Hebrews 7:6 Commentary and Bible Study

In the case of Melchizedek receiving tithes from Abraham, that is not true. Here was someone who was clearly nothing to do with the family of Abraham, for unlike the Levites he was not descended from Abraham but lived as a contemporary of Abraham, and yet he received tithes of the patriarch. His ancestors are not mentioned by Scripture, and it is evident that he was not related to Abraham, and certainly was not under the covenant which God made with Abraham, which applied only to Abraham and his descendants. This is what is so surprising to the Jewish mind which had been taught to elevate Abraham to the position of highest honour. It was almost as if Abraham should not have been offering this tithe, and yet the Scripture makes no mistakes. In addition, Melchisedec blessed Abraham, the one who received the covenant promises. Is there anyone greater than the one who received the promises of God, from whom the favoured nation Israel came, and in whom all the families of the earth are blessed? Yes, for as the writer says there can be no disputing the fact that the lesser is blessed by the greater, and yet Melchisedec blessed Abraham, not the other way round.All this is said to prove that Melchisedec was greater than Abraham, a thought which may have been unwelcome to many Jews, but which is vitally important in the light of the bigger argument which the writer is making about this great mysterious priest, who is a type of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.