From our Sunday service on March 1, 2026, Hebrews 6:19-7:28 and Genesis 14:17-24. This is part 5 of our Hebrews series. Watch the full message: An Eternal Priesthood – Hebrews Series #5 on YouTube.
Last time we saw that Jesus is our great High Priest. Today we continue that thought in one of the deeper sections of the book. The first readers were Jews tempted to turn back to the old law and forsake Christ. Through Melchizedek, the writer shows that Christ’s priesthood is superior to the old priesthood, and that when we go to Christ we are not losing salvation, but inheriting it. God wants you to know that the law is dead, but Jesus is alive forevermore.
An Anchor, and a Righteous King
We already heard that we have a hope as an anchor of the soul, sure and stedfast, and that it enters into that within the veil, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. Now the writer is ready to explain who Melchizedek is.
He appears in Genesis as Abraham returns from the victory over the kings. Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine. He was the priest of the most high God, and he blessed Abraham, and Abraham gave him tithes of all. His name means king of righteousness, and king of Salem means king of peace. He is both king and priest in one person, something the later law would not combine in the same way, and he appears in the story as a priest already, before Levi was born. Bread and wine in that moment are the gifts of a priest-king who blesses, and they already hint at a better table than anything Sodom could offer. This is the first priest we meet in Scripture, and he does not arise from Abraham’s household. He meets Abraham as one already serving the most high God.
There are many opinions about him, and we ought to know what not to believe. Some have taken him to be a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, or even of God Himself. Some ancient Jewish writings even called him Elohim. They were close, because Melchizedek truly does foreshadow Christ, but they came to the wrong conclusion. The writer does not say that Melchizedek was the Son of God. He says he was made like unto the Son of God, that he resembles Him. If the Bible meant to tell us he was God, it would say so, as it does of the Word in the beginning. Melchizedek was likely just a righteous, God-fearing king, an honorable man who recognized that Abraham served the true God. He is a picture, not the Person. And a believer who follows God should resemble Him as well.
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Hebrews 7:1–3
Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, does not mean he was an eternal being with no parents. It means that in the record he has no priestly genealogy. His priesthood is not explained by a family line that began and ended. In that way he is made like the Son of God, and abides a priest continually. The point is the pattern, not a hidden identity.
Greater Than Abraham, and a Changed Law
Then the argument becomes practical. The less is blessed of the better, and Abraham, who had the promises, paid tithes to this man. Levi, who later received tithes, is said to have paid tithes in Abraham, because he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. If the one who blesses is greater, then this priesthood is greater than Abraham, and greater than Levi.
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 rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Hebrews 7:11–12
If perfection had been by the Levitical priesthood, under which the people received the law, why would another priest have to arise after the order of Melchizedek, and not after the order of Aaron? The priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. The law was always meant to change. It was designed for that purpose. It was never the final way to approach God.
Our Lord sprang out of Judah, a tribe about which Moses said nothing concerning priesthood. He is made a priest not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life: “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.” Salvation by faith is not locked inside Abraham’s priestly line. There was already, in Melchizedek, a priesthood outside that line, and Jesus fulfills it forever.
The law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did, by the which we draw nigh unto God. We can come near now, not because we have finally kept enough commands, but because a living Priest has opened the way. This priesthood was also made with an oath. The Levitical priests were made without an oath, but Jesus was made with one: the Lord swore and will not repent, “Thou art a priest for ever.” Because of that oath, He is the surety of a better testament. What God has sworn, He will not take back.
The Genesis account even sets Melchizedek beside the king of Sodom. One comes with bread, wine, and blessing. The other comes with an offer that would have put Abraham in a wrong debt. Abraham would not be made rich by Sodom. The contrast is not incidental. There is a priesthood that blesses and points to God, and there are earthly bargains that look helpful and are not. We are to go to the Priest who blesses, not back to a system, or a deal, that cannot give us life.
And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:23–25
The old priests were many, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death. But this man, because He continues ever, has an unchangeable priesthood. He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. He does not need to offer daily, first for His own sins and then for the people’s. He did this once, when He offered up Himself. The law appointed men who had infirmity, but the oath appointed the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. That is why we can finally say the old priesthood has reached its end. A dying priest can only serve for a little while. A living Son can represent you today, and tomorrow, and when you have no strength left to represent yourself.
The law, with its temporary sacrifices and dying priests, could never remove sin. Jesus did what the law could never do. Our hope is not anchored in commandments on stone, or in rituals performed by fragile men. It is anchored beyond the veil, where Jesus stands as our forerunner, a Priest who never loses His office. Because He lives forever, we will always have a representative. Because He fulfilled the law, salvation is no longer dependent on us. Because He is the perfect sacrifice, our salvation is secure. Stop living as if your acceptance depends on a law that could never save you. Stop standing far from God when Christ has opened the way. Stop looking to earthly systems when heaven’s High Priest is calling you. God wants you to know that the law is dead, but Jesus is alive forevermore. The law cannot save you, but with Jesus, sin cannot condemn you and death cannot claim you, because your High Priest lives forever. And if Jesus lives forever, then your hope does too. That is the only priesthood strong enough to hold you to the end, and it will not expire, fail, or ever let you go.
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