Hebrews Chapter 7 (Insight)

Chapter summary:
The writer now emphasizes the fact that Jesus' priesthood does not derive from Aaron but from Melchizedek. Melchizedek appears briefly in sacred history, as king of Salem, later called Jerusalem, and as a priest. He blessed Abraham after the patriarch's victory over invading kings, and Abraham gave him a tithe of the plunder (Genesis 14). From this brief account the writer of Hebrews establishes two things: as the greater blesses the lesser, Melchizedek was greater than Abraham. And as Aaron was, in a sense, present in his great-grandfather Abraham, Aaron paid tithes to Melchizedek and thus acknowledged the superiority of his priesthood (Hebrews 7:1-10).

As the psalmist quotes God ordaining someone as a "priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek," it is clear that God always intended to make a change in the Aaronic priesthood. And such a change requires a change in the whole system of Mosaic Law of which that priesthood was a part (vv. 11-19).

How is Jesus' priesthood better?
It is "forever," and thus rests on a better covenant (vv. 20-22). It is permanent, for Jesus lives and thus can save us completely (vv. 23-25). And it meets our every need, for by the one sacrifice of Himself this High Priest settled forever the issue of our sins (vv. 26-28).

The believer’s application: Jesus guarantees our salvation.

INSIGHT
"A priest forever" (7:3).
The writer uses a typical rabbinical argument, based on the fact that neither Melchizedek's birth or death are recorded. Thus in Scripture he is a "timeless" figure, an appropriate type of Jesus, who because of His endless life remains a "Priest forever." Some have taken this verse as evidence that Melchizedek was a theophany—a preincarnate appearance of Christ. It is better to take him, as the text here does, simply as a type of Christ.

"A change of law" (7:12).
The writer's point is that "law" is a linked system. There are commands and obligations, a tabernacle where God can be approached, a priesthood and sacrifices to restore fellowship when men sin, and so on. If we change any part of that system, we affect its other elements as well. Thus the O.T. prediction of a change from an Aaronic to a Melchizedekian priesthood implied from ancient times that God intended to replace the whole Mosaic system. And this implied that that system was flawed: It could not make men perfect, for if it could have, it would not have to be replaced. Christ's ordination as a priest "after the order of Melchizedek" shows that the old Mosaic system has been replaced—by something much better!

"Guarantee" (7:22).
The Greek word "engyos" is found only here in the New Testament. It is a legal term which identifies a bond or collateral. It means that the signer of the guarantee pledged his resources as security for the commitment he made. The writer reminds us that Jesus is the living guarantee that the forgiveness God offers us under the New Covenant will surely be ours.

"Jesus lives forever" (7:24-25).
The high priest represents his people before God. As an ever-living High Priest, Jesus is always available to represent us and thus "He is able to save completely."