Hebrews 7 reminds me of the wild west. A time in the US when territories were ruled by the wealthy locals. Acceptance was coerced, and vigilantes would execute judgement behind the anonymity of their masks. Justice is rarely equal when gangs rule. It was into this world that the US Marshal entered to stand for the law. Today’s lesson is about imperfect people submitting to a greater authority. The author begins by again recalling “Melchizedek… king of Salem and priest of God Most High”. This mysterious figure is introduced to Abraham in Genesis 14. This was before the law was given to Moses and before Abraham and Sarah had conceived. Abe was returning from rescuing his nephew Lot and retrieving all of the stolen goods from the warring regional rulers. He continues: Melchizedek “met Abraham returning… and blessed him”. The writer adds, “Abraham gave him a tenth of everything”. The writer tells us, “Melchizedek means ‘king of righteousness’” and “Salem” means “king of peace”. Isiah 32:17 says that “The fruit of that righteousness will be peace”. That is, righteousness leads to peace. He further describes this King/Priest as “without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever”. Son of God is a term reserved for Messiah. The writer concludes, “Think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!” No one willingly submits to weakness.
He continues with a discussion on the law concerning the Jewish Priest. Only “descendants of Levi” could become priests. Abraham’s grandson Jacob has 12 sons. These became the 12 tribes of Israel. Levi was one tribe. Melchizedek “did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him”. Abraham was the most revered figure in Jewish history, and yet he paid homage to Melchizedek. The writer adds, “without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater”. He poses a question to the Hebrew reader, “If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood… why was there still need for another priest to come… in the order of Melchizedek”? The law alone cannot bring peace, there must also be someone who represents righteousness. “Not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life”.
Again, he repeats Psalm 110:4 concerning Messiah, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek”. He makes a point about human nature; humans tend to break the law when they perceive it to be unjust. He says, “the law made nothing perfect”. It is not until we personally embrace the purpose behind the law that we become advocates. Because of this, “a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God”. He then recaps the previous chapters. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s unbreakable oath to “become the guarantor of a better covenant”. And, “because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood”. Therefore, “He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him”. Rather than accuse and condemn, “He always lives to intercede for them”. The writer of Hebrews concludes that Jesus is the perfect high priest because He is “holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens”. He is greater than kings, and greater than law. Peace comes to those who submit to His righteous authority. Jesus sets us free from the law and our own lawlessness. He “sacrificed for their sins once for all”. He paid the penalty and then demonstrated a better way. First century Rome was led by self-serving politicians presiding over a society in decay. It was into this world that God “appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever”. Friend, is it time to pursue righteousness and peace?