Melchizedek is revealed to be a type of Christ, and the Hebrew writer here argues that Christ’s Priesthood is greater than that under the Old Covenant.
Here is the argument. Melchizedek was even greater than Abraham. This is seen in the fact that Melchizedek blessed Abraham, and Abraham tithed to Melchizedek. “Beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the greater” (7). Since Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, so did Levi his descendent (so to speak). Since Levi is the patriarch of the Levitical priesthood, the priesthood of Melchizedek is greater than the Levitical priesthood of the Old Covenant.
One other note that hearkens back to a previous article. Melchizedek was also the king of Salem. Under the Old Covenant, the tribe of kings (through God’s promise to David) was to be Judah. Jesus was of the tribe of Judah. Only Levites could serve as priests under that Old Law. Christ could only appropriately serve as high priest under a new covenant as He was of the tribe of kings. Melchizedek as both priest and king then serves as the type. Jesus is both king and priest, of the order of Melchizedek!
