Hebrews 7:1-10 - A Priesthood Superior To Aaron' S
Melchizedek was probably a literal king and priest in Salem. The blue smoke of his sacrifices rose morning and evening on the hill. Amid the turbulent lawlessness of those wild days, his realm was peace. Like him, Jesus meets us when flushed with success or wearied with some great effort, and therefore peculiarly liable to temptation. Notice the order! It is invariable! First righteousness, then peace, Zechariah 9:9.
The silences of Scripture are significant. In the case of this ancient priesthood no mention is made of parenthood. This was a matter of comparative indifference. So with our Lord. It is true that He did not come of the priestly family of Aaron, but this is quite unimportant. The one thing for us to notice is that Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, thus confessing him to be the greater. Levi was, so to speak, included in his grandfather's act, so that the Hebrew priesthood, which sprang from Levi, was confessedly inferior to Melchizedek's. If, then, Melchizedek is a type of Christ, we are taught that Christ's priesthood is evidently and eternally superior to all other priesthoods whatsoever. [source]
Chapter Summary: Hebrews 7
1Christ Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchizedek; 11and so far more excellent than the priests of Aaron's order
Greek Commentary for Hebrews 7:10
In the loins of his father [εν τηι οσπυι του πατρος] Levi was not yet born. The reference is to Abraham, the forefather (πατρος patros) of Levi. This is a rabbinical imaginative refinement appealing to Jews. [source]
In the loins of his father [ἐν τῇ ὀσφύΐ τοῦ πατρὸς] His own father; not of Abraham. [source]
When Melchisedec met him [] In the person of Abraham. The whole Jewish law, its ordinances and priesthood, are regarded as potentially in Abraham. When Abraham paid tithes, Levi paid tithes. When Abraham was blessed, Israel was blessed. It is a kind of reasoning which would appeal to Hebrews, who so strongly emphasized the solidarity of their race. Comp. Romans 9:4,Romans 9:5. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 7:10
Hebrews 9:10Only with meats and drinks and divers washings [μονον επι βρωμασιν και πομασιν και διαποροις βαπτισμοις] The parenthesis of the Revised Version here is unnecessary. The use of επι epi here with the locative case is regular, “in the matter of” (Luke 12:52; John 12:16; Acts 21:24). What ritual value these Levitical sacrifices had was confined to minute regulations about diet and ceremonial cleansing (clean and unclean). For “divers” Carnal ordinances But the correct text is undoubtedly simply δικαιωματα σαρκος dikaiōmata sarkos (nominative case), in apposition with δωρα τε και τυσιαι dōra te kai thusiai (gifts and sacrifices). See Hebrews 9:1 for δικαιωματα dikaiōmata Imposed Present middle or passive participle of επικειμαι epikeimai old verb to lie upon (be laid upon). Cf. 1 Corinthians 9:16. Until a time of reformation Definite statement of the temporary nature of the Levitical system already stated in Hebrews 7:10-17; Hebrews 8:13 and argued clearly by Paul in Galatians 3:15-22. Διορτωσις Diorthōsis is a late word, here alone in N.T. (from διορτοω diorthoō to set right or straight), used by Hippocrates for making straight misshapen limbs like ανορτοω anorthoō in Hebrews 12:12. Here for reformation like διορτωμα diorthōma (reform) in Acts 24:2. Christianity itself is the great Reformation of the current Judaism (Pharisaism) and the spiritual Judaism foreshadowed by the old Abrahamic promise (see Gal 3; Rom 9). [source]
What do the individual words in Hebrews 7:10 mean?
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Μελχισέδεκ
Sense: the king of Salem and priest of the most high God, who lived in the days of Abraham.
What are the major concepts related to Hebrews 7:10?
Greek Commentary for Hebrews 7:10
Levi was not yet born. The reference is to Abraham, the forefather (πατρος patros) of Levi. This is a rabbinical imaginative refinement appealing to Jews. [source]
His own father; not of Abraham. [source]
In the person of Abraham. The whole Jewish law, its ordinances and priesthood, are regarded as potentially in Abraham. When Abraham paid tithes, Levi paid tithes. When Abraham was blessed, Israel was blessed. It is a kind of reasoning which would appeal to Hebrews, who so strongly emphasized the solidarity of their race. Comp. Romans 9:4, Romans 9:5. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Hebrews 7:10
The parenthesis of the Revised Version here is unnecessary. The use of επι epi here with the locative case is regular, “in the matter of” (Luke 12:52; John 12:16; Acts 21:24). What ritual value these Levitical sacrifices had was confined to minute regulations about diet and ceremonial cleansing (clean and unclean). For “divers” Carnal ordinances But the correct text is undoubtedly simply δικαιωματα σαρκος dikaiōmata sarkos (nominative case), in apposition with δωρα τε και τυσιαι dōra te kai thusiai (gifts and sacrifices). See Hebrews 9:1 for δικαιωματα dikaiōmata Imposed Present middle or passive participle of επικειμαι epikeimai old verb to lie upon (be laid upon). Cf. 1 Corinthians 9:16. Until a time of reformation Definite statement of the temporary nature of the Levitical system already stated in Hebrews 7:10-17; Hebrews 8:13 and argued clearly by Paul in Galatians 3:15-22. Διορτωσις Diorthōsis is a late word, here alone in N.T. (from διορτοω diorthoō to set right or straight), used by Hippocrates for making straight misshapen limbs like ανορτοω anorthoō in Hebrews 12:12. Here for reformation like διορτωμα diorthōma (reform) in Acts 24:2. Christianity itself is the great Reformation of the current Judaism (Pharisaism) and the spiritual Judaism foreshadowed by the old Abrahamic promise (see Gal 3; Rom 9). [source]