HEBREWS 7:4-6

The Greatness of Melchizedek

Observation:

Abraham gave a tenth of his spoils to Melchizedek; the law requires Levi’s descendants to collect tithes from the people, one without this lineage received tithes from Abraham.

Previous Observation:

Melchizedek was both king and priest, he met Abraham and blessed him and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything; he remains a priest forever.

Translation:

7:4

Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. (NASU)

And consider how great this man was to whom [even] Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth part of the choicest spoils. (DIV)

consider 2334 theoreo - To gaze, to look with interest and for a purpose.

how great 4080 pelikos - How great. Pertaining to extraordinary importance. (Occurs only in Gal. 6:11; Heb. 7:4)

patriarch 3966 patriarches - from patria - race, lineage, and arche - beginning or head. A patriarch, the father and founder of a family or tribe.

tenth part 1181 dekate - Tenth part or tithe.

choicest spoils 205 akrothinion - from akron - the extreme, and this - a heap. The top of the heap, the best of choice parts. (Occurs only in Heb. 7:4)

Interpretation:

Scripture describes “the patriarch Abraham” (NKJV) as a great man and a friend of God, a man God considered righteous because of his faith and obedience (see Jas. 2:23). God singled out Abraham to be the father of a nation. As great as Abraham was, Hebrews says to “consider how great this man [Melchizedek] was” (NKJV), because “even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils” (NKJV) to him. The argument follows a simple logic here. The major premise: Greater beings receive donations from lesser beings. The strength of the argument hinges entirely on this premise. Since Melchizedek received a tithe from Abraham, Melchizedek is greater than Abraham (see 7:7). In a context where the major premise is understood as true, Melchizedek is seen as an awesome person. He is in another class altogether different from the greatest of the patriarchs. Abraham paying tithes to Melchizedek showed that Abraham acknowledged Melchizedek’s superiority. Not only did Abraham give a tenth of the spoils, but the Greek word for “spoils” (akrothinion) denotes that these were the choicest spoils. Because Melchizedek was greater, the author will argue that the priesthood that comes from Melchizedek must be greater than the priesthood that comes from Abraham, who is the patriarch of the entire Jewish nation. In the same way, Jesus is in another class altogether different from the prophets, angels, priests, and patriarchs.

Questions:

Who do you consider great men or women? Why? Do you tithe? Why or why not?

7:5

And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest's office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.

And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment according to the Law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, although they come from the loins of Abraham.

sons 5207 huios - A son or male offspring.

receive 2983 lambano - To take in whatever manner.

priestly office 2405 hierateuma - A priesthood, a priest’s office. (Occurs only in Luke 1:9; Heb. 7:5)

commandment 1785 entole - Commandment, whether of God or man.

Law 3551 nomos - That which is assigned, hence usage. In the NT, it refers to the Law of Moses as well as laws or principles that govern people.

collect a tenth 586 apodekatoo - from apo - from, and dekatoo - to tithe. Collect a tithe. To collect tithes. (Occurs only in Matt. 23:23; Luke 11:42; Heb. 7:5)

people 2992 laos - A people, a nation, a number of people joined together by the common bonds of society.

brothers 80 adelphos - from a - first, and delphus - womb. A brother. Generally denotes a relationship based on identity of origin, but also came to designate a fellowship of love or faith equivalent to or bringing with it a community of life.

come 1831 exerchomai - from ek - out, and erchomai - to go or come. To go or come out of a place.

loins 3751 osphus - Loin, the place of the reproductive organs.

The major premise of 7:4 is further explained by the Jewish law: “Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people - that is, their brothers” (NIV). In the OT, as God began teaching the Israelites His laws, he also was teaching His people how to worship Him. To help in this, He needed ministers to oversee the operations of the tabernacle and to help the people maintain their relationship with God. The tribe of Levi (called Levites, “descendants of Levi”) was set apart to be servants in God’s tabernacle (see Num. 3). The priests came from the tribe of Levi, but also had to be descended from Aaron, Israel’s first high priest. The priests had more responsibilities than Levites. The priests performed the daily sacrifices, maintained the tabernacle, and counseled the people on how to follow God. They were the people’s representatives before God and thus were required to live worthy of their office. Because the descendants of Levi were dedicated to serving God, their jobs meant that they did not have the time to maintain land. When the tribes were allotted land in the book of Joshua, the Levites were given no particular section. Instead, God arranged for the other tribes to meet the Levites’ needs through donations - Levites were supported by the tithes of the people, who gave them homes, flocks, and pasturelands. The Levites, in turn, paid a tithe of that amount (a tithe of a tithe) to support the priests (see Num. 18:21-28). So the priests and the Levites were assigned by God’s law to receive a tithe, even though the Levites had the same ancestry as all the other Jews, that is they were “brothers,” all descended from Abraham. The gifts came from their “equals.”

Questions:

Do you believe that ministers should be responsible for raising their own support or should they be supported by tithes from their congregations? Explain your position. What do you think is the appropriate percentage of a household’s income that should be tithed? Why?

7:6

But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.

But the one not having his descent from them collected tithes from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.

descent 1075 genealogeo - from genea - generation, and lego - to reckon. To trace descent or ancestry. (Occurs only in Heb. 7:6)

collected tithes 1183 dekatoo - To collect or receive tithes. (Occurs only in Heb. 7:6, 9)

blessed 2127 eulogeo - from eu - good, well, and logos- word. To bless, speak well of.

promises 1860 epaggelia - Declaration to do something with the implication of being obliged to carry out what is stated. A promise, pledge or offer.

Now Melchizedek “did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham” (NIV). Apparently, even the great patriarch Abraham recognized Melchizedek’s greatness and superiority by giving him a tenth of the choicest parts that had been captured in battle. To comprehend this argument, one needs to understand that Abraham represents the entire nation. Israel’s first high priest, Aaron, descended from Levi (the tribe of priests), and Levi descended from Abraham. Therefore, if Abraham recognized Melchizedek as his superior, then Melchizedek is also superior to all of Abraham’s descendants, including the line of priests. This makes Melchizedek’s priesthood greater than the Jewish priesthood. Melchizedek did not trace his descent from Levi and neither did Jesus, who was born into the tribe of Judah. The priests and Levites owed their positions to their birth; they owed their receiving of tithes to provisions in the law. Melchizedek, however, stands in history as a solitary figure. He was given the tithe, not because of provision in the law, but because Abraham recognized his greatness. Melchizedek, in turn, acknowledged his superior position by blessing Abraham, the man who “had the promises” (NIV) (referring to the covenant promise given to him by God; see Gen. 12:1-3).

Questions:

There are many modern day preaches who are descendants of famous preachers. What are the pros and cons of being a preacher descended from a famous preacher? Should tithing be tied to the performance of the preacher? Why or why not?

Application:

To consider how great Jesus is and to give him the best of what He gives to me.