was to receive tithes, at this time paid tithes to Melchizedec because he was still in the loins of his father Abraham.

Hebrews 7:10 "For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him."

This is saying then that Jesus Christ who is Melchisedec is greater then Abraham, and thus also greater then Levi. Jesus Christ, who is the King and High Priest is the King of the Zadok, which is the priest-kingship of the Millennium age, as recorded in Ezekiel 44. So the statement is made here that even Levi himself, who through the priestly tribe was designated to collect tithes, paid tithes to Melchizedek while in the loins of Abraham. Levi's birth would be over two hundred years from the time of Abraham's tithing to Melchisedec.

Hebrews 7:11 "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 Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"

A better translation of the word "perfection", would be "salvation". This is asking Why it was that when Jesus Christ came, that they didn't call Jesus after the Levitical priesthood, which is the "order of Aaron"? Christ's "ministry" instead was called after the "order of Melchizedek".

The law was good, and the "order of Aaron" is under the law. The law was given as a measuring devise to show man where he falls short of God's law. No man can live completely by the law, and we all will fall short of the law from time to time, but never think that our Heavenly Father's law is bad. It is because of our inability to live and keep the full law, that we have the "order of Melchizedek", where their is forgiveness when we fall short of God's law. That forgiveness comes when we believe on Jesus name, and repent of our sins to our Heavenly Father.

Hebrews 7:12 "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Matthew 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill."

Matthew 5:18 "For verily I way unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot of one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."

Matthew 5:19 "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus said I didn't come to change the sound of one letter in the entire law. What the order of Melchizedek did through Christ, was allowed an extension of the law to bring forgiveness through repentance.

Hebrews 7:13 "For He of Whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man attendance at the altar."

There are truths that are hidden in the Scripture that are a mystery to many Christians. Paul is speaking of the tribe of Judah here, that was to carry the scepter, the right to rule. Genesis 49:10 "The sceptre [right to rule] shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be." From Judah to the second coming of Christ, this is the God given right by God to the lineage of Judah.

The Levite line was to tend the altar, where as the Judah line was to rule, and not tend the altar. The Levitical priesthood was to teach and instruct in the following of the law, and the Judah tribe was maintaining the order under that law, or the judicial aspect of the law.

Hebrews 7:14 "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood."

Hebrews 7:15 "And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another Priest,"

It is true that part of Jesus lineage was from the tribe of Judah, but Jesus also was of the lineage of Levi, through Mary's father.. Jesus Christ's Father was Almighty God. When you read the lineage of Matthew 1, we see that this is the blood line of Joseph, the husband of to be of Mary, who had not one thing to do with the conception of Jesus Christ. Except in the manner by law of an adopted Son.

In Luke 3:23-38 there is another genealogy, only this one is of the Virgin Mary. The term given here, "Which was the" would be better translated "by law". This is giving Joseph's "father in law lineage". It is Mary's father's lineage through David to Abraham. When a female was the only child by law of a family, when she married the seed line of her father would be passed on to her husband. Today we still practice this, and it is called "the inlaws". This is where we get the terms father-in-law, brother-in-law and so on.

Jesus lineage to Levi, comes then from Mary's mother, which we also derive from Luke 1:35, 36. "And the angel answered and said unto her, "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that Holy Thing Which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."

Luke 1:36 "And Behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also concieved a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren."

Eliabeth was married to Zacharias, and thus by law for Zacharias to be serving the feast of the order of the course, both Zacharias and his wife must be of full Levite lineage. We know that Mary's father was of Judah by the lineage given in Luke 3, so the relationship of Mary to Elisabeth had to have come through Mary's mother.

Thus we see that by both Law and lineage, Jesus Christ's lineage came through the King line and the priest line, however through His true Father, He was the rightful heir to the very throne of God.

Hebrews 7:16 "Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life."

Jesus Christ's right to the Throne came not by the command of a man's order, but by Almighty God. There were many priests, and they would all die and need a replacement, however Melchizedek had no mother nor father [in the order of human priest line] He has an endless priesthood; Thus Christ.

Hebrews 7:17 "For He testifieth, "Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizsedek."

It is Almighty God Himself that testifieth that Jesus Christ is a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. This comes from Psalm 110:4 "The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."

Hebrews 7:18 "For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof."

Man just could not live by that law, so there had to be a disannulling, or dismantling of the death sentence that was placed on all men and women under the law. That was the weakness of the law. This was done at the cross of Christ, whereby by believing on Jesus name and repenting in Jesus name we could be freed from the death sentence placed by the law. Jesus' Name is our credentials before the throne of God, that is the only way, the truth that brings us eternal life upon repentance.

Hebrews 7:19 "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."

The law did not save anyone. We draw nigh unto God through Jesus Christ, He is the hope of our salvation. Through the drawing of the Holy Spirit, His Spirit is in us, and We are in Him. This means that our priest now is not here on earth, but He is sitting at the right hand of Almighty God, as our advocate when we fall short and repent. Jesus is behind that vail of secrecy whereby He knows everything, hears and controls everything. Your advocate is your defender [lawyer] for those times you fall short of God's laws and instructions.

No man made the oath that set Jesus up as the High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, but that oath is from the mouth of Almighty God Himself. Therefore when God swears an oath, He swears by Himself.

Hebrews 7:21 "(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:"

Our Heavenly Father has set Christ up to be the High Priest, and that position was not by an oath of man, but God Himself. He is saying here that "what He has sworn to, He will never change." We see that most of this chapter is taken straight out of the book of Psalms, as well as many other places in the Old Testament. We will see in the next chapter much of it is a copy out of Jeremiah 31. All of God's Word fits like a glove, and supports each other when it is understood.

The law of the Old Testament is good, and though we cannot fully live up to it, we try to use that law to guide our actions and words, and still live by that law. We find that most of the trouble that comes our way is when a person rejects the laws of God. Most all laws even today in our community are based in part on the laws of God. The only disallowing of the law is that there is forgiveness from the violation of the law through repentance in Christ. This is not talking about ordinances and statutes for Christians are suppose to know the difference between the law [commandments], ordinances and statutes.

The word "surety" means it is a "guarantee" by our Heavenly Father Himself, that Christ would be our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec. He is our supernatural priest that is free from all holds by any man.

The Children of Israel got to the point that they did not trust in God to be their king, and they begged God for a king like the other nations around them had. So God gave Israel Saul to be their human king. Then came David to rule when Saul killed himself. Jesus was born from the seed of David, by the Virgin Mary's lineage. However God is saying that through Jesus true Father, comes another lineage to Jesus, and because Jesus Father is God Almighty, Jesus has yet another title and that is High Priest that only God could place on Him.

Hebrews 7:23 "And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:"

There was a whole line of human priests and as each of them died, their sons would become priests to fill their father's position. Because of this process, there were both good and bad priests because each of these Levitical priests were human.

Hebrews 7:24 "But this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood."

When Christ came out of the tomb, and ascended into heaven, there will never be a replacement required to fill His place. Jesus is an unchangeable priesthood.

Hebrews 7:25 "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."

There is no depth that a person can sink in sin, that Jesus can't reach down and save their soul. Once a person comes to see the sins they have committed, and comes to believe on Jesus name, that person can cry out in repentance to our Heavenly Father and he will be forgiven. The reason that you need to ask forgiveness in Jesus name, is it was Jesus Christ's death on the cross that paid the full price for that sin. All sins must be repented and paid for, and when you come to the knowledge that Jesus is the Son of God, and that His blood is what paid the price, then the Name of that Person [Jesus Christ] is what you claim for the repentance of your sin. There is no other way. Even after you have been saved and baptized, you will fall short from time to time, and each time you sin, that sin must be repented. No it is not being saved over again, but acknowledgement of your short fall.

When Christ intercedes in your life, He performs a miracle and keeps His promises that He gave to us, all the way back to the very beginning. When you believe on Jesus, there is nothing too small that Jesus will not help you with. His intercession will bless you as an heir to the promises of the throne of God. You have to become a doer of the Word, before there is a payday.

Hebrews 7:26 "For such an High Priest became us, Who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;"

Hebrews 7:27 "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."

Jesus needed nothing to offer for His sins because He had none. He took our sins and made one sacrifice with His own Blood, and made that one sacrifice offered up to the Father forever. This is the reason that all the blood ordinances of the Old Testament are out now, because the precious Blood of Christ fulfilled that part of the law ordinances dealing with blood and animal sacrifices. Those blood ordinances just don't apply today.

Hebrews 7:28 "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 laws of precedence and ordinances that men make up have their weaknesses. But the law, which is God's holy Word of His oath is perfected and never needs a change. It is God the Father that made the oath, and His Son fulfilled the sacrifices that the law demanded for those falling short of that law. That oath is that Jesus Christ would be the High Priest after the order of Melchisedec. We are saying that Christ was Melchisedec, because that is what the Word of God says.

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals. We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

doctrine of many of our Christian churches, (The Man on a White Horse)
political direction of our country, (The Man on a Red Horse)
economic direction our country has taken, (The Man on a Black Horse)
and teaching of our schools and media, (The Man on a Pale Horse)

The Four Hidden Dynasties of the New World Order Revelation 6:1-8
"The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse"
Did you know all four are being ridden by Satan?