BIG PICTURE: Melchizedek appears in the Bible three times with about one thousand years between each occurrence:

• Genesis 14: Around 2,000 BC, Melchizedek appears to Abraham. Melchizedek is the Priest-King of [Jeru]Salem. Melchizedek offers Abram bread to eat and wine to drink. Melchizedek blesses Abram, and Abram gives him a tenth of his plunder.
• Psalm 110: About 1,000 years later, in Psalm 110, King David writes about the Messiah as being “a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
• Hebrews 5-7: About 1,000 years later, the author of Hebrews exults in Jesus the Messiah as our eternal priest in the pattern of Melchizedek. Jesus fulfills David’s messianic prophecy of Ps. 110. A Melchizedekian priesthood (not Levitical) is essential to Jesus’ new covenant salvation.

1. Melchizedek and Abraham (Hebrews 7:1-10)

• Melchizedek is greater than Abraham!

2. In 1000 BC, King David wrote that the Mosaic covenant would soon be obsolete. (Hebrews 7:11-22)

Verses 11 and 12 are the most important verses in the Book of Hebrews.

• The following is a better translation of verse 11’s parenthetic comment in the NIV: “For on the basis of the priesthood the law [covenant] was given to the people.”
• Verse 12 paraphrase: “If the priesthood is changed, the law [covenant] must also be changed to permit it.”

3. The implication: Jesus is better (Hebrews 7: 23-28)

• Jesus is a better high priest than Aaron because he is an enduring priest (23-25).
• Jesus is a better high priest than Aaron because he is sinless (26).
• Jesus is a better high priest than Aaron because his sacrifice is better (27).
• Jesus is the perfect high priest (28).