Interpretive Paper - Hebrews 7

8/8/2019 Interpretive Paper - Hebrews 7

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Rob ReardonInterpretive Essay Hebrews 7

Introduction to New Testament BI172Spring 2010

In the seventh chapter of Hebrews, a remarkable claim is made by the author as to the authority

and power given to Jesus Christ as both King and High Priest in the order of Melchizedek, who was

king of Salem and priest of God Most High (7:1). This authority and power is defined in the name,

Melchizedek and his office king of righteousness and king of peace (7:2). By reuniting the offices

of king and priest once again in the person of Jesus Christ, the author of Hebrews asserts that the dual

role of ruler and savior are one in the same, no longer a case of adversarial tension between the two.

This is especially important to the believer in that the one who comes to save is also the one to whom

allegiance is due and through whom the law is fulfilled.

To begin to more fully understand this chapter of Hebrews, it is important to at least gain a better

understanding of who Melchizedek was. Only once does this priestly king appear in the narratives of

the Torah, when he meets Abraham after the slaughter of the kings (Gen. 14:18-22).1

The only other

time he is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible is in Psalm 110:4 when the subject of that psalm is

acknowledged as an eternal priest in the order of Melchizedek (Ps. 110:4). Of note however, is that the

author of Hebrews ascribes this title and privilege on Jesus Christ as not only a kingly messiahbut a

priestly one as well.2

To confirm this linkage between the ancient Melchizedek and Jesus Christ, the connection is

made between several similarities between the two. In identifying such similarities, the author is

applying rules for interpretation that were used by both the rabbinic schools of Judaism and the New

Testament writers. The rules for interpretation were called the middoth.3

Two rules in particular are

used to link Melchizedek and Jesus Christ and those speak to the similarities found between the subjects:

1 Luke Timothy Johnson, The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1999), 4692

Ibid., 4693

Louis H. Evans, Jr.,Mastering the New Testament: Hebrews (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1985), 27


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- Deduction from similarity. If two or more passages are similar in their meaning, deductionmay be drawn for interpreting other passages with similar conditions.

4

- Interpretation by similarity. If one passage has something similar to another, the one may beexposited by means of the other.5

In the first chapter of Hebrews, the author establishes Jesus Christ as preeminent and superior to

angels, that although angels are Gods ministering spirits, Jesus is Gods Son.6

In defending this point,

the author asks the question: To which of the angels did God ever say, Sit at my right hand until I

make your enemies a footstool for your feet? (1:13). This direct reference to Psalm 110:1 is taken

further by linking Jesus with the order of Melchizedek in verse four. In fact, the author of Hebrews is

the only NT writer to read past the first verse of this resurrection psalm7

to make this connection.

The next similarity highlighted (7:3, 15-17) is the apparent never ending life of Melchizedek and

the indestructible life (7:16) gained by Jesus Christ after his resurrection. Whether Melchizedek never

experienced death is not given much thought, which may appear odd to twenty-first century readers, but

to those used to rabbinic teaching and thought, if something is not in the Torah, neither is it in the

world.8

It should be noted here that the intended audience for what is called the book of Hebrews is

Jewish and would have been familiar with the tactics used by the author, which included the middoth.

The priestly office would have been well-known as would the lineage and succession of priests. To

convince a Jewish audience that the man Jesus is worthy and in fact rightly possesses the priestly title,

more specifically in the order of Melchizedek would have been a tall order. There can be no doubt that

this argument is targeted at the particular religious culture of Pharisaic Judaism. It could have had an

4 Ibid., 285 Ibid., 286 Luke Timothy Johnson, The Writings of the New Testament: An Interpretation (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1999), 4647

Ibid., 4698

Ibid., 469


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impact only upon a Semitic mind of Israel.9

For our twenty-first century Christian understanding, it is

important to note the connection between the authors inference to Melchizedeks resemblance to the

Son of God (7:3) who came before Melchizedek and in chapter one of Hebrews is proclaimed as one

who will live forever and was with God at the beginning of time (1:8, 10-12).

Here begins the application for believers in Jesus as the Messiah because Christ has superseded

earthly standards for the priesthood, that is one who becomes a priest on the basis of a regulation as to

his ancestry (7:16), he is clothed in an eternal priesthood that shall know no end. The author of Hebrews

labors to identify the shortcomings of the weak and useless (7:18) regulations that have been replaced

by a better hope (7:19) which is found in Christ Jesus. Since death eventually found all other priests,

Christ stands alone and lives forever; he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save

completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them (7:24b-

25).

The final piece to this reunion of sorts is that as king, Jesus reigns as king of righteousness and

peace. In Christ there is one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the

heavens (7:26). Earthly priests had to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for

the sins of the people (7:27). Jesus took the sin of the world upon himself once for all, thereby

providing unobstructed access to God through himself. The ancient world first hearing this concept of

such a king would have had plenty of corrupt and evil examples that were contrary to the type of

kingship being described in Hebrews. A king who intercedes on behalf of his subjects to the Almighty?

Never was such a thing heard, let alone thought of. Yet Christ provided this for all people.

9Louis H. Evans, Jr.,Mastering the New Testament: Hebrews (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1985), 115


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Such a kingly high priest is ever needed today as it was during the time when the book of

Hebrews was written and shared. Our world is replete with corruption and evil at every turn. In Christ

there is one who offers what the world is, at times unknowingly searching for. Through Jesus as the

priest of God Most High, we are offered eternal life and rest beyond our hopes and wildest imagination.

As king of righteousness and peace we find one who not only will rule justly, but shows us by example,

the way to the Almighty God and intercedes on our behalf while were finding our way there. His

promise is sure: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27).

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