Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Abraham » Is blessed by melchizedek
For this Melchizedek was king of Salem [Note: This probably refers to Jerusalem], and a priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham returning [from battle] when he defeated the kings [See Gen. 14:1ff] and blessed him. Abraham measured out one tenth of everything he had [taken in battle] and gave it to Melchizedek. (Now "Melchizedek" means, first of all, "King of Righteousness," and then [since he was] King of Salem, it also means "King of Peace"). He was without a father, or mother or a list of ancestors [i.e., there was no record of his family tree] and no [record of his] birth or death. Like the Son of God, he [appeared to] remain a priest perpetually. read more.
Now consider how great this man was, to whom the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of what he had taken [in battle]. For indeed, the descendants of Levi, who are appointed to the priesthood, are commanded by the law of Moses to collect a tenth [of the income] of the Israelites, who are their brothers, even though these brothers are [also] descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, whose ancestry is not traced from the Levites, has collected a tenth [of the spoils] from Abraham, and blessed him who had received promises [from God]. Without question [then], the lesser [of these two persons] is blessed by the greater one. And in the one case, men here [on earth, that is, the Levites] who die, collect a tenth [from the rest of the Israelites], but there [i.e., in the case of Melchizedek] it is collected by someone about whom it is declared [by Scripture] that he continues to live. And, so to speak, Levi, who collected a tenth [from the Israelites], paid a tenth through Abraham, for when Melchizedek met him, he was still in Abraham's body [i.e., Levi had not yet been born as a descendant of Abraham].
Now consider how great this man was, to whom the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of what he had taken [in battle]. For indeed, the descendants of Levi, who are appointed to the priesthood, are commanded by the law of Moses to collect a tenth [of the income] of the Israelites, who are their brothers, even though these brothers are [also] descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, whose ancestry is not traced from the Levites, has collected a tenth [of the spoils] from Abraham, and blessed him who had received promises [from God]. Without question [then], the lesser [of these two persons] is blessed by the greater one. And in the one case, men here [on earth, that is, the Levites] who die, collect a tenth [from the rest of the Israelites], but there [i.e., in the case of Melchizedek] it is collected by someone about whom it is declared [by Scripture] that he continues to live. And, so to speak, Levi, who collected a tenth [from the Israelites], paid a tenth through Abraham, for when Melchizedek met him, he was still in Abraham's body [i.e., Levi had not yet been born as a descendant of Abraham].
Abraham » Defeats chedorlaomer
For this Melchizedek was king of Salem [Note: This probably refers to Jerusalem], and a priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham returning [from battle] when he defeated the kings [See Gen. 14:1ff] and blessed him.
Verse Concepts
Abraham » Called the father of the faithful, characteristics of » Benevolence-gave tithes to melchizedek, the priest
Benedictions » Instances of » By melchizedek. Upon abraham
Without question [then], the lesser [of these two persons] is blessed by the greater one.
Verse Concepts
Christ, the high priest » Typified
Heathen » Instances of » Melchizedek
Jesus Christ » Priesthood of » Typified » Melchizedek
Melchizedek » King of salem
Praise » Exemplified
Rulers' » Instances of » Abraham
Thankfulness » To God, instances of » Of melchizedek
Tithe » Antiquity of the custom of giving to God's ministers
But Melchizedek, whose ancestry is not traced from the Levites, has collected a tenth [of the spoils] from Abraham, and blessed him who had received promises [from God].
Verse Concepts
Tithes » Paid by abraham to melchizedek
Abraham measured out one tenth of everything he had [taken in battle] and gave it to Melchizedek. (Now "Melchizedek" means, first of all, "King of Righteousness," and then [since he was] King of Salem, it also means "King of Peace"). He was without a father, or mother or a list of ancestors [i.e., there was no record of his family tree] and no [record of his] birth or death. Like the Son of God, he [appeared to] remain a priest perpetually. Now consider how great this man was, to whom the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of what he had taken [in battle]. read more.
For indeed, the descendants of Levi, who are appointed to the priesthood, are commanded by the law of Moses to collect a tenth [of the income] of the Israelites, who are their brothers, even though these brothers are [also] descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, whose ancestry is not traced from the Levites, has collected a tenth [of the spoils] from Abraham, and blessed him who had received promises [from God].
For indeed, the descendants of Levi, who are appointed to the priesthood, are commanded by the law of Moses to collect a tenth [of the income] of the Israelites, who are their brothers, even though these brothers are [also] descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, whose ancestry is not traced from the Levites, has collected a tenth [of the spoils] from Abraham, and blessed him who had received promises [from God].
Types of Christ » Melchizedek
For this Melchizedek was king of Salem [Note: This probably refers to Jerusalem], and a priest of the Most High God. He met Abraham returning [from battle] when he defeated the kings [See Gen. 14:1ff] and blessed him. Abraham measured out one tenth of everything he had [taken in battle] and gave it to Melchizedek. (Now "Melchizedek" means, first of all, "King of Righteousness," and then [since he was] King of Salem, it also means "King of Peace"). He was without a father, or mother or a list of ancestors [i.e., there was no record of his family tree] and no [record of his] birth or death. Like the Son of God, he [appeared to] remain a priest perpetually. read more.
Now consider how great this man was, to whom the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of what he had taken [in battle]. For indeed, the descendants of Levi, who are appointed to the priesthood, are commanded by the law of Moses to collect a tenth [of the income] of the Israelites, who are their brothers, even though these brothers are [also] descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, whose ancestry is not traced from the Levites, has collected a tenth [of the spoils] from Abraham, and blessed him who had received promises [from God]. Without question [then], the lesser [of these two persons] is blessed by the greater one. And in the one case, men here [on earth, that is, the Levites] who die, collect a tenth [from the rest of the Israelites], but there [i.e., in the case of Melchizedek] it is collected by someone about whom it is declared [by Scripture] that he continues to live. And, so to speak, Levi, who collected a tenth [from the Israelites], paid a tenth through Abraham, for when Melchizedek met him, he was still in Abraham's body [i.e., Levi had not yet been born as a descendant of Abraham]. So, if perfection [i.e., a right relationship with God] could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood, (for under it people had received the law of Moses), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, according to the order of Melchizedek, who was not considered "according to the order of Aaron"? For with the changing of the priesthood, it was necessary for a change to be made in the law also. For the Lord [See next verse], about whom these things are being said, belonged to another tribe, from which no one has [ever] been appointed to serve at the Altar. For it is quite evident that our Lord has descended from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priests. And this is even clearer if another priest like Melchizedek arises, who was not appointed on the basis of human regulations governing one's physical ancestry, but on the strength of One whose life never ends. For it is declared [about Jesus in the Scriptures, Psa. 110:4], "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."
Now consider how great this man was, to whom the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of what he had taken [in battle]. For indeed, the descendants of Levi, who are appointed to the priesthood, are commanded by the law of Moses to collect a tenth [of the income] of the Israelites, who are their brothers, even though these brothers are [also] descendants of Abraham. But Melchizedek, whose ancestry is not traced from the Levites, has collected a tenth [of the spoils] from Abraham, and blessed him who had received promises [from God]. Without question [then], the lesser [of these two persons] is blessed by the greater one. And in the one case, men here [on earth, that is, the Levites] who die, collect a tenth [from the rest of the Israelites], but there [i.e., in the case of Melchizedek] it is collected by someone about whom it is declared [by Scripture] that he continues to live. And, so to speak, Levi, who collected a tenth [from the Israelites], paid a tenth through Abraham, for when Melchizedek met him, he was still in Abraham's body [i.e., Levi had not yet been born as a descendant of Abraham]. So, if perfection [i.e., a right relationship with God] could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood, (for under it people had received the law of Moses), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, according to the order of Melchizedek, who was not considered "according to the order of Aaron"? For with the changing of the priesthood, it was necessary for a change to be made in the law also. For the Lord [See next verse], about whom these things are being said, belonged to another tribe, from which no one has [ever] been appointed to serve at the Altar. For it is quite evident that our Lord has descended from Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priests. And this is even clearer if another priest like Melchizedek arises, who was not appointed on the basis of human regulations governing one's physical ancestry, but on the strength of One whose life never ends. For it is declared [about Jesus in the Scriptures, Psa. 110:4], "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."