HAVING NEITHER BEGINNING OF DAYS OR END OF LIFE
Friday – December 8, 2017
The featured picture today shows our dog Renna and myself checking the deer feeder on the ranch. What is seen in the picture was Renna’s favorite riding stance and right next to me. We were blessed with some good dogs over the years at the ranch. Now let’s shift to our wonderful Bible Study from the Book of Hebrews and we will start by reviewing our primary text which is lengthy for today.
Hebrews 7:3-10 (KJV)
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto 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 brethren, 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 the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
This section of Scripture from Hebrews seems rather convoluted however nothing with God is wasted and so that is the case here. We also must remember that the primary audience for this letter are the Hebrew converts. The writer is demonstrating that Melchisedec is a forerunner, an Elijah if you will, to the coming Messiah who would be made King and Priest. We also see the argument forming of the need for a new priesthood to replace the Levitical Priesthood. I will now walk down through our text starting with Hebrews 7:3 believing the Lord to give us marvelous and explosive insight, knowledge (epignosis) of His Truth.
Hebrews 7:3 (KJV)
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
The subject of our passage is Melchisedec the King and Priest of Salem, the king of righteousness, and the king of peace. As a Priest he spoke the Blessing into Abram’s life when he tithed.
Genesis 14:19 (KJV)
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
I had made the point that this has been lost to the modern Church. It is the duty and responsibility of the priest by faith in love to bless those who tithe. It is the duty of the tither to receive the blessing of the priest by faith in love. When I say “priest” this would be the Pastor in most Christian Churches however if your Church has priests then one of them, generally the Chief Priest would confer the blessing.
Okay, let’s focus on this third verse. There is no mention of the birth, the parents, or the death of Melchisedec in Scripture however that is far from unique. There are many people in Scripture for which a genealogy is not provided. On the other hand, it is without contention that the One we now call Jesus, the Word in eternity past before the womb of the Virgin Mary, fits this third verse perfectly. Our Scripture points out that this Melchisedec is “like unto the Son of God”, he is not the Son of God, but is a foreshadowing of the Son of God who is a priest continually or forever.
Since we have been made kings and priests at salvation how can we think of ourselves (in Christ Jesus) in this verse. I strongly advise that when any of us are studying Scripture make it personal, ask where do I fit in this, what can I learn, where must I change? Back to this third verse. We all have a father, a mother, perhaps descendants (children), we have a birthday, however in Christ Jesus like the Son of God we do not have end of life and are priests continually. Jesus was not always a High Priest, not until the redemption and there were a people who needed a High Priest in matters related to God. I suspect that it is this verse that leads to the teaching that this Melchisedec was the pre-incarnate Jesus or other divine or angelic presence. As I end for today and for this week let me remind us all that the Bible, this Book of Hebrews was not written in chapter and verse or with punctuation, these were added by the translators for our ease of reading and reference. Having said that to whom is the phrase; “abideth a priest continually” being applied, Melchisedec or Jesus? I believe it is referring all the way back to this verse, it is Jesus.
Hebrews 6:20 (KJV)
20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Until our next publication, I speak blessing into your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving.
Numbers 6:24-26 (GW)
24 The LORD will bless you and watch over you.
25 The LORD will smile on you and be kind to you.
26 The LORD will look on you with favor and give you peace.’
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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