Hebrews 7

King James Version

Full text for Hebrews Chapter 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;

2To 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;

3Without 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.

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

5And 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:

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

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

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

9And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

10For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

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?

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

13For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

14For [it is] evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

15And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17For he testifieth, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

19For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

20And inasmuch as not without an oath [he was made priest]:

21(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

22By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

23And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

24But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

25Wherefore 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.

26For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

28For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, [maketh] the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Hebrews 7 establishes the superiority of Melchisedec's priesthood over the Levitical order, noting that Abraham paid tithes to him. This chapter argues that if perfection could have been achieved through the Levitical priesthood, there would have been no need for a priest after the order of Melchisedec. It then presents Jesus Christ as this superior, eternal High Priest, whose priesthood is unchangeable and established by an oath, unlike the temporary Levitical system.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins by introducing Melchisedec, king of Salem and priest of the most high God, to whom Abraham paid tithes, signifying Melchisedec's greater standing. Melchisedec is described as being without father, mother, or descent, and having no beginning or end of life, thus made like unto the Son of God and abiding a priest continually. The author argues that the Levitical priesthood, though commanded to receive tithes, is inferior because Levi, through Abraham, effectively paid tithes to Melchisedec. Since the law and its priesthood could not bring perfection, a change was necessary, leading to the rise of another priest after the order of Melchisedec. This new priest, Jesus, springs from the tribe of Judah, not Levi, and holds an unchangeable priesthood established by God's oath, making Him the surety of a better testament.

Long Summary

Hebrews 7 elaborates on the figure of Melchisedec, king of Salem and priest of the most high God, who blessed Abraham after his victory and received a tenth of the spoils. The author interprets Melchisedec's name as 'King of righteousness' and 'King of peace,' emphasizing his unique, seemingly eternal nature, being 'without father, without mother, without descent.' This sets the stage for demonstrating Melchisedec's superiority over Abraham and, by extension, the Levitical priesthood, as the lesser is blessed by the better, and even Levi, still in Abraham's loins, paid tithes to Melchisedec. The chapter then asserts that if the Levitical priesthood could have brought perfection, there would have been no need for a priest after the order of Melchisedec, not Aaron. This necessity for a new priesthood implies a change in the law itself, as Christ, the new High Priest, is from the tribe of Judah, a tribe for which Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. Christ's priesthood is not based on a carnal commandment but on the power of an endless life, confirmed by God's oath, 'Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.' This oath signifies the disannulling of the former, weak, and unprofitable commandment, bringing in a better hope. Unlike the many mortal Levitical priests, Christ holds an unchangeable priesthood because He lives forever, enabling Him to save completely those who come to God through Him, as He ever lives to intercede. Such a holy, harmless, and undefiled High Priest, who offered Himself once for all sins, perfectly fulfills the requirements, unlike the infirm high priests made by the law.

Core Concepts

  • Melchisedec's SuperiorityMelchisedec, King of Salem and priest of God, is presented as superior to Abraham, who paid tithes to him. His unique description, 'without father, without mother, without descent,' signifies a priesthood not bound by lineage, foreshadowing Christ's.
  • Change of Priesthood and LawThe inadequacy of the Levitical priesthood to bring perfection necessitated a change in the priesthood. This change, from the order of Aaron to the order of Melchisedec, inherently required a change in the law itself, as the two are intrinsically linked.
  • Christ's Eternal PriesthoodUnlike the mortal Levitical priests, Jesus holds an unchangeable and eternal priesthood, secured by God's oath, 'Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.' His endless life ensures His perpetual ability to intercede.
  • Perfection and the LawThe chapter explicitly states that the law and the Levitical priesthood could not make anything perfect. This weakness and unprofitableness necessitated the introduction of a 'better hope' through Christ's superior priesthood.
  • Surety of a Better TestamentBecause Christ's priesthood is established by an oath, unlike the Levitical priests, He is made the 'surety of a better testament.' This signifies His role in guaranteeing a superior covenant between God and humanity.
  • Christ's Perfect SacrificeJesus, as the High Priest, offered Himself once for all sins, eliminating the need for daily sacrifices for His own sins or the people's. This single, perfect offering stands in contrast to the repeated sacrifices of the Levitical system.
  • Lineage from JudahIt is emphasized that Christ sprang from the tribe of Judah, not Levi, a tribe for which Moses made no provision for priesthood. This highlights that His priesthood is not according to the Mosaic Law but a new, divine order.