Sermon Text: Hebrews 7:1–10
Preacher: Pastor Brian Sauvé
No, You Do Not Hold The Melchizedek Priesthood
As you are turning to Hebrews 7, I want to point you back to the beginning of the thought that the author picks up here in chapter seven, which really began in Hebrews 5:6.
That verse quotes Psalm 110:4, applying that ancient song of Israel prophetically to Jesus Christ. Psalm 110:4 sings, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
The author underscores this identification emphatically and clearly just a few verses later, in Hebrews 5:9–10, saying, “And being made perfect, [Jesus] became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.”
And at this point, all of us are saying, basically, “Go on…” I mean, I of course know what you’re talking about, but for anyone who doesn’t in the room, could you explain it to me like I’m five Right? Who is that? What does that mean? Who is Melchizedek and what does he have to do with Jesus? What is Psalm 110:4 all about? And you expect the author of Hebrews to elaborate and explain and apply what he means, but he doesn’t.
Instead, he goes into an aside that took us from Hebrews 5:11 all the way through the end of chapter 6 on pushing on past doctrinal infancy and into maturity, as well as a warning not to apostatize, to fall away from Christ, explaining along the way the grounds for our security in Christ, anchored in God’s character and promises like a steel bolt in granite.
But through all of that detour, the author hasn’t forgotten the topic he intruduced back in chapter 5. It will actually become the meat of the center of the whole book of Hebrews. And so here in chapter seven, verse one, he picks that thread up again and continues tugging on it.
Look with me at Hebrews 7:1, if you would. This is the Word of the Living God:
“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.”
-Hebrews 7:1–10
I’m going to do something I normally don’t do in a sermon, and that’s give you the title of my sermon. The title of this sermon is: No, You Do Not Hold The Melchizedek Priesthood.
See, this topic—of Jesus’ ultimate, undying high priesthood after the order of Melchizedek—is essential for Christians everywhere and all the time, but there are unique circumstances that make it especially relevant for us, situated in the heart of Mormon country as we are.
Mormon theology teaches that there are two orders of priests, both of which continue today: The Aaronic and the Melchizedek Priesthood—the Melchizedek Priesthood being the higher order.
They teach that the Melchizedek Priesthood was given to Adam in the Garden, passed on to Abel and Seth, his sons, and then given to all the Patriarchs going forward—including Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and through Moses.
They further teach that this priesthood would have been granted to the nation of Israel, but that they were found unworthy of it. That’s important, because they then believe and teach that both the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods were restored to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints through special visitations to Joseph Smith.
Now, the LDS church claims to grant the Melchizedek Priesthood to worthy males of 18 years of age and older. This supposedly grants those male members the authority to grant priestly blessings to their families, as well as exercise authoritative priestly ministry in their homes. Raise of hands if you’re comfortable, how many men here have been told that you were a member of the Melchizedek Priesthood? See?
This matters deeply, and it matters because, number one, this understanding of the Melchizedek Priesthood is found nowhere in Scripture, and number two, it matters because of what the author of Hebrews teaches us in this very chapter of Scripture.
In these first ten verses of Hebrews 7, the author of the book teaches us the origins, the qualifications, and the supremacy of the Melchizedek Priesthood—and in the process will shows us why this Priesthood consists now, and will always consist, into eternity future, of a single, living, High Priest: The Lord Jesus Christ.
I hope to show you in these ten verses by the end of our time this morning that it is supremely dangerous to claim this priesthood for any mere mortal walking the earth today.
And so in verses 1–2, we will see the typological origins of the Melchizedek Priesthood. Then in verses 2–3, we will see the qualifications for holding it. Finally, in verses 4–10, we will see the supremacy of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Origins of the Melchizedek Priesthood
And so, in verses one two, the author reveals the origins of the order of Melchizedek. We’ll back up to verse 19 of chapter six to pick up the context,
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything.”
-Hebrews 6:19–7:2a
The Melchizedek Priesthood was not initiated in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3, but with the mysterious king of Salem in Genesis 14. You may remember, especially if you were with us all the way back in the good old days when we went through the book of Genesis verse-by-verse over a year or so, that this section of Genesis is about Abraham and his nephew, Lot.
In Genesis 12, God called Abraham—a nondescript man from what would later be Babylon, son of an idol-worshiper—to follow him out of the land of his fathers to a place he would reveal to him as he went. And God made great promises to Abraham, promises that we call The Abrahamic Covenenant. The seed of these promises began in Genesis 12, and would be formalized, expanded, and explained throughout the story of Abraham, especially in Genesis 15, 17, and 22.
We know, especially from Paul’s commentary on these promises, that God was promising a covenant of grace, the New Covenant, to come through one of Abraham’s offspring—and that in this seed, this offspring of Abraham, all that nations of the earth would be blessed.
In other words, God promised that Abraham would be the father of the Messiah, which he was—and so kids in Sunday Schools nationwide have been singing “Father Abraham, had many sons, and I am one of them, and so are you.” Yes, we are the true sons of Abraham, the True Israel, because the true sons of Abraham are those of faith, not blood.
But in Genesis 14, things were not looking very good. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, who was apparently named that because he was a lot of trouble, had gotten himself captured and carried off in a local turf war between a handful of kings.
Abraham, being a baller, took his small army—which yes, he had; a small standing army of his own—and defeated the coalition of kings who had plundered the area, rescuing Lot along with the rest of the captives. Now this is where Melchizedek comes in. Genesis 14:17,
“After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”
-Genesis 14:17–20
Now, some see Melchizedek as what is called a “Christophany,” meaning an appearance of the Lord Jesus prior to his incarnation. You can see why, right? Here’s a King of Salem, which later becomes Jerusalem. King of Salem literally means King of Peace. His name, Melchizedek, is a compound Hebrew word, from the words melek (king) and zedek/zadok (righteousness).
So he is King of Peace and King of Righteousness, serving bread and wine, praising God, a priest, and Abram tithes to him! However, I don’t believe he is actually a preincarnate appearance of Christ—Hebrews 7:3 tells us that Melchizedek resembled Jesus, not that he was Jesus.
And that is a key point: The text isn’t saying that Jesus is like Melchizedek, but that Melchizedek is like Jesus—that Jesus is the true and better Melchizedek, just as he is the true and better Temple, Lamb, Passover, Moses, David, on forward. This is another case of typology, that this is about that. God wrote the story of Melchizedek in living history, to later teach us something of the Person and work of Jesus. So that is the origin of this designation.
Qualifications of the Melchizedek Priest
Now, in verses 2 and 3, the author establishes the qualifications of the order of Melchizedek—which grows out of this typological picture. This is where it becomes very clear that, no, you are not a member of this order. Look at the second half of verse two,
“He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.”
-Hebrews 7:2b–3
There are 3 aspects of this living type that God wrote into the character of Melchizedek in Genesis 14 that establish the qualifications for Jesus to stand as High Priest in this order:
1. Jesus must be the King of Righteousness.
Again, the name “Melchizedek” is a compound Hebrew word, from the word melek, which means “king,” and zedek, or zadok, which means “righteousness.”
Only a righteous King may hold this priesthood. Jesus is such a King. Everyone knew that Messiah would be a King, specifically from the line of David:
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’”
-Jeremiah 23:5–6
“The LORD swore to David a sure oath
from which he will not turn back:
‘One of the sons of your body
I will set on your throne.’”-Psalm 132:11
This is where the Jewish categories for Messiah got blown up. See, they were waiting for a King. But they were thinking too small. Jesus would be the true and final and perfect Prophet, Priest, and King.
Combining all of these offices in one Man was to a Jewish mind akin to what we would think of someone who claimed to be the President, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and Speaker of the House, all in one—it just isn’t done!
Where is the separation of powers? Well, you need that with sinful people. But God is righteous. This King is King of Righteousness, and so he exercises all power with perfect justice. Psalm 110 is clear as well,
“The LORD says to my Lord:
‘Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
The LORD sends forth from Zion
your mighty scepter.
Rule in the midst of your enemies!
Your people will offer themselves freely
on the day of your power,
in holy garments;
from the womb of the morning,
the dew of your youth will be yours.
The LORD has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.’”-Psalm 110:1–4
Messiah will be a King, ruling in the midst of his enemies, and he would be a priest—a priest, in fact, forever!
There are times in Israel’s history where rulers tried to step into the sphere of the priests, and God did things like strike them with leprosy. Priests weren’t kings and kings weren’t priests—those powers needed to be separated so that no one man could become a despotic and tyrannical god-imposter.
But Jesus is God. And he is Christ. And Christ is Prophet, Priest, and King. He is not a priest from the Levitical order, the Aaronic Priesthood, but the High Priest of the Order of Melchizedek. He is the King of Righteousness.
This is why it is absurd to say that you are in this order. Are you the King of Righteousness? Are you the Messiah of Psalm 110 and Jeremiah 23 and Psalm 132 and Isaiah 53? No! We need a Priest to be our King of Righteousness, because we are neither good kings or righteous priests!
We are at war, at enmity with God, because of our sin. But the good news is that Jesus is not just the King of Righteousness, but the King of Peace. Number two, to be in this order…
2. Jesus must be the King of Peace.
Jesus is the true King of Salem, not just the King who sits on the throne of David, of the New Jerusalem, but also by translation, the King of Peace. As the Priest-King, he makes peace in two directions: vertical and horizontal.
“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
-Colossians 1:19–20
Jesus makes a vertical peace between God and men by the blood of his cross. He removes our sin from us, gives us his righteousness, raises us from death and enmity with God to life and peace with God. “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Paul writes in Romans 5:1.
Peace. How? Through our Lord. Through our King.
And he makes peace horizontally, peace between men who by their sin were at war with one another. Ephesians 2:13–17,
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.”
-Ephesians 2:13–17
Jew and Gentile, black and white, male and female, rich and poor—Jesus has made peace by his blood. He has purchased a global and transethnic people and made them one body.
See, this is what people always do in our sin, what we are always like: Proud and warring, hating one another and being hated by one another. This is all ethnic strife and racial vainglory—from white supremacy to black power. This is feminism and chauvinism.
This is the current woke apartheid, trying to play Marxist identity Monopoly and leverage my inclusion in a victim class for power. This is Statism, the idolatrous power religion of salvation by government intervention—a barren peace made by creating a docile people incapable of being trusted with anything like real freedom.
Sinful men are slaves, in bondage to warmongering hate and self-serving pride. The results are spattered throughout the bloody history of humanity.
But Jesus came with a Kingdom, and his Kingdom makes men free, and his Kingdom makes peace among those free men. Jesus has given new hearts, hearts filled with humility and meekness rather than pride and arrogance. And guess what? Jesus promised, Matthew 5:5, that the meek will inherit the earth. He is the King of Peace, and so qualified for this Priesthood. Finally, to belong to this order, number three…
3. Jesus must be uncreated and eternal—as the Son of God.
Hebrews 7:3,
“He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.”
-Hebrews 7:3
If you thought you were going to get into this club before now, this should settle it, right? “…without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he continues a priest forever.”
This is not saying, again, that Melchizedek was immortal and uncreated, but that he is without father or mother or genealogy or beinning or end in the text. The point of the author of Hebrews is that, while Melchizedek is like all of this in the text, Jesus is like this in reality. It’s a typological relationship. Melchizedek isn’t eternal or uncreated, but he is presented as such in the text.
Jesus is the substance casting the shadow of Melchizedek. He is the actually uncreated one. Yes, Jesus Christ is truly human—and as a human, he has geneaologies stretching back to David to Abraham to Adam—but he is also truly God, and as such he is self-existent, uncreated, immortal, and eternal.
You are not. I am not. And so we are unqualified for this office. So we have the origin of this order, the qualifications for it, and…
Supremacy of the Melchizedek Priesthood
Finally, in verses 4–10, we unfold the supremacy of the order of Melchizedek.
“See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.”
-Hebrews 7:4–10
The final point the author would have us see in this text is that Jesus is not just a High Priest—he is a High Priest of the highest order of priests, a priesthood supreme over all of the Levitical priests of Israel.
His argument, though probably strange to us who tend not to think generationally the way the Jewish people did, is actually a very simple one: The Melchizedek Priesthood is greater than the Aaronic Priesthood, because the Aaronic Priesthood tithed to and was blessed by the Melchizedek.
The argument is that blessings are given by the one with seniority. In Genesis 14, Abram doesn’t bless Melchizedek, Melchizedek blesses Abram. And also—and this is where it gets weird for us—Levi was in a sense in the loins of Abram as he tithed to and was blessed by Melchizedek, in the sense that Abraham would father the Levitical order through his seed.
So Jesus belongs to an order of priests that is the highest of all. Meaning that his priesthood trumps the High Priest of Levi. Meaning Jesus outranked Caiaphas. Much more on this through the rest of chapter 7.
Remember The Point
So we have established that Jesus is a great High Priest, the High Priest of an ancient order, stretching back to the very beginnings of God’s covenant people. We have established the eternality of this office—that there will never be another officeholder in this Priesthood, because Jesus is immortal.
What I want to leave you with, before we close this section of the book of Hebrews, is a reminder of why all of this matters. Not why all of it matters in my opinion, but why the author of Hebrews thinks this matters. He’s already told us. In fact, before he established all the details of what this priesthood is and how Jesus rules it, he told us, back in Hebrews 6:19–20,
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
-Hebrews 6:19–20
The point of Jesus’ cosmic High Priesthood is the steady anchoring of our souls in the very presence of God. The point is that, by identifying with us fully and coming down to truly dwell with us where we are, he could bring us to identify with him fully and bring us up to truly dwell with him where he goes.
That’s what this is all aiming at, and that’s why it matters so deeply that so-called “worthy” 18-year old boys are not members of the Melchizedek Priesthood! Can they do that? Can they anchor your soul in the heavenlies? No!
Jesus is our great, immortal High Priest after the order of Melchizedek—and he is so in order that we might be seated with him in the heavenly places, resolute.
This matters because you are a sinner, and I am a sinner, and we need a great High Priest to stand in the gap and make intercession for us, to sacrifice for our sin, to represent us to God, to bring us past the veil that is impenetrable to sinners—the very curtain of his flesh, dividing all that is unclean from the inner sanctum of God’s presence.
So listen: This is high theology, but it is high theology that is intended to do as Psalm 18 sings, to make your feet like the feet of deer and set you up on high places.
This is good news, Refuge! You have a Priest, the God-Man Jesus, interceding for you. He is the King of Righteousness and of Peace. His body is like bread, given to satisfy. His blood is like wine, poured out in covenant.
And he has set a table for us now, even in the presence of the enemies the Father is putting under his feet, and bid us to come and eat and drink—he has paid for this feast, and he beckons us now.