Hebrews 7 | What's the connection?
History of Melchizedek
The reference that is being made to Melchizedek is found in the Old Testament. More specifically, it is found in Genesis. The placement of it almost feels random. There was a large battle with many kings involved. Lot, Abraham's brother, was captured. Abraham, then known as Abram, sends out his own servants to save Lot. He ends up gaining back all that was lost in Sodom as well as Lot. The king of Sodom goes out to meet him. All of a sudden, we are given detail of another king that had not yet made it into the narrative.
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said:
“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
And he gave him a tithe of all.
-Genesis 14:18-20
“Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
And he gave him a tithe of all.
-Genesis 14:18-20
Right after this passage, the narrative returns to the king of Sodom. While I am personally unfamiliar with all the nuances of Hebrew literature, one thing that often stands out is when something really pops out of nowhere it is there for a reason. Such literary devices were commonly used in Hebrew literature and is even used in other familiar passages. Mark is specifically known for interrupting his own narrative with another story in order to forward the point that is being made. So while this may seem random to us and easily passable, the Jewish reader would have had their eyes locked on to what was being said.
The reference that then stands out of the priestly order that pertains to Jesus is out of Psalm 110:4. This is what is quoted in the book of Hebrews.
The reference that then stands out of the priestly order that pertains to Jesus is out of Psalm 110:4. This is what is quoted in the book of Hebrews.
“The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
‘You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek’ ”
-Hebrews 7:21
And will not relent,
‘You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek’ ”
-Hebrews 7:21
Let's remember the context to Hebrews 6 that was discussing the immutable (unchangeable) nature of God. The Lord swore upon Himself, and we have a promise of the priest forever. That priest is Jesus Christ. What Hebrews 7 then is informing us of is how Jesus fits this priesthood, bearing essentially the same heritage as Melchizedek. Give the evidences that the author of Hebrews is presenting, the reader is left with a some important conclusions. The priesthood of Melchizedek is better than the priesthood of Levi, and Jesus fills the role sufficiently to be this priest forever.
The context as a whole presents more and more reinforcement to the original audience that Jesus truly is the only way, as well as the best way. Having a brief look at the context, we can see the connections that are being made. In no way have I made an exhaustive list of all the connections found here. So what connections are you finding in Hebrews 7?
The context as a whole presents more and more reinforcement to the original audience that Jesus truly is the only way, as well as the best way. Having a brief look at the context, we can see the connections that are being made. In no way have I made an exhaustive list of all the connections found here. So what connections are you finding in Hebrews 7?
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January
John 14:22-31 | What's the lesson for me today?John 14:22-31 | What am I going to do about it?John 14:22-31 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 15:1-11John 15:1-11 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 15:1-11 | What's the connection?John 15:1-11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 15:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?John 15:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?John 15:1-11 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 15:12-27John 15:12-27 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 15:12-27 | What's the connection?John 15:12-27 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 15:12-27 | What's the lesson for me today?John 15:12-27 | What am I going to do about it?John 15:12-27 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 16:1-15John 16:1-15 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 16:1-15 | What's the connection?John 16:1-15 | What’s a lesson for the original audience?John 16:1-15 | What's the lesson for me today?John 16:1-15 | What am I going to do about it?John 16:1-15 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 16:16-33John 16:16-33 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 16:16-33 | What's the connection?John 16:16-33 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 16:16-33 | What's the lesson for me today?John 16:16-33 | What am I going to do about it?John 16:16-33 | Prayer Prompts
February
Passage of the Week: John 17John 17 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 17 | What's the connection?John 17 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 17 | What's the lesson for me today?John 17 | What am I going to do about it?John 17 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 18:1-11John 18:1-11 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 18:1-11 | What's the connection?John 18:1-11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 18:1-11 | What's the lesson for me today?John 18:1-11 | What am I going to do about it?John 18:1-11 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 18:12-40John 18:12-40 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 18:12-40 | What's the connection?John 18:12-40 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 18:12-40 | What's the lesson for me today?John 18:12-40 | What am I going to do about it?John 18:12-40 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 19John 19 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 19 | What's the connection?John 19 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 19 | What's the lesson for me today?John 19 | What am I going to do about it?John 19 | Prayer Prompts
March
Passage of the Week: John 20John 20 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 20 | What's the connection?John 20 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 20 | What's the lesson for me today?John 20 | What am I going to do about it?John 20 | Prayer PromptsJohn 21 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: John 21John 21 | What's happening (and who's involved)?John 21 | What's the connection?John 21 | What's a lesson for the original audience?John 21 | What's the lesson for me today?John 21 | What am I going to do about it?Passage of the Week: Hebrews 1:1-4Hebrews 1:1-4 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What's the connection?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What is a lesson for the original audience?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What's the lesson for me today?Hebrews 1:1-4 | What am I going to do about it?Hebrews 1:1-4 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: Hebrews 1:5-14Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's the connection?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's a lesson for the original audience?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What's the lesson for me today?Hebrews 1:5-14 | What am I going to do about it?Hebrews 1:5-14 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: Hebrews 2:1-4Hebrews 2:1-4 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 2:1-4 | What's the connection?
April
Hebrews 2:1-4 | What's a lesson for the original audience?Hebrews 2:1-4 | What's the lesson for me today?Hebrews 2:1-4 | What am I going to do about it?Hebrews 2:1-4 | Prayer PromptsPassage of the Week: Hebrews 2:5-9Hebrews 2:5-9 | What's happening (and who's involved)?Hebrews 2:5-9 | What's the connection?Hebrews 2:5-9 | What's a lesson for the original audience?Hebrews 2:5-9 | What's the lesson for me today?Hebrews 2:5-9 | What am I going to do about it?
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