Hebrews 7 - Summary

Historical setting

This letter was written to Jewish Christians, probably in the 60s CE, who were under pressure to return to the Jewish religion they had left behind. The recipients lived in a world where the Jerusalem Temple still stood and the Levitical priesthood still functioned. They would have been familiar with the annual Day of Atonement when the high priest entered the holy of holies to make sacrifice for the people's sins. The letter does not name its author or destination with certainty. Its purpose is to convince readers that Jesus fulfils and surpasses what the Jewish religious system could offer, making a return to it unnecessary.

Life and customs

Tithes were a tenth part of agricultural produce or livestock owed to the Levitical priesthood under Jewish law. A priest's authority came from his genealogy: membership in the tribe of Levi and descent from Aaron, the first high priest. The priesthood was hereditary and could pass from father to son. Daily and annual sacrifices were the priesthood's central function; the high priest alone entered the innermost sanctuary once a year on the Day of Atonement. Kings in the ancient Near East were sometimes said to bless their subordinates or rivals as a sign of superior authority. The reader would recognise that comparison to a king and priest at once was unusual, since these roles were normally kept separate in Israel.

What the text says

The author begins by naming Melchizedek, a figure from Genesis who was both king of Salem and priest of the Most High God, who blessed Abraham and received a tenth of Abraham's spoils (verses 1-2). His name means "king of righteousness" and Salem means "peace" (verse 2). Verse 3 states the striking claim: Melchizedek has no recorded father, mother, or genealogy; he has no beginning or end of days. The text says he is "made like unto the Son of God" and "abideth a priest continually."

The author uses this to argue Melchizedek's greatness. Abraham, the patriarch, gave him tithes (verse 4), whereas Levitical priests also receive tithes from the people, who are their relatives, "brethren" descended from Abraham (verse 5). But Melchizedek was not of Levi's descendants, yet Abraham gave him tithes and he blessed Abraham (verse 6). The principle follows: "the less is blessed of the better" (verse 7). Mortal priests die; Melchizedek is witnessed to live (verse 8). Verses 9-10 draw an inference: even Levi, through Abraham, paid tithes to Melchizedek, since Levi was not yet born but existed "in the loins of his father" when Melchizedek met Abraham.

Verses 11-14 argue that the Levitical priesthood was imperfect. If it had achieved perfection, there would be no need for another priest "after the order of Melchisedec" rather than Aaron's order. But Christ arose from Judah, a tribe from which Moses said nothing about priesthood (verse 14). Verses 15-17 confirm this: a priest has arisen "after the similitude of Melchisedec," made by "the power of an endless life" rather than by law, and God's oath testifies "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."

Verses 18-19 state that the old commandment is "disannulled" because of its weakness; the law perfected nothing, but a "better hope" now allows approach to God. Verses 20-21 emphasize that Christ was made priest with an oath, whereas earlier priests were made without one. This oath makes him "a surety of a better testament," a guarantor of a superior covenant (verse 22).

Verses 23-25 highlight the difference in duration: many priests came and went because they died, but Christ remains forever and thus holds an "unchangeable priesthood." Because he lives forever and intercedes for those who come to God through him, "he is able also to save them to the uttermost" (verse 25).

Verses 26-28 describe Christ's superiority. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike ordinary high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifice daily first for his own sins and then for the people. He "offered up himself" once (verse 27). The law made men who have infirmity into high priests, but God's oath established "the Son, who is consecrated for evermore" (verse 28).

Takeaways

• A priest without genealogy or recorded ancestors, who lived continually and blessed Abraham, prefigures a priesthood based on eternal life rather than inheritance or law.
• The Levitical priesthood's inability to perfect or save required a new priest whose power comes from an unbreakable oath and endless life.
• One sacrifice offered once by an eternal high priest who constantly intercedes accomplishes what repeated daily offerings could not.