Melchizedek… (3 points)

• 1^st – Who was Melchizedek… vs. 1-3
  • 1^st – For this Melchizedek… vs. 1
    • ONLY mentioned TWICE in the Old Testament – Genesis 14:18 / Psalms 110:4 
    • Looking at Jesus as a BETTER High Priest – His name has already come up THREE times…
    • First mentioned in Hebrews 5:6 – the author said he had much to say about him…
    • Now – finally – the author is going to give us those details…
    • He will mention the name Melchizedek – SEVEN times – in this chapter alone!
  • 2^nd – He was a KING… vs. 1-2
    • Melchizedek [מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק]– KING [מַלְכִּ] of RIGHTEOUSNESS [צֶדֶק]…
      • RIGHTEOUSNESS [צֶדֶק] – to do what is RIGHT – do what is JUST…
      • The KING who sets the EXAMPLE of the RIGHT way to live!
      • The world is FULL of ideas about how to live our lives…
      • But there is only ONE way to live a RIGHTEOUS life – follow the KING…
      • Jesus is the KING that shows us the way of RIGHTEOUSNESS!
      • Revelation 19:16 – “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
    • Melchizedek was a KING – he ruled over the city of SALEM – short for Jerusalem…
      • Psalm 48:2 – “[Jerusalem is] The city of the great King.”
      • SALEM – [שָׁלֵם] – the PLACE of PEACE – safety – perfection – completion…
      • He was the KING of PEACE – where you go to FIND PEACE!
      • We tend to spend a lot of time worrying / fearful – the opposite of PEACE…
      • The problem is worrying about problems does not help – it makes things worse…
      • Worry is the opposite of TRUST – we are worried because we are not trusting in God!
      • PEACE is not found in our circumstances – or a place – it is found in a PERSON!
      • Ephesians 2:14 – “For [Jesus] is our PEACE…”
  • 3^rd – He was a PRIEST… vs. 1
    • God had divided the responsibilities of ministering to the His people…
      • The KING was to protect and provide for the people practically…
      • The PRIEST was to act as guides to lead the people spiritually…
      • That way the people would never learn to depend on ONE man…
      • King Uzziah was one of the greatest Kings of Judah – II Chronicles 26
      • But in his later years he went into the temple to offer incense before the Lord…
      • God struck him with leprosy – and he lived out his last years in isolation!
      • But Melchizedek was both King and Priest – a PICTURE of Jesus Christ…
      • Because HE is the only one who is able to be ALL we need in life!
      • I have often been accused of giving people the SAME answer…
      • No matter what the question – my response does not change – Jesus…
      • Because Jesus is the ONLY answer to EVERY problem – ONLY He is both KING and PRIEST!
    • PRIEST of the MOST HIGH God…
      • MOST HIGH God [אֵל עֶלְיֽוֹן] – name of God first mentioned – Genesis 14:18
      • It literally means the HIGHEST God – there is no one above Him!
      • People will come to us looking for answers and help…
      • Because men would much rather look to someone they can touch and see…
      • The problem is we are limited – and cannot help those who look to us…
      • We are called to be like Melchizedek – priests who point people to the MOST HIGH God…
      • He is the only answer that we need to give to those who are in need!
  • 4^th – Greater than ABRAHAM… vs. 1-2
    • Melchizedek met Abraham returning from the SLAUGHTER [only here] of the kings…
      • Lot – who was living in Sodom – had been captured by the kings of Babylon – Genesis 14
      • Abraham took 318 men born in his house – and slaughtered the kings of Babylon…
      • Upon his return from battle with the WORLD – Melchizedek went out to meet him!
    • Melchizedek blessed Abraham…
      • Genesis 14:18-20 – “Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High,
        Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.’ And he gave him a tithe of all.”
      • Abram gave him a TENTH of all he had – he gave his TITHE…
      • Abram knew Melchizedek was a greater man than he was…
      • Hebrews 7:7 – “The lesser is blessed by the better.”
      • Abraham – the FATHER of the CHOSEN people – FATHER of FAITH – Romans 4:12
      • What made Melchizedek GREATER than the FATHER of FAITH!
    • Melchizedek gave Bread and Wine out for Abraham…
      • These TWO elements should seem VERY familiar to us – COMMUNION…
      • Melchizedek gave Abraham COMMUNION – after his victory over the WORLD…
      • Foreshadowing how we can also have VICTORY – through the cross of Christ!
      • Luke 22:20 – “This cup is the new covenant in My blood…”
      • Abraham was the FATHER of FAITH – but his FAITH was in the MOST HIGH God…
      • Jesus Christ who came to take away our sin – give us VICTORY!
  • 5^th – No Genealogy… vs. 3
    • Melchizedek had no father – mother – or genealogy…
      • A reference to the fact we are NOT given any history for Melchizedek…
      • In the THREE short verses that mention him – Genesis 14:18-20 – no genealogy is given!
    • This is in CONTRAST to the LEVITICAL priesthood…
      • When Israel rebelled – Golden Calf – all of Levi stood with the Lord – Exodus 32:26
      • As a result – God chose the Tribe of Levi to serve Him – Numbers 18:2
      • But ONLY the sons of Aaron were to serve as Priest to the Lord – Numbers 18:1
      • And ONLY the first-born son in the line of Aaron was High Priest – Exodus 29:29
        
  • 6^th – No beginning or end… vs. 3
    • Having [present] neither beginning of days nor end of life…
      • We are NOT told when Melchizedek was BORN – or when [if] he DIED…
      • The suggestion is that he was NOT born and NEVER died!
      • He may have been Jesus Christ – a CHRISTOPHANY – a preincarnate appearance of Jesus…
      • We do know that Abraham did meet Jesus – John 8:56
    • Made LIKE the Son of God…
      • Made LIKE [perfect] – only here NT – to be a copy or similar to…
      • Jesus was NOT like the Son of God – He is the Son of God – John 20:31
      • It is more likely Melchizedek was just a MAN – who was a PICTURE of Jesus…
      • It is possible that he was Shem – the godly son of Noah – forefather of Abram…
      • Shem lived some 150 years after Abram was born!
      • The KEY is that he represented a PRIESTHOOD that was GREATER than Aaron!
      • Psalm 110:4 – “The LORD has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

• 2^nd – Better than Abraham… vs. 4
  • 1^st – Abraham gave a TENTH… vs. 4
    • CONSIDER [imperative] – how GREAT this man was…
      • GREAT – 2x in NT – how HUGE – very LARGE…
      • Even the PATRIARCH Abraham gave a TENTH – Genesis 14:20
    • This was the FIRST mention in the Bible of the idea of giving a TENTH!
      • TENTH – [δεκάτην] 10x in NT (three forms) – where we get the word TITHE…
      • SEVEN of the TEN times the word TITHE is mentioned are found here – Hebrews 7:1-10
      • The NEW TESTAMENT idea of TITHING is ONLY found in relation to Melchizedek…
      • Like Abraham – we give to Jesus – because He is GREATER than we are!
      • It is easy to forget that God is the one who provides – start to take credit for our success…
      • Yet He is the one who gave us our talents – orchestrates all of our circumstances…
      • Everything we have – no exceptions – is a gift that comes from the Lord…
      • Therefore – we give back to the Lord as a way to remember He is GREATER!
      • Deuteronomy 14:22-23 – “You shall truly TITHE… that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.”
    • The other THREE times TITHE occurs in NT – HYPOCRISY of the Pharisees!
      • Matthew 23:23 – “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay TITHE… [but] have neglected the weightier matters of the law.” also Luke 11:42 / 18:12
      • The Pharisees tithed because they wanted others to see how GOOD they were!
      • Yet the ignored the more important matters such as JUSTICE – and LOVE!
      • Matthew 6:2 – “When you give [subjunctive] …do NOT do as the hypocrites do… call attention to their acts…” [NLT]
      • King Jehoash took a wooden box – with a hole cut into the top – II Kings 12:9
      • He set it on the side as people came into the house of the Lord…
      • The purpose of the box – let the people give anonymously to the Lord…
      • Do not let your left hand know what you right hand is doing!
      • When a church passed an offering plate people tend to make a show of their gift…
      • But they are not giving to God – they are giving for the recognition of other men!
      • Jesus says – they have their reward – the temporary praises of others…
      • That is why we have a BOX – and do NOT pass an offering plate – give anonymously!
        
  • 2^nd – What Abraham gave… vs. 4
    • Abraham gave the SPOILS – only here NT – the best of the crop – the first fruits…
    • If we go out and eat chicken BBQ – we save the bones for the dogs…
    • We give them the leftovers we do not want – showing we think they are LESS than us!
    • I am always amused when people donate things to the church…
    • We tend to get the things people could not even give away…
    • So often when people give to Jesus – it is almost as an afterthought / the leftover…
    • But what does that say about what we think of Jesus / He is less than us…
    • We should be giving our BEST to the Lord – the FIRST FRUITS!

Instead – we need to be wise – and invest our treasures in the Lord!

3^rd – Better Priesthood… vs. 5-10

1^st – What the LAW says to TITHE… vs. 5

The sons of LEVI who receive the priesthood…

Have a commandment to receive TITHES from the people according to the law…

According to the Law there were THREE different TITHES people were required to give…

Numbers 18:21-24 – the Levitical TITHE to provide for those who served the Lord…

Deuteronomy 14:22-26 – the feast TITHE – 10% of the harvest – eaten before the Lord…

Deuteronomy 14:28-29 – the poor TITHE – was every THREE years…

In all the people were required to TITHE about 23% of their income each year!

And that did not include offerings – which were free will gifts above the TITHE!

I am always amused by those who teach giving 10% to the church (should be 23%) …

They take this one Law from the OT and teach it like it belongs in the NT…

The Law is not a buffet line – you cannot pick and choose what laws you like…

Those who teach giving 10% to the church – must also teach the rest of the Law!

2^nd – A better TITHE… vs. 6-8

Melchizedek was not from Abraham…

He whose genealogy is not derived from them received [perfect] tithes from Abraham…

And blessed [perfect] him who had the PROMISES – Genesis 12:2-3

Melchizedek was not one of the DECEDENTS of Abraham…

But He received a TITHE from Abraham and BLESSED him…

Which mean that Melchizedek was GREATER than FATHER Abraham!

Beyond all contradiction the LESSER is blessed by the BETTER…

Hebrews 7:7 – “The priests who collect TITHES are men who die, so Melchizedek is greater than they are, because we are told that he lives on.” [NLT]

The Old Testament TITHE was given to men flawed frail men…

But the TITHE of Melchizedek – is given to a High Priest who is ETERNAL…

Therefore – the TITHE given to Melchizedek is a better TITHE!

Often today people give out of a sense of obligation – they give but do NOT want to…

It may even be taught an OLD TESTAMENT way of giving…

Give to the CHURCH – otherwise we ROB God – Malachi 3:8

But our High Priest does NOT need anything – He created everything – Colossians 1:16

The better TITHE – says give whatever we want – as little or as much as is on our heart…

Whatever we give – we are to do it with a hilarious heart – a cheerful giver…

If we give out of obligation – it counts for nothing – God does NOT want it!

II Corinthians 9:7 – “[We] must each decide in your heart how much to give. And do not give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

3^rd – Levi paid TITHES… vs. 9-10

Levi – who receives [present] TITHES…

According to the law – the Levites did NOT pay any TITHES…

Because they did not get any inheritance in the Promised Land – Joshua 13:33

Instead – the Lord was their inheritance – they would serve Him and receive the TITHES!

Yet they – paid TITHES [perfect] through Abraham – so to speak…

Abraham was the Father of Isaac – grandfather or Israel – great grandfather of Levi…

Before Levi was even born – Abraham TITHED to Melchizedek…

In a sense – Levi then also TITHED – through his great grandfather…

Even the LEVITICAL priesthood – which came from Levi – TITHED to Melchizedek…

Therefore – the priesthood of Melchizedek is BETTER than Levi!

Which is what we will see next – Jesus is a BETTER priesthood!

Closing thought…

Abraham TITHED – and his great grandchildren became priests…

God does not need our money – He is the creator of all heaven and earth…

But when we invest in the Lord – there are real blessing that come to us – and our kids!

God wants us to invest in Him / His work – Luke 12:34

Because wherever we put our treasure – is where our heart will also be!

We tend to think we invest in the things that are important to us…

But our heart follows our investments – our choices dictate what our heart wants!

That is why we should never follow our heart – it is deceptive – Jeremiah 17:9