HEBREWS 13


     We will begin this lesson in Hebrews 7:1 "For this Melchisedec,
king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning
from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

     We have discussed this Melchisedec at length in a previous
lesson, but we need to review some of that and expand on it, as well.
I do not believe this Salem to be a place, but a condition. King of
Salem, means King of Peace. Notice here, also, that this High Priest
comes from God and not through bloodline into the Levitical tribe. The
main element in all of this, is that the only one He appeared to, was
the father of the believers, Abraham. He, also, had some heavenly
authority, because He blessed Abraham. Notice in the Scriptures that I
will give next, what these blessings were. He is called {the} High
Priest of God. Notice, also, that He gave Abraham the communion
elements of bread and wine. 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:"
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."  Notice,
in this last Scripture, that Abraham recognized Him as divinely
appointed High Priest sent from God, when he paid tithes to Him.

     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;"

     This Scripture leaves no doubt in my mind that this King of Salem
is not a place, but is explaining that He is King of Peace. As I said,
in a previous lesson, there is only one KING OF PEACE and He is the
one we call Jesus Christ. In this next Scripture we know Who is the
Righteous King. Jeremiah 23:6 "In his days Judah shall be saved, and
Israel shall dwell safely: and this [is] his name whereby he shall be
called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

     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."

     This is describing the Eternal One Jesus Christ. This without
father and without mother, just means that He was in His Spirit body
and had not taken on the form of flesh. The only time Jesus  was in
His flesh body, was when He came to earth to save His people. Without
descent tells us that this Melchisidec is of heavenly nature. No
beginning and no ending says beyond a shadow of doubt that this is the
Lord of Glory.

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

     This alone recognized Him as High Priest of 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:"

     The difference in the sons of Levi and Melchisidec is that they
are priest, because of their blood line and they are priest just for a
short time. This Melchisidec is a Priest forever, and has no
bloodline, He is divinely appointed of God for this service. The
Scripture above is clearly making a difference in the type of
priesthood.

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

     We clearly see the distinction made here that the Levitical
priesthood and the priesthood of Melchisidec are totally different.
The Scripture above, again, says, He blessed Abraham. Blessings come
from God.

     Hebrews 7:7 "And without all contradiction the less is blessed of
the better."

     This is just saying, here, that as great a man as Abraham was, he
was less than Melchisidec. Abraham is thought of as one of the best
men who ever lived. Then, is this saying, that Melchisidec was more
than man? Jesus was more than mortal man, He was Immanuel, God with
us.

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

     We were told in another Scripture above of His eternity. He had
no beginning and no end. The word liveth means continues to live.

     Hebrews 7:9 "And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth
tithes, payed tithes in Abraham." Hebrews 7:10 "For he was yet in the
loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him."

     This statement, here. is saying that not only did Abraham pay
tithes to Melchisidec, but the high priest of the Levitical tribe paid
tithes to Him in reality, because he is descended from Abraham. We see
in this that not even the high priest of the temple on earth was of
the same stature as this Melchisedec. Melchisedec  was more than man.

     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
Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"

     This is coming back to the very point we have been making here,
Melchisidec, like Jesus Christ was not of the world order. Their
priesthood was of God and not through man. Galatians 3:11 "But that no
man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for,
The just shall live by faith."  The law did not save, it just showed
us how badly we needed a Saviour. The law, then and now, shows that no
man can live up to the law and all have sinned and come short of the
glory of God. Galatians 3:24 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster
[to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

     I want to break from the detailed explanation for a moment here
and say; The Tabernacle in the wilderness was patterned after the real
Tabernacle in heaven. The holy place and the most holy place that
Moses had built in the wilderness was just a model of the real Holy of
Holies in heaven. Moses was warned to make it in detail as the one in
heaven.  The Tabernacle in the wilderness had a high priest. This
leaves no doubt, that the Holy place in Heaven has a great High
Priest, also. We are told over and over that The High Priest forever
is the One we call Jesus Christ. We are told here, that this
Melchisidec is The High Priest forever, not of the Levitical tribe,
but is of the same order as Jesus. This leaves no doubt in my mind
that Jesus Christ, The Word, High Priest Forever is one and the same
as Melchisidec. The priesthood of Aaron was faulty as their leader
was.  Remember, Aaron made the golden calf. The priesthood through
Aaron was worldly. The Priesthood through Jesus Christ and Melchisidec
was from God in heaven and was faultless.

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

     We see from this that even this appearance to Abraham was not
even associated with the law, but was in fact The High Priest of
Grace. Abraham believed, and it was counted unto him as righteousness.
Romans 8:3 "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through
the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,
and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:"  Romans 5:20 "Moreover the
law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound:" Abraham was saved by grace through faith
just as we Christians are.

     I will end this lesson on this note. God knew that man could not
live up to the law, so He gave us a way of escape. That Way is Jesus
Christ, our Lord.















                             Questions 13

1.  What 2 things was Melchisidec called in Hebrew chapter 7 verse 1?
2.  Where was Abraham coming from when he met Him?
3.  What is the meaning of Salem?
4.  What was different about His priesthood?
5.  What are the 2 things we call communion elements?
6.  What blessing did Melchisedec speak on Abraham?
7.  What did it show about who He was, when Abram paid tithes to Him?
8.  Name 3 titles given Melchisedec in Hebrews Chapter 7 verse 2.
9.  Who is King of Peace?
10. In Jeremiah chapter 23 verse 6, who is THE LORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS?
11. What shows His eternity in Hebrews chapter 7 verse 3?
12. Who was Melchisidec made like unto?
13. What does abideth mean?
14. What is meant by the statement {without father and without
    mother}?
15. What does without descent tell us about Melchisidec?
16. What is mentioned in verse four of Hebrews chapter 7 that also
    shows His greatness?
17. Whose sons are the earthly priesthood?
18. Who was these earthly priests' ancestor?
19. Who blesses mankind?
20. The less is blessed of the ______.
21. What one word in Hebrews chapter 7 verse 8 shows eternity?
22. How did Levi pay tithes to Melchisedec?
23. Melchisidec was no mere ___.
24. The Levitical priesthood was not ________.
25. Where do we find in the Scriptures that the law was our
    schoolmaster to bring us to Christ?
26. The tabernacle in the wilderness was patterned from what?
27. Who is our High Priest forever?
28. For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a
    change also of the ___.
29. Where sin abounded, _____ did much more abound.