Hebrews 7:9 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Hebrews 7:9

Comments

The second additional argument is given in verses 9 and 10, and is based on the due order of things. Although there are limitations to typology, in that the type is always less than the thing or person it represents, God does not allow, as it were, ‘accidental’ inaccuracies. A mortal man like Melchisedec may (by deliberately ignoring his mortality) be used to represent the immortal Son of God, but everyone knows that his mortality is still there. That is a matter of the type being of necessity less than the antitype, especially when the antitype transcends human limitations. But what does not happen is that typology gets in a muddle and inadvertently confuses images. This means that we can draw lessons from the relation of things as the writer does here. In particular, this argument assumes that the principle of headship means that what happened to Abraham has significance for all those who were included in the covenant made with him, and who descended from him. Therefore if Abraham acknowledged someone else as greater than him, then so also did all those who were physical members of the covenant God made with him. There was a priesthood which arose among the descendants of Abraham which was appointed by the law of Moses. The law identified the tribe of Levi and in particular the descendants of Aaron as the priests, and yet Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec. What does this say about the relevant significance of the priesthood that came from Abraham – the Levitical priesthood? For what we have here is one priesthood in effect paying tithes to another priesthood. On the assumption that tithes are paid from one of lesser significance to one of greater significance, what should we read into this? The answer is obvious: Melchisedec was greater than Levi, and the priesthood of the order of Melchisedec was greater than the order of the Aaronic priesthood. All this is said to dislodge the Jewish mind from its exaggerated respect for things to do with the law, and to create a greater respect for the superior things of Christ.

Application

When God moves us on, we must let go of what he gave us as a temporary aid to teach us. His teaching aids are not meant to become an end in themselves, but are only given to help us understand what is of much greater significance. We know that we have to pass through childhood in which we learn in a different way – by small steps and by analogy, by approximation to truth and by comparison with what the simple mind of the child already understands – but we should not remain children forever. When we become men we put away childish things. Thanks be to God for the full light of understanding, for this is vastly superior to and more fulfilling than the simple lessons which the child starts off with. The converted Jew had a responsibility to let go of the types and shadows and to embrace the full light of the new covenant.

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Hebrews 7:9 Commentary and Bible Study