Hebrews Chapter Seven Chapter Thirteen

Chapter 13

Hebrews Chapter Seven

As chapter seven of Hebrews begins, the writer is speaking of Melchisedec, who we have already discussed, and his encounter with Abram, which took place after the battle in Gen. 14.
I will cover this encounter more later and look into what it signifies. In verse two we are told that Abram gave a tenth part of 'all' to this Melchisedec, who was, as verse one tells us, the priest of the most high God. The 'all' spoken of here, was all of the spoils of the battle that had taken place.
Heb. 7:4 “Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.
Now this is not just a little history thrown in here, and the issue is not tithing itself. The issue is what the writer is wanting us to 'consider'. The point he is making and which he wants us to consider is, how great this man Melchisedec was. His position was so high that even Abraham, the founder of Israel,who is still looked on by the Jews, as being both great and the father of the man Israel himself, paid homage to him.
We find in Gen. that this high priest of God, gave a blessing to Abraham. In Hebrews we're told that the less of the two men was blessed by the better.
Heb. 7:7 “And with out all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.”
Now let's consider two words in verse four of this chapter, the word gave and the word spoils. The Greek word for the word 'gave' here, is not the same word used when Jesus spoke of the Pharisees 'paying' tithes, which as we saw, was a word denoting obligation. It is the word didomi; did'-o-mee; to give ... (Strong's) It is not stated that Abraham was commanded to give this tithe. But it was a show of honor and did serve to demonstrate the greatness of the man who received it.
The Greek word for spoils is akrothinion, ak-roth-in'-ee-on; (a heap); prop. (in the plural) the top of the heap, that is, (by impl.) best of the booty: - spoils. (Strong's)
So it appears that Abraham gave Melchisedec the best of the goods and people confiscated from the battle that had just taken place and in which God had given him the victory.
Verse three tells us that Melchisedec was made like unto the Son of God. So we can see why Abraham would honor him.
We have spoken before of rightly dividing the Word of truth, and this chapter demonstrates some very definite dividing. Between verse 5 and 11, we find the writer speaking of things that were “ ...according to the law ...”. and then verse 12 tells us
“For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.”
This is important to keep in mind as we continue, if we are to really see what the writer is trying to show us. Let us also remember that at the time of this writing, our Lord had already died and rose again. Most of the Jews, however, did not accept him as their Messiah, so they continued living under the old covenant. Now take a look at verses 5-10.
Heb. 7:5-10 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, (the other eleven tribes of Israel) though they come out of the loins of Abraham.
6 But he whose descent is not counted (Melchisedec) from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes, but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.” (emphasis and parenthesis mine)
Even those men of the tribe of Levi, who would later be separated from the other eleven tribes, to be the priesthood, and who would be commanded by the Law of Moses, to receive tithes from the other tribes, actually gave a tithe themselves to this great man who was never a part of the nation of Israel. They did this representatively through Abraham, while still in his loins. This showed the superiority of Melchisedec.
The Greek word for 'loins' is osphus, os-foos'; ... the loin (extern.), that is, the hip, intern. (by extens.) procreative power: ...
Notice that verse 5 says that the sons of Levi were commanded to take tithes of their brethren. This was law and not a matter of choice, and it was to be taken from other Israelites. So those who would be commanded to 'take', 'gave' in this incident. However when verse 6 tells us that Melchisedec received a tithe from them, there is no mention of him being commanded to do so. Melchisedec received this from Abraham before the Law of Moses was ever given.
There was no law of tithing, that we know of, at that time. The Greek word for 'paid' in verse 9 is dekatoo; ... to give or take a tenth: - pay (receive) tithes [Strong's]) This could suggest that it was something required, in that one of the meanings given is 'pay'. However, it is obvious that the writer did not choose the word apodekatoo, which Jesus used when speaking of the Pharisees 'paying' tithes, which was clearly to tithe as a debtor or creditor. And he used the word didomi (to give) in verse four. Dekatoo can also mean 'to give'.
Let's keep in mind what the point of all this is. Remember that the writer was expressing how great Melchisedec was, who lived before there was a Levitical priesthood or a law of tithing to them. This was a man who was honored by the Levites and who represented Jesus. These verses did not serve to show that these men were supposed to either continue holding the office of priesthood nor receiving tithes after the law was fulfilled, which can clearly be seen as we read on.
11 “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law”. (emphasis mine)
We can get a better understanding of what is being said here if we take a look at the meaning of the word “perfection” in verse 11. Perfection in the Greek is teleiosis, tel-i'-o-sis; (the act) completion, that is, (of prophecy), verification, or (of expiation) absolution: - perfection, performance. (Strong's)
The 'completion' of prophecy could not come by the Levitical priesthood, because the Old Testament prophecy was of a Saviour who would be a descendant of David, and come out of the tribe of Judah, (2 Sam.7:8-16, Is. 9:6-8), not the tribe of Levi. He is described in Revelation 5:5
5 “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book ...”
As long as the Mosaic Law remained in effect and all priests had to be Levites, Jesus the Saviour, could never have been our high priest. The Mosaic Law would have to end in order for Jesus, who was of the tribe of Judah, to be able to hold the office of high priest, otherwise it would have been illegal.
Now let's look at this word 'perfection' a little more. Two words given for the word 'perfection' reveal a lot to us. First look at the word 'expiation'. Expiate means “To make up or pay; to make redress or reparation for. (Webster's) Reparation means “The act of repairing, repair, what is done to repair a wrong. pl. indemnification for loss or damage, as demanded of a country defeated in war.” (Webster's) Indemnify means “To secure against loss, damage, or penalty: to reimburse for expenditures made or damages suffered.” (Webster's)
So then, by the Levitical Priesthood the prophecy could not be fulfilled, nor could the completion of expiation happen. In other words, by the Levitical priesthood, the completed work of buying man back from rulership and bondage of Satan, could not happen. We could not receive complete healing and restoration from the damages suffered at his hand, nor gain back what we had lost.
Rom. 7:14 (Paul speaking) “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.”
Heb. 10:4 “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.” (parenthesis mine)
Now the second word given as a definition for the word 'perfection' that we'll look at is 'absolution'. Absolution means “The act of absolving, or the state of being absolved; forgiveness; remission, as of sin ...” (Webster's) To absolve means “To set free or release from some duty, obligation, or responsibility; to liberate from consequences or penalties arising from actions; to aquit: to forgive or grant remission, of sins to (with from).” (Webster's)
Man sinned and there were consequences to be paid, and punishment to be received. The sentence for the crime was death. The Old Law could not absolve us, that is, liberate us from the consequences or penalties that had arisen from our sins. But what the Mosaic Law could not accomplish, Jesus did! He took our consequences and penalties on himself. He acquitted us! Only a Saviour could do this. No works done by any other man could ever accomplish our salvation. But Jesus had to end the Law of Moses to be able to legally become our king and high priest.
Much of Hebrews has been covered in the sections on Melchisedec and the new priesthood, for this chapter deals so much with the reason for and need for the New Covenant, new priesthood and a change of the Law. It's purpose is clearly not to show us a need to take up the Old Law. However some may argue that if the first priest of the order of Melchisedec received tithes of Abraham, and symbolically by his descendants, that this demonstrates to us, that all those who are called the children of Abraham, should give tithes to his successor, Jesus Christ.
WAS THIS NOT AN EXAMPLE TO US?

Probably many do believe this to be the case. Before coming to any definite conclusions, however, let's look at how this tithe was given, for it was done quite differently in Abraham's case than it was carried out according to the Law of Moses.