Hebrews 7:7-10 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 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. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
We have to understand the logic of the author in order to understand what he is saying in these verses. He is using the ancient situation of Abraham and Melchizedek as a way to show the qualities of Jesus. He gives his basic premise at the beginning: “the inferior is blessed by the superior.” Melchizedek was superior because he blessed Abraham. The essential shows that the priest king was superior to the one who had received God’s promises. Jesus as the priest king is superior over the father of Israel and everything that came from him. Verse 8 continues the comparison between Melchizedek and Jesus. Melchizedek was great because he received tithes from Abraham, but Jesus, the one who “lives,” is even great that this. The author will repeat the idea of Jesus’ eternality in verses 16 and 24. The author extends his analogy to include the Levitical priesthood who logically paid tithes to Melchizedek through Abraham since they were Abraham’s descendants and still in his “loins.” Using this logic, the author has made a clear case in these verses that there is an order of greatness: Jesus stands at the top. Melchizedek, the priest king is a “type” for Jesus. We could make this idea even stronger and say that Jesus was somehow represented in this ancient priest king. Melchizedek was great than Abraham, and by extension, the Levitical priesthood, because he received tithes from Abraham and blessed him. We need to see these verses as one part of the author’s overall logic and argument to show the greatness of Jesus.
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