The book of Hebrews has caused a lot of confusion and false doctrine, just as the letters of Paul have. So, this message is to clear up the misinterpretation of Hebrews 7 and break it down verse by verse, so that prayerfully many will repent and follow the outline that the scriptures set forth which is:
Revelation 14:12 (Hebrewgospels.com)
“Here is the hope of the set-apart ones, and here are those who DO THE COMMANDMENTS OF YAHWEH, AND believe in YESHUA.”
Hebrews 7:6-28 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
6 “But Malki-Tzedek, even though he was NOT descended from Levi, took a tenth from Avraham.”
Genesis 14:18-20 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“Malki-Tzedek KING OF SALEM (JERUSALEM) brought out bread and wine. He was a COHEN (PRIEST) of EL’ELYON (EL Most High), so he blessed him (Abraham) with these words: “Blessed be Abram by EL’ELYON, maker of heaven and earth. And blessed be EL’ELYON, who handed over your enemies over to you.” Abram gave him a TENTH OF EVERYTHING.”
Hebrews continued:
“Also, he blessed Avraham, the man who received ELOHIM’s promises; 7 and it is beyond all dispute that the one who blesses has higher status than the one who receives the blessing.”
We know that Abraham became a father of a multitude and that all nations would be blessed through him, and what the writer of Hebrews is saying is that, even though Abraham was great, that Malki-Tzedek the one Abraham tithed to and the one who blessed Abraham is greater! Malki-Tzedek was a KING AND PRIEST! There is only ONE other that can claim the titles and offices of KING, PRIEST, AND PROPHET at the same time. Keep this context in mind for the later verses.
Hebrews continued:
8 Moreover, in the case of the Cohanim (priests), the tenth is received by men who die; while in the case of Malki-Tzedek, it is received by someone who is testified to be still alive.”
This is very important as the writer is showing the superiority of Malki-Tzedek’s priesthood as he still lives, yet the Levites who were men died because they were human.
Hebrews continued:
9 “One might go even further and say that Levi, who himself receives tenths, paid a tenth through Avraham; 10 inasmuch as he was still in his ancestor Avraham’s body when Malki-Tzedek met him.”
Numbers 18:21-28 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“21 “To the descendants of Levi I have given the entire tenth of the produce collected in Isra’el. It is their inheritance in payment for the service they render in the tent of meeting. 22 From now on, the people of Isra’el are not to approach the tent of meeting, so that they will not bear the consequences of their iniquity and die. 23 Only the Levites are to perform the service in the tent of meeting, and they will be responsible for whatever they do wrong. This is to be a permanent regulation through all your generations. They are to have no inheritance among the people of Isra’el, 24 because I have given to the Levites as their inheritance the tenths of the produce which the people of Isra’el set aside as a gift for YAHWEH. This is why I have said to them that they are to have no inheritance among the people of Isra’el.” 25 YAHWEH said to Moshe, 26 “Tell the Levites, ‘When you take from the people of Isra’el the tenth of the produce which I have given you from them as your inheritance, you are to set aside from it a gift for YAHWEH, one tenth of the tenth. 27 The gift you set aside will be accounted to you as if it were grain from the threshing-floor and grape juice from the wine vat. 28 In this way you will set aside a gift for YAHWEH from all your tenths that you receive from the people of Isra’el, and from these tenths you are to give to Aharon the cohen (priest) the gift set aside for YAHWEH. 29 From everything given to you, you are to set aside all that is due YAHWEH, the best part of it, its set-apart portion.’
So again, he is stressing the importance of the SUPERIOR PRIESTHOOD, by saying that the Levites who received tithes, technically gave a tithe to the more superior Malki-Tzedek priesthood through Abraham before the Levites even existed! We know the order of the patriarchs was Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and through Jacob came the 12 Tribes of Yisra’el, and his third son was Levi who was given the priesthood, so Abraham was here before Levi was. The author of Hebrews is setting everything up to introduce YESHUA and His more superior Priesthood!
Hebrews continued:
11 “Therefore, if it had been possible to reach the goal through the system of Cohanim (priests) derived from Levi (since in connection with it, the people were given the Torah), what need would there have been for another, different kind of cohen (priest), the one spoken of as to be compared with Malki-Tzedek and not to be compared with Aharon?”
We see here again that the context being spoken of is the priesthood! So, the priests were Levites who came through the line of Aaron, Moses’ brother, but this new priesthood isn’t compared to Aaron, rather this priesthood is compared to Malki-Tzedek, as it is written:
Psalms 110:1, 4 (Complete Jewish Scriptures) (Parenthesis mine)
“YAHWEH says to MY MASTER (YESHUA), “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” Verse 4 “YAHWEH has sworn it, and He will never retract ----- “You ARE A COHEN (PRIEST) FOREVER, TO BE COMPARED WITH MALKI-TZEDEK.”
Levi himself understood this prophecy:
Testament of Levi 8:11-15 (Parenthesis mine)
“And they said to me, ‘Levi, your seed will be divided into three branches, for a sign of the esteem of YAHWEH WHO IS TO COME. And the first portion will be great; yes, none will be greater than it. The second will be in the priesthood. And the third will be called by a RENEWED NAME (In order of Malki-Tzedek), because a KING WILL ARISE IN JUDAH, and will establish A NEW PRIESTHOOD, after the fashion of the nations to all the nations. And His presence is beloved, AS A PROPHET OF THE MOST HIGH.”
This was a prophecy concerning YESHUA and the Superior Priesthood of Him being King, Priest, and Prophet! The priests and Levites were not kings, the same way Ezekiel was a prophet and priest, but not a king! David was a king and prophet, but not a priest! In other words, YESHUA compared to Malki-Tzedek is ALL 3 AT ONE TIME! All throughout scripture the only one was king and priest was Malki-Tzedek, the one YESHUA is compared to! This is the point the writer is making in this letter.
Hebrews continued:
12” For if the system of cohanim (priests) is TRANSFORMED, there must of necessity occur a TRANSFORMATION OF THE TORAH. 13 The one about whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar; 14 for everyone knows that our Master arose out of YEHUDAH (JUDAH), and that Moshe said nothing about this tribe when he spoke about cohanim.”
This point is critical to understand! How was the priesthood transformed? He explains that the priests were from the tribe of LEVI, but YESHUA is from the tribe of JUDAH a tribe which never served on the altar in the Old Testament. He says it is evident that YESHUA came from Judah, which is testified to in the scriptures!
Micah 5:2 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“But you, Beit-Lechem near Efrat, so small among the clans of JUDAH, out of YOU will come forth to Me, the FUTURE RULER OF YISRA’EL, WHOSE ORIGINS ARE FAR IN THE PAST, BACK IN ANCIENT TIMES.”
This scripture was quoted earlier and necessary here as well:
Testament of Levi 8:11-15
“And they said to me, ‘Levi, your seed will be divided into three branches, for a sign of the esteem of YAHWEH WHO IS TO COME. And the first portion will be great; yes, none will be greater than it. The second will be in the priesthood. And the third will be called by a RENEWED NAME, because a KING WILL ARISE IN JUDAH, and will establish A NEW PRIESTHOOD, after the fashion of the nations to all the nations. And His presence is beloved, AS A PROPHET OF THE MOST HIGH.”
Genesis 49:10 (Aramaic)
“The scepter shall not depart from JUDAH, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, UNTIL THE COMING OF THE ONE to whom the scepter belongs, to whom the gentiles shall look forward.”
1 Chronicles 5:2 (Aramaic)
“For from JUDAH SHALL COME FORTH MESSIAH THE KING…”
And with the transformation of the priesthood from Levites to YESHUA from the tribe of Judah in the Melchizedekian priesthood, comes a TRANSFORMATION OF THE TORAH! This was also a prophecy which YESHUA fulfilled in the New Priesthood! What does this mean?
Jeremiah 31:31-33 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“Here, the days are coming,” says YAHWEH, “when I will make a NEW COVENANT with the house of Yisra’el and with the house of Yehudah (Judah). IT WILL NOT BE LIKE THE COVENANT I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS on the day I took them by their hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt; because they, for their part, violated My covenant, even though I, for My part, was a husband to them,” says YAHWEH. For this the COVENANT I will make with the house of Yisra’el after those days,” says YAHWEH: “I WILL PUT MY TORAH WITHIN THEM AND WRITE IT ON THEIR HEARTS; I will be their ELOHIM, and they will be My people.”
The New Covenant writes the commandments on our hearts versus the tablets of stone, YESHUA is our High-Priest in the order of Melchizedek and does not die nor commit iniquity. As we can see the transformation of the Torah went from being written on TABLETS OF STONE that were given to Moses on Mount Sinai to being WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS! Which means the form of it changed, not doing away with the Torah! So, this is about a New Priesthood and has nothing to do with doing away with the law as Christianity as said! As I explained in a previous message, how can you get rid of something that is on your heart? If you get rid of your heart YOU WILL DIE; likewise, if you get rid of the Torah/Law that is written on your heart then YOU WILL DIE!
Leviticus 18:5
“You are to observe My laws and rulings; if a person DOES THEM, HE WILL HAVE LIFE THROUGH THEM; I AM YAHWEH.”
Hebrews continued:
15 It becomes even clearer if a “different kind of cohen,” one like Malki-Tzedek, arises, 16 one who became a cohen not by virtue of a rule in the Torah concerning physical descent, but by virtue of the power of an indestructible life.
YESHUA’s Priesthood is in the order of Malki-Tzedek and not concerning physical descent as the human Levites were! So again, the writer shows the superiority of YESHUA’s PRIESTHOOD predating that of the Levitical priesthood! Unlike, the human high-priest YESHUA DOES NOT DIE because He is eternal, EL the Son of YAHWEH! And unlike the human high priest, YESHUA does not have to make continual slaughter offerings for transgressions, because He was perfect! This makes for the perfect priesthood!
Hebrews continued:
17 For it is stated,
“You are a cohen FOREVER,
to be compared with Malki-Tzedek.”[b]
18 Thus, on the one hand, the earlier rule is set aside because of its weakness and inefficacy 19 (for the Torah did not bring anything to the goal); and, on the other hand, a hope of something better is introduced, through which we are drawing near to ELOHIM.
YESHUA is the goal of the Torah as He is the written word that became flesh, He is the Living Torah! The writer isn’t saying the Torah is done away with he is simply explaining what is written in
Romans 8:1-4 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“Therefore, there is no longer any condemnation awaiting those who are in union with the Messiah Yeshua. 2 Why? Because the Torah of the Spirit, which produces this life in union with Messiah YESHUA, has set me free from the “Torah” of INIQUITY AND DEATH. 3 For what the Torah COULD NOT DO BY ITSELF, because it lacked the power to make the OLD NATURE COOPERATE, ELOHIM did by sending his own Son as a human being with a nature like our own sinful one [but without sin]. ELOHIM did this in order to deal with transgression, and in so doing he executed the punishment against sin in human nature, 4 so that the just requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us who do not run our lives according to what our old nature wants but according to what the Spirit wants.”
In other words, the Torah on its own is good:
Romans 7:12 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“So the Torah is set-apart; that is, the commandment is set-apart, just and good.”
Paul acknowledged that the Torah was good, but the Torah by itself cannot make anyone change their nature, it cannot make someone cooperate to obey the laws that YAHWEH has given! The Torah is a mirror that you can look into, and it shows that you need to wash your face, but the Torah is not going to wash your face FOR YOU! You have to want to get the rag to wash your face; likewise, you have to want to change your mindset, circumcise your heart, and be no more stiff-necked and submit to the will of YAHWEH and let the RUACH HA’KODESH lead you. If you are led by the RUACH HA’KODESH (The Set-Apart) then obedience to the Torah can be accomplished with Him leading you and dying to your fleshly desires aka the old nature. Once you are led by the Spirit, He leads you into all truth which is the Torah and sets you free from only ONE LAW, WHICH IS FROM THE LAW OF INIQUITY AND DEATH! Why? Because you will no longer be walking in rebellion to YAHWEH’s Torah which leads to death!
John 16:13 (Hebrewgospels.com)
“But when that RUACH (SPIRIT) OF TRUTH will come, He will TEACH YOU ALL TRUTH. For He will not speak of His own heart, only the words which He hears He will speak, and make known to you those words.”
The RUACH HA’KODESH (The Set-Apart Spirit) will teach us all TRUTH! And what is the truth according to the scriptures?
Psalms 119:142 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“Your righteousness is eternal righteousness, and Your TORAH IS TRUTH.”
Psalms 119:151 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“You are close by, YAHWEH; and ALL YOUR COMMANDMENTS ARE TRUTH.”
For this is the desire of the RUACH HA’KODESH and what He wants to accomplish in us, which is what Paul mentioned in:
Romans 8:4
4 so that the just requirement of the Torah might be fulfilled in us who do not run our lives according to what our old nature wants but according to what the SPIRIT WANTS.”
Paul just confirmed that the Torah is a REQUIREMENT and will be fulfilled in our lives once you crucify the desires of the flesh and let the RUACH HA’KODESH lead you!
Hebrews continued:
20 What is more, ELOHIM swore an oath. For no oath was sworn in connection with those who become Cohanim (priests) now; 21 but YESHUA became a cohen by the oath which ELOHIM swore when he said to him,
“YAHWEH has sworn and will not change his mind,
‘You are a cohen (priest) forever.’”[c]
22 Also this shows how much better is the covenant of which YESHUA has become guarantor.
23 Moreover, the present Cohanim (priests) are many in number, because they are prevented by death from continuing in office. 24 But because he lives forever, his position as cohen (priest) does not pass on to someone else; 25 and consequently, He is totally able to deliver those who approach ELOHIM through Him; since he is ALIVE FOREVER and thus forever able to intercede on their behalf.
He again is stressing the fact that human priests were many, because they would die and have to pass the priesthood down to their sons, but YESHUA does not die, and He continues to serve as High Priest forever!
Exodus 29:29 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“The set-apart garments of Aaron will be used BY HIS SONS AFTER HIM; they will be anointed and consecrated in them. The son who comes PRIEST IN HIS PLACE, who comes into the tent of meeting to serve in the Set-Apart Place, is to wear them for seven days.”
John 1:9-10 (Hebrewgospels.com)
“He is truly a lamp; and He illuminates every man in this world. He IS ETERNAL; and the world was made by Him; but the world does not recognize Him, neither the power of His words – even those who do not receive Him.”
Hebrews continued:
26 This is the kind of cohen gadol (High-Priest) THAT MEETS OUR NEED — set-apart, without evil, without stain, set apart from transgressors and raised higher than the heavens; 27 one who does not have the daily necessity, like the other high priests, of offering up sacrifices first for their own iniquities and only then for those of the people; because he offered one sacrifice, once and for all, by offering up Himself. 28 For the Torah appoints as high priests men who have weakness; but the text which speaks about the swearing of the oath, a text written later than the Torah, appoints a Son who has been brought to the goal forever.”
What are human priest weaknesses? They fall short of the esteem of ELOHIM (Romans 3:23, Isaiah 53:4-6, 1 Kings 8:46) and commit transgression and they die! But the perfect covenant with YESHUA in the order of Malki-Tzedek reaches the perfect goal that was prophesied in the Old Testament! As we can see this is all about a New Priesthood and has nothing to do with getting rid of the law, because again, with this New Priesthood writes the law on your heart, and if you get rid of your heart you will die! Let that sink in! In conclusion, I would like to add this:
Genesis 14:18-20 (Complete Jewish Scriptures)
“Malki-Tzedek KING OF SALEM (JERUSALEM) brought out BREAD AND WINE. He was a COHEN (PRIEST) of EL’ELYON (EL Most High), so he blessed him (Abraham) with these words: “Blessed be Abram by EL’ELYON, maker of heaven and earth. And blessed be EL’ELYON, who handed over your enemies over to you.”
Matthew 26:26-29 (Hebrewgospels.com)
“And when they sat to eat YESHUA took THE BREAD, and blessed it, an did a prayer of thanksgiving, and broke it and said, “Take and eat, for this is My body.” And afterwards He took the cup, and did a prayer of thanksgiving, and gave it to them, and said, “Drink this --- all of you, for this is the blood of the new, which will be shed to atone your iniquities. And I say to you faithfully that from now and onward, I will not DRINK of this smoothness OF THE VINE until that day that I will drink it with you anew in the kingdom of My Father.”
Now consider after all the scriptures discussing the superior priesthood and how YESHUA is the Priest prophesied after the order of Malki-Tzedek, then we can see the parallels! Malk-Tzedek was King Jerusalem and and Priest and he brought out bread and wine; likewise, YESHUA is King of Jerusalem and Priest and blessed the bread and wine! I personally don’t find that to be coincidental, but amazing!
As always make YAHWEH bless you in YESHUA’s Name!