Day 697: Givers that keep giving - Hebrews 7 vs 4 - 11

4-5 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. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham, and blessed him who had the promises. 

7-8 It's 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.  9-10 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. 11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? Hebrews 7:4-11 English Standard Version

Today's verses may strike a chord more with Christians from Jewish backgrounds than those who were gentiles. But they're important for us as well. Melchizedek was a priest of God to whom Abraham gave a tenth of the spoil taken after defeating the kings who'd captured his nephew Lot. This was long before God appointed a man named Aaron and the Levite tribe – all descendants of Abraham – to be priests in Israel, and to receive tithes from fellow Israelites to support them as they served in the temple. So the writer's point is that Melchizedek's priesthood preceded the priesthood of the Levites, and is superior to it.

Now why this was important to the Jewish Christians is that, in Psalm 110, their greatest King, David, had prophesied of a coming King who would also be the greatest priest ever! In vs 4 of Psalm 110 he spoke of a promise concerning this Priest-King where God said: “The Lord  has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.'” That prophetic promise was fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. In the light of this, do you see the reason for the question he puts to them in vs 11?

If God intended for the Jews (and us) to continue under the Old Testament arrangement of Levite priests in the temple at Jerusalem to make people perfect in His eyes, why would there be a need for another priest like Melchizedek to come along? He wanted them to see that Jesus Christ is the only priest they need because His one time perfect sacrifice makes those who believe on Him perfect in God's eyes forever. That's just as important for gentile Christians as Jewish ones.

Two thoughts from the above. Notice how the writer based his message on Psalm 110:4. He didn't take the story of Abraham and Melchizedek in Genesis and give it a spiritual meaning of his own invention. We must be careful when people spiritualize verses in the Bible without other parts of the Bible to support what they say. Some do that with the parables of Jesus. The Bible itself is the best explainer of it's full message.

Secondly, today's reading spoke of 'tithes' that Israelites were obliged to give to the Levites. They weren't always faithful in doing that. The prophet Malachi challenged them and said: “Will man rob God? Yet you're robbing Me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in My house, and thereby put Me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open  the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there's no more need.” (Malachi 3:8-10)

Christians aren't commanded to give tithes, but from the start people who'd been saved by God gave money freely and generously for the needs of poor Christian brothers and sisters, as well as to support those serving the Lord in full time roles. May we continue to be open hearted and open handed in supporting God's people – especially those serving Christ in places of great need.