Abraham part 4 Melchizedek blessed Abraham by Victor Torres Last time we learned how Abraham won a great victory against a king that had conquered many armies, including the five kingdoms who rebelled against him. Abraham (still called Abram here) has won against king Chedorlaomer and his great army with only 318 people! Abraham and his army are symbols of the few elect today who have many enemies, sometimes including their own family. Mar 13:13 (ESV) And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Mar 13:13 (ERV) All people will hate you because you follow me. But those who remain faithful to the end will be saved. The elect follow the Lord, who broke the Sabbath during His time here on earth and was hated by those who claim they are the chosen of God. Col 2:8 (KJV) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Col 2:8 (ERV) Be sure you are not led away by the teaching of those who have nothing worth saying and only plan to deceive you. That teaching is not from Christ. It is only human tradition and comes from the powers that influence this world. So it is the many who teach people to celebrate Christmas, birthdays and other traditions of men who will hate the few elect. But as Abraham won with a few people over the many armies of Chedorlaomer, Christ and His few elect will win over these many enemies of God. Rev 3:9 (KJV) Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Rev 3:9 (ERV) Listen! There is a group that belongs to Satan. They say they are Jews [they say they are Christians], but they are liars. They are not true Jews [they are not true Christians]. I will make them come before you and bow at your feet. They will know that you are the people I have loved. These many lying ministers who teach people to celebrate Christmas, birthdays and other traditions of men and all the people who listens to them will one day bow down at the feet of the few elect.
Remember, last time I taught you that we are fighting a spiritual war, and we are not supposed to kill or hurt someone physically. 2Co 10:4 (GNB) The weapons we use in our fight are not the world's weapons but God's powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; 2Co 10:5 we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ. So these enemies of God will one day bow down to the elect because Christ will show them that they are believing lies from their ministers. Let's continue the story of Abraham: Gen 14:17 (CEV) Abram returned after he had defeated King Chedorlaomer and the other kings. Then the king of Sodom went to meet Abram in Shaveh Valley, which is also known as King's Valley. Gen 14:18 King Melchizedek of Salem was a priest of God Most High. He brought out some bread and wine Gen 14:19 and said to Abram: "I bless you in the name of God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. Gen 14:20 All praise belongs to God Most High for helping you defeat your enemies." Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. Gen 14:21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, "All I want are my people. You can keep everything else." Gen 14:22 Abram answered: The LORD God Most High made the heavens and the earth. And I have promised him Gen 14:23 that I won't keep anything of yours, not even a sandal strap or a piece of thread. Then you can never say that you are the one who made me rich. Gen 14:24 Let my share be the food that my men have eaten. But Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre went with me, so give them their share of what we brought back. Abraham rejected the offer of the king of Sodom, but accepted blessings from king Melchizedek of Salem. This is a symbol of the elect who are not after the treasures of this world, but are after spiritual blessings, the treasures from heaven.
Let's now go to the New Testament to learn more about king Melchizedek. Heb 7:1 (ERV) Melchizedek was the king of Salem and a priest for God the Most High. He met Abraham when Abraham was coming back after defeating the kings. That day Melchizedek blessed him. Heb 7:2 (MKJV) To him Abraham also gave a tenth of all. He was first by interpretation king of righteousness, and after that also king of Salem, which is king of peace, Here we are told of the meaning of the Hebrew name Melchizedek. The first part Melchi came from the Hebrew word melek meaning king and the second part zedek came from the Hebrew word tsedeq meaning right or just. So Melchizedek = Melchi (king) + zedec (right) = king of righteousness. But king Melchizedek is also the king of Salem. Salem means peace so he is also the king of peace. Jerusalem means city of peace. Jesus Christ is our King of Righteousness Mat 5:20 (ISV) because I tell you, unless your righteousness greatly exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees [the leaders of these false churches], you will never enter the kingdom from heaven!" He is also our King of Peace Joh 14:27 (MKJV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Let's continue in Hebrews: Heb 7:3 No one knows who his father or mother was or where he came from. And no one knows when he was born or when he died. Melchizedek is like the Son of God in that he will always be a priest. Here we are told that no one knows who is Melchizedek's father or mother, and no one knows when he was born or when he died. This is telling us that Christ existed before He was born in the flesh through Mary. Here we are being told that Melchizedek is a symbol of Christ. Heb 7:4 (ERV) You can see that Melchizedek was very great. Abraham, our great ancestor, gave him a tenth of everything he won in battle. Heb 7:5 Now the law says that those from the tribe of Levi who become priests must get a tenth from their own people, even though they and their people are both from the family of Abraham.
Heb 7:6 Melchizedek was not even from the tribe of Levi, but Abraham gave him a tenth of what he had. And Melchizedek blessed Abraham--the one who had God's promises. Heb 7:7 And everyone knows that the more important person always blesses the less important person. Heb 7:7 (KJV) And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. No wonder the Jews were so mad at our Lord Jesus Christ. The Jews thought that they were the chosen people of God and then this Jesus comes along and breaks their traditions. Jesus taught that these Jews are liars and that He is greater than their great ancestor Abraham. It is the same thing with the Christians of today who thinks they are the chosen people of God and then the elect come along and break their traditions. The elect expose the lies of these so-called Christian churches and preach the teachings of Jesus Christ, instead of the teachings of their great leaders. Heb 7:8 (ESV) In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. Heb 7:9 (ERV) Now those from the family of Levi are the ones who get a tenth from the people. But we can say that when Abraham paid Melchizedek a tenth, then Levi also paid it. Heb 7:10 Levi was not yet born, but he already existed in his ancestor Abraham when Melchizedek met him. Heb 7:11 The people were given the law under the system of priests from the tribe of Levi. But no one could be made spiritually perfect through that system of priests. So there was a need for another priest to come. I mean a priest like Melchizedek, not Aaron. Back then, it was the high priests of those Jews who led in killing Jesus Christ. Today, it is the leaders of these false churches who are leading the killing of the teachings of Jesus Christ. The Catholic pope and priests, the LDS (Mormon) president and its leaders, and all the leaders of these false churches (Babel/Babylon) are the priests who teach lies where no one could be made spiritually perfect. Heb 7:12 (ERV) And when a different kind of priest comes, then the law must be changed too. Heb 7:13 We are talking about our Lord Christ, who belonged to a different tribe. No one from that tribe ever served as a priest at the altar. It is clear that Christ came from the tribe of Judah. And Moses said nothing about priests belonging to that tribe.
Heb 7:15 And these things become even clearer when we see that another priest has come who is like Melchizedek. Heb 7:16 He was made a priest, but not because he met the requirement of being born into the right family. He became a priest by the power of a life that will never end. Heb 7:17 This is what the Scriptures say about him: "You are a priest forever--the kind of priest Melchizedek was." Heb 7:18 The old rule [the Law of Moses] is now ended because it was weak and worthless. Heb 7:19 The Law of Moses could not make anything perfect. But now a better hope has been given to us. And with that hope we can come near to God. See that kids, the old rule or the law of Moses is now ended because it was weak and worthless. The law of Moses could not make anything perfect. So don't believe these people who want you to follow the law of Moses. One of those laws is tithing or giving ten percent. Abraham gave ten percent of the things he got from defeating king Chedorlaomer, not because God wants you to give ten percent of your income to your church. He did this to make this point: Heb 7:7 (KJV) And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. Abraham did this because Melchizedek is greater than him. This tells us that the Law of Christ is greater than the law of Moses. Heb 7:4 (ERV) You can see that Melchizedek was very great. Abraham, our great ancestor, gave him a tenth of everything he won in battle. Heb 7:7 And everyone knows that the more important person always blesses the less important person. Here in Utah, most people belong to the LDS or Mormon church. They keep the Sabbath, which is a part of the law of Moses, by not working on Sundays. Many of the local restaurants and shops are closed on Sundays here. These people are blinded, like I said, because of the false teachings of their priests. Heb 7:20 (ERV) Also, it is important that God made a promise with an oath when he made Jesus high priest. When those other men became priests, there was no oath. Heb 7:21 But Christ became a priest with God's oath. God said to him, "The Lord has made a promise with an oath and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever.'"
Heb 7:22 So this means that Jesus is the guarantee of a better agreement from God to his people. Heb 7:23 Also, when one of those other priests died, he could not continue being a priest. So there were many of those priests. Heb 7:24 But Jesus lives forever. He will never stop serving as a priest. Heb 7:25 So Christ can save those who come to God through him. Christ can do this forever, because he always lives and is ready to help people when they come before God. Heb 7:26 (ESV) For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Heb 7:27 (ERV) He is not like those other priests. They had to offer sacrifices every day, first for their own sins, and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus doesn't need to do that. He offered only one sacrifice for all time. He offered himself. Heb 7:28 The law chooses high priests who are men and have the same weaknesses that all people have. But after the law, God spoke the oath that made his Son high priest. And that Son, made perfect through suffering, will serve forever. There are many churches today besides the LDS church which teach the law of Moses, which we have learned is now ended and could not make anyone spiritually perfect. If you keep one part of the law, like tithing or circumcision, you must keep the whole law: Gal 5:3 (ESV) I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. There were laws in the law of Moses that did not permit to eat certain foods: Lev 11:10 (KJV) And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: Lev 11:11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination. Lev 17:10 (MKJV) And any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that are staying among you, who eats any blood, I will set My face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people.
So I broke the law of Moses the other night when I ate some shrimp and crab. I have no appetite for blood, but I would break the law of Moses if I eat some. But I'm not concerned about keeping the law of Moses because Christ has ended those rules by saying these: Mat 15:10 (ERV) Jesus called the people to him. He said, "Listen and understand what I am saying. Mat 15:11 It is not what people put in their mouth that makes them wrong. It is what comes out of their mouth that makes them wrong." My former church teaches their followers not to eat blood. The Mormon church teaches their followers not to drink coffee or tea. But this is what our Lord says about these false churches: Mat 15:8 (ERV) 'These people honor me with their words, but I am not really important to them. Mat 15:9 Their worship of me is worthless. The things they teach are only human rules.'" These people listen to their priests who are for hire (Mic 3:11). I listen to Jesus Christ and His teachers who live by a better law, whose righteousness greatly exceeds that of these false ministers. Heb 7:12 (KJV) For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. Heb 7:12 (ERV) And when a different kind of priest comes, then the law [of Moses] must be changed too. We will take a break in studying the story of Abraham. Our next study, Lord willing, will be on December 26 at 4PM ET, during the upcoming Bible conference. It will be about Biblical money management or stewardship.