"Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him." (Heb.7:9-10)
If so, did Jesus also pay tithes to Melchizedek?
Of course, not. For before Abraham, Jesus IS.
Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." (Jn.8:57-58)
In fact, scholars have identified Melchizedek with the Christophany, the appearance of Christ in the Old Testament; and it says:
"Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives." (Heb.7:8)
Most scholars conclude that the historical Melchizedek was only a type of Christ. He was only a type "by interpretation of his name." And he was only a type of Christ's deity because he had no recorded birth or death -- Christ's humanity had both a recorded birth and death.
ReplyDeleteMelchizedek was a priest and a king -- something not seen in Israel. Christ, the Messianic Melchizedek, was both priest and king.
As far as tithing goes, Hebrews 7:12 says there was a "necessary change fo the law" and that "change" was its annulment in 7:18.