Hebrews 7:8
“And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.”
Context:The book of Hebrews was written to a group of Jewish Christians who were facing persecution and were tempted to abandon their faith in Christ and return to Judaism. The author of Hebrews presents a powerful argument for the superiority of Christ and His priesthood compared to the Old Testament priesthood.
Melchizedek:Hebrews 7:8 refers to the mysterious figure of Melchizedek, who appears in the Old Testament in Genesis 14:18-20. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest of Salem (later known as Jerusalem) who blessed Abraham. He is mentioned briefly in the Old Testament, but his significance is expounded upon in Hebrews.
Comparison of priesthoods:The author of Hebrews compares the priesthood of Melchizedek with the Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament. The Levitical priests received tithes from the people, but in the case of Melchizedek, it is mentioned that “he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.” This phrase emphasizes the eternal nature of Melchizedek’s priesthood. The Bible does not record the death of Melchizedek, which is significant because the Levitical priests served until they died.
Jesus as the High Priest:The main point of Hebrews is to establish Jesus as the ultimate High Priest. The author argues that Jesus’ priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood because He is a priest “after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:6). This comparison shows that Jesus’ priesthood is not limited by the Mosaic Law or the genealogy required for the Levitical priests.
Eternal nature of Christ’s priesthood:Hebrews 7:23-25 further explains the significance of Jesus’ eternal priesthood. It says, “And they truly were many priests because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 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.” Unlike the Levitical priests who served for a limited time and died, Jesus lives forever, interceding for His people and offering eternal salvation.
