Bible Gateway passage: Hebrews 7 - New King James Version (2024)

FAQs

What is the main message of Hebrews 7? ›

Here, in chapter 7, the author dives into this discussion of the priesthood of Melchizedek. The main point being made, starting here, is that Christ is the ultimate and perfect fulfillment of God's promises. So, our covenant with Him is superior in all ways to the covenant of the Levitical law.

This allusion led the author of the Letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament to translate the name Melchizedek as “king of righteousness” and Salem as “peace” so that Melchizedek is made to foreshadow Christ, stated to be the true king of righteousness and peace (Hebrews 7:2).

In Christianity, according to the Epistle to the Hebrews, Jesus is identified as "High priest forever in the order of Melchizedek", and so Jesus assumes the role of High Priest once and for all.

In the Latter Day Saint movement, the Melchizedek priesthood is viewed as the priesthood authority of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, as well as Old Testament prophets, higher than that of the Aaronic authority of John the Baptist and of the Levites.

So Abraham cobbled together a little army of 318 people, and he went and rescued all these people and brought back the plunder. This is what the author of Hebrews refers to as “the slaughter of the kings” in verse 1.

The letter to the Hebrews makes clear that only one Person deserves to hold the primary place in our lives. While we are busy idolizing our move up the corporate ladder or placing all our hopes in our kids, Jesus offers us a better position, a better priest, a better covenant, a better hope, and a better sacrifice.

Although Melchizedek is a subject of much speculation, this enigmatic historical figure and his royal priesthood serve as a model for Jesus.

Genesis 14:19-20

Although the text doesn't really tell us who Melchizedek is or where he came from, he creates an expectation for us: the human roles of priest and king are meant to be joined, and someone from Abraham's line should step into the priest-king office too.

As shown, 2 Enoch presents Melchizedek as a continuation of the priestly line from Methuselah, son of Enoch, directly to the second son of Lamech, Nir (brother of Noah), and on to Melchizedek. 2 Enoch therefore considers Melchizedek as the grandson of Lamech.

The author of Heb 7:3 affirms of Melchizedek: "He is without father or mother or genealogy; he has neither beginning of days nor end of life . . . he continues a priest forever." Scholars argue that the author draws on Gen 14:17-20, which introduces Melchizedek without the customary identification of his clan or ...

Are Enoch and Melchizedek the same person? ›

D&C 104:24 (CofC) / 107:48–49 (LDS) states that Adam ordained Enoch to the higher priesthood (now called the Melchizedek, after the great king and high priest) at age 25, that he was 65 when Adam blessed him, and that he lived for an additional 365 years until he and his city were blessed, making Enoch 430 years old at ...

In recent years Mormonism appears to have adopted a new symbol, one quickly growing in popularity. It is commonly referred to as the seal of Melchizedek and consists of two interlocked (or overlapping) squares, making what appears to be an eight-pointed star.

Melchizedek is a priest and king mentioned twice in the Hebrew Bible (Genesis 14:18–20 and Psalm 110:4) and once in the New Testament (Hebrews 7). The Story is usually classified as part of the Old Testament pseudepigrapha.

Hebrews 7:1-3

1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

These themes, which occur throughout Hebrews (but with greater frequency in Heb 11:1–12:2), are (1) faith, (2) perfection, (3) promise, (4) endurance, (5) superiority, (6) witness, and (7) inheritance.

The author of Hebrews wrote to exhort his audience to reject local Jewish teachings and to remain faithful to Jesus. As this definition affirms, the goal of the author's exhortations was twofold. He wanted his audience to reject local Jewish teachings and he wanted them also to remain faithful to Jesus as the Messiah.