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by
Ron Parsons
The aim of this series:
“Then He said to them, ‘O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?’ And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:25-27.
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Shall we have another look at Mechisedec?
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Hebrews 7:
4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers and sisters, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 6 but HE WHOSE DESCENT IS NOT COUNTED FROM THEM received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of [by] the better [So Melchisedec was greater than Abraham!].
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he [still] lives [today].
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Paul’s point that tithing was being practised BEFORE Moses’ time is a good one, for it has always been recognised by Christians that God gives us everything we possess, as well as our increase through its use, and that He has the right to claim back 10% of His own.
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Genesis 28:
22 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, “If [because] God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 so that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22 and this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that You shall give me I will surely give the tenth to You.
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However, God does NOT ask us to give Him 10% of OUR increase, but to return to Him His own portion!!!
He accuses the Jews of stealing from Him even when they were paying their tithe because they did not appreciate the fact that it was already His.
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Malachi 3:
7 “Even from the days of your fathers you are gone away from My ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of hosts. But you said, “Wherein [in what way] shall we return?”
8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me. But you say, ‘Wherein [in what way] have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed Me, even this WHOLE NATION.”
10 “Bring you all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat [food] in My house, and prove Me now herewith,” says the LORD of hosts, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, says the LORD of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for you shall be a delightsome land,” says the LORD of hosts.
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Then Paul contrasts Melchisedec’s position with that of the Levites who received the tithe under Moses’ setup. They spiritually paid tithe to Melchisedec too, through Abraham. So he tells the Jewish Christians that the earthly priests are not as important as the Melchisedec ones.
In fact, salvation cannot come through the animal sacrifices and a new sacrifice was needed – that supplied by Jesus.
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Hebrews 7:
7 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receives tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.
10 For he [Levi] was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
11 If therefore perfection [sanctification] were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) WHAT FURTHER NEED was there that another Priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken [of] pertains to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident [plain to see] that our Lord sprang out of Judah [the kingly tribe]; of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude [likeness] of Melchisedec there arises another Priest, 16 who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment [earthly descent], but after the power [because] of an endless life.
17 For He testifies, “You are a priest FOR EVER after the order of Melchisedec.”
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So one the characteristics of Melchisedec is that he lives forever too!!! Another is that he is a king as well as a priest.
More next week?
Ron
Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library. No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.
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