ok. I've digested what you wrote. I thought that overall it was well stated, but misapplied. Even if I were a tithe supporter, I would cry foul here.
Hebrews 7 is not about the tithe anymore than Genesis 1 is about "firmament" (it's mentioned in that short chapter 7 times).
Hebrews 7 is about the priesthood and the shadow that it was to Jesus, who is our High Priest. In your commentary you progress as if this is a storyline of Abraham meeting Melchizedek. If that were the case, then the last half of the chapter is out of place.
In fact, chapters 5, 6, last half of 7, 8 and 9 would all be out of place. (Remember that Hebrews is a letter that was written without chapter and verse references. It must all flow together where there is consistency of topic, such as chapter 5-10 of Hebrews.)
But if we take scripture in context, chapter 5 talks of the priest and how he offers sacrifices for sins. It is part of what the tithe was all about: 10% of the Israelite harvest was to go to the Levite priests; they in turn tithed 10% to Aaron, the High Priest (see Num 18:21-28). And Christ was made Hight Priest by the Father according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:19
which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
So in chapter 6 we see that Jesus was the High Priest, who could enter into the Holy of Holies. This He did to forgive our sins. This is all about priesthood.
Then we move into chapter 7.
Hebrews 7:1
Melchizedek is the king of Salem, a priest (not of the order of Levi)
Melchizedek is king of Salem, a priest. Abraham (then Abram) honored him as a king (not as a god). This was common in his day if you study Jewish history.
Hebrews 7:8
8Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.
Since importunity made reference to "receive" being
present tense, I'll touch on it here. Simply that God (Jesus) receives them, the portion that ultimately was sacrificed (and wasn't food for the priest). Further, "recieve" is indeed present tense in the Greek.
Present tense (in Paul's day--see next paragraph),
active voice (the men --Levites--did the receiving) and
indicative mood (meaning it is a statement of fact); Juxtapose that with Matt 18:5 here:
Matthew 18:4-5
4"Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5"Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
In Matt 18:5 the word receives is aorist tense (voice:middle deponent - pretty much means active; mood:subjunctive - means possibility) which is what Paul would have used in Hebrews is the receiving was going on today; aorist tense, which there is no direct English equivalent, can be best thought of as being without regard for past, present or future. It is like a picture from which you could not tell when it was taken. Greek present tense, though, used in Hebrews 7:8 means that it is present at the time of the speaker, Paul. Note that this alone does not mean that it could not be for today; but especially given the context of the priesthood being left behind, the aorist tense would have been the correct choice if that phrase was to be understood to stand out and carry forward.
Hebrews 7:14-17
14For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17For He testifies: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."
Our Lord arose from Judah, not a tribe through which the priesthood came. Jesus was in the likeness of Melchizedek, (Melchizedek is not Jesus -- this is similar to how we were made in the likeness of God, but we are not God). Jesus is High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, meaning He is not of the Levitical priesthood which verse 11 tells us does not lead to perfection.
Again, the chapter
continues in a subject of priesthood. It talks of what the duty of the priest was, in taking the tithe, but the focus is on the sacrifice that was made from the given sacrificial items. All pointing to the cross and the sacrifice that our High Priest made there.
Hebrews 7:22-27
Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. 23Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the peoples, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.
So we see that Jesus has an unchangeable priesthood (again with priesthood), He makes intercession and does not need to sacrifice daily, as the
shadow did. This chapter is ALL about the priesthood, its duties, and its abolishment since we now have a High Priest who no longer does those duties daily.
Then this spills over into chapter 8
Hebrews 8:12
12"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."
with the ulitmate declaration that our sins are washed away, never to be remembered, never to have to be atoned by another sacrifice.
The requirements (all of them) are gone. It is now a Gospel of Grace, not one of works and requirements.
Jesus is merciful to ... [our] sins and He will remember no more. Now if the holy portion of the tithe was a daily sacrifice for the sins of the people, what sacrifice need be made any longer? Your sins are gone. There is no longer a sacrifice necessary. Jesus paid that price once and for all. The purpose of the tithe is complete.
And on into chapter 9 the context continues:
Hebrews 9:11-14
11But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Christ is the High Priest. The sacrifices, which were the holy portion of the tithe, was paid for by the blood of Christ. You can "cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God". You no longer have to perform the dead works of bringing the livestock to be sacrificed.
In context we see that from chapter 5 through 9 is all about the priesthood, the requirements of that priesthood, how Christ did away with all that and is now our High Priest. Chapter 10 is the fulfillment of the atonement and how the shadow of the goats and altars on earth were there in Heaven for Jesus to complete the atonement once and for all.
Then in chapter 11 we turn full attention to faith, and that by Grace. Requirements and sacrifice both are gone. It is the full Gospel of Grace.
In His Love
Bob
What great teaching! You took a lot of time, and presented this so well. Thank you. You've blessed many in doing so, any who come here to read.
. I have much to agree with in your post, and much to comment on (you knew that, though, didn't you? 
