Hebrews 7:9
And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.
And so to speak
This phrase introduces a figurative or illustrative point. The author of Hebrews often uses rhetorical devices to clarify complex theological truths. Here, it suggests a metaphorical understanding rather than a literal one. The Greek phrase "hōs epos eipein" indicates a manner of speaking that is not to be taken strictly but serves to make a broader theological point. This sets the stage for understanding the deeper implications of the relationship between Levi and Melchizedek through Abraham.

Levi
Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah, is the patriarch of the tribe of Levi, from which the Levitical priesthood descends. Historically, the Levites were set apart for religious duties and were supported by the tithes of the other Israelite tribes. The mention of Levi here is significant because it ties the Levitical priesthood to the Abrahamic covenant, emphasizing the continuity and fulfillment of God's promises through Christ, who is of a different order of priesthood.

who collects the tenth
The "tenth" refers to the tithe, a tenth of one's income or produce, which was given to the Levites as their inheritance since they had no land of their own (Numbers 18:21). This practice underscores the principle of supporting those who serve in spiritual capacities. The Greek word "dekatoō" means to take a tenth, highlighting the Levitical role in the religious and communal life of Israel. This system of tithing is a shadow of the greater spiritual truths fulfilled in Christ.

paid the tenth
The phrase "paid the tenth" refers to the act of tithing, which Abraham did to Melchizedek in Genesis 14:20. The Greek word "dekatoō" is used again, but here it is in the context of Levi, through Abraham, acknowledging a greater priesthood. This act signifies the superiority of Melchizedek's priesthood over the Levitical priesthood, as even the ancestor of the Levites, through Abraham, gave tithes to Melchizedek.

through Abraham
This phrase connects Levi to Abraham, emphasizing the concept of seminal identity, where Levi, being a descendant of Abraham, is considered to have participated in Abraham's actions. Theologically, this illustrates the principle of federal headship, where the actions of a forebear have implications for their descendants. In this context, it underscores the argument that the Melchizedekian priesthood, which Christ fulfills, is superior to the Levitical priesthood, as even Levi, in a sense, acknowledged Melchizedek's greater status through Abraham's act of tithing.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Levi
Levi is one of the twelve sons of Jacob and the ancestor of the Levitical priesthood. The Levites were responsible for the religious duties in Israel, including the collection of tithes.

2. Abraham
The patriarch of the Israelites, Abraham is a central figure in the Bible. He is known for his faith and obedience to God, and he is the one through whom God promised to bless all nations.

3. Melchizedek
A mysterious figure who is both a king and a priest. He blesses Abraham and receives a tenth of everything from him, symbolizing a priesthood that predates and surpasses the Levitical priesthood.

4. Tithing
The practice of giving a tenth of one's income or produce, which was a requirement under the Mosaic Law for the support of the Levites and the work of the temple.

5. The Levitical Priesthood
The priesthood established under the Law of Moses, which was responsible for the religious and sacrificial system in Israel.
Teaching Points
The Superiority of Christ's Priesthood
Jesus' priesthood, like Melchizedek's, is eternal and not based on ancestry. This highlights the superiority of Christ's priesthood over the Levitical system.

The Principle of Tithing
Tithing is an act of faith and acknowledgment of God's provision. It is a practice that predates the Law and is rooted in the example of Abraham.

Faith and Obedience
Abraham's actions demonstrate faith and obedience, serving as a model for believers to trust and obey God in all circumstances.

The Fulfillment of the Law in Christ
The Levitical priesthood and the Law find their fulfillment in Jesus, who is the ultimate High Priest. Believers are called to live under the new covenant established by His sacrifice.

Spiritual Heritage and Legacy
Just as Levi is seen as participating in Abraham's actions, believers are encouraged to consider the spiritual legacy they are building through their faith and actions.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the concept of tithing in Hebrews 7:9 relate to the broader biblical teaching on stewardship and generosity?

2. In what ways does the priesthood of Melchizedek foreshadow the priesthood of Christ, and how does this understanding impact your view of Jesus' role as our High Priest?

3. How can Abraham's example of faith and obedience inspire you in your personal walk with God?

4. What does the fulfillment of the Law in Christ mean for how we live out our faith today, especially in relation to religious practices and traditions?

5. How can you actively contribute to building a spiritual legacy that reflects the faith and obedience exemplified by Abraham?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 14:18-20
This passage describes the encounter between Abraham and Melchizedek, where Abraham gives a tenth of everything to Melchizedek, establishing the precedent for tithing and highlighting Melchizedek's unique priesthood.

Psalm 110:4
This verse prophesies about a priesthood in the order of Melchizedek, which is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, emphasizing the eternal and superior nature of Christ's priesthood.

Hebrews 5:6-10
These verses discuss Jesus as a high priest in the order of Melchizedek, underscoring the superiority of His priesthood over the Levitical priesthood.
Christ a Priest After the Order of MelchizedekC. New Hebrews 7:1-10
Christ a Prince of PeaceW. Gouge.Hebrews 7:1-10
First King of Righteousness, and After that King of PeaceC. H. Spurgeon.Hebrews 7:1-10
Human GreatnessA. S. Patterson.Hebrews 7:1-10
King and PriestR. A. Griffin.Hebrews 7:1-10
MelchisedecA. S. Patterson.Hebrews 7:1-10
Melchisedec a Type of GreatnessB. Dale, M. A.Hebrews 7:1-10
Melchisedec, King of RighteousnessJ. Vaughan, M. A.Hebrews 7:1-10
Our MelchisedecJames Wells, M. A.Hebrews 7:1-10
Righteousness First, Then PeaceA. Maclaren, D. D.Hebrews 7:1-10
The Greatness of CharacterT C. Edwards, D. D.Hebrews 7:1-10
The Greatness of the Man Christ JesusC. H. Spurgeon.Hebrews 7:1-10
The King of PeaceJ. Vaughan, M. A.Hebrews 7:1-10
The Parallel Between Christ and MelchisedecD. Moore, M. A.Hebrews 7:1-10
The Priesthood Forever After the Order of MelchizedekD. Young Hebrews 7:1-17
Christ Superior to MelchizedekJ.S. Bright Hebrews 7:4-10
People
Aaron, Hebrews, Levi, Melchisedec, Melchizedek
Places
Jerusalem, Salem
Topics
Collects, Levi, Paid, Pay, Payed, Pays, Received, Receives, Receiveth, Receiving, Speak, Tenth, Tithes
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Hebrews 7:9

     7390   Levites

Hebrews 7:1-10

     1657   numbers, fractions
     5076   Abraham, life of

Library
Salvation to the Uttermost
Well, then it is salvation I desire to preach to you. We have, in our text, two or three things. In the first place, we are told who they are who will be saved, "them that come into God by Jesus Christ;" in the second place we are told the extent of the Saviour's ability to save, "He is able to save to the uttermost;" and in the third place, we have the reason given why he can save, "seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." I. First, we are told THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TO BE SAVED. And the
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856

The Man Christ Jesus
"Consider how great this man was" in the combination of his offices. He was duly appointed both priest and king: king of righteousness and peace, and at the same time priest of the Most High God. It may be said of him that he sat as a priest upon his throne. He exercised the double office to the great blessedness of those who were with him; for his one act towards Abraham would seem to be typical of his whole life; he blessed him in the name of the Most High God. "Consider how great this man was"
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 31: 1885

Priest and victim
"He offered up himself."--Hebrews 7:27. I DO NOT KNOW when I have ever felt a more decided conflict of emotions in my own heart than I do just now. Happy is the man who has such a message as that in my text to deliver to his fellow-men; but burdened is the man who feels that the message is far too great for his lips, or, indeed, for any human tongue to convey. To be allowed to announce to men that our Lord Jesus Christ "offered up himself" on their behalf is, indeed, an errand which angels might
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 46: 1900

Twenty-Fifth Day for More Conversions
WHAT TO PRAY.--For more Conversions "He is able to save completely, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession."--HEB. vii. 25. "We will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word.... And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied exceedingly."--ACTS vi. 4, 7. Christ's power to save, and save completely, depends on His unceasing intercession. The apostles withdrawing themselves from other work to give themselves continually to prayer was followed
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Guiltless and Without Sin.
"For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens."--Heb. vii. 26. Throughout the ages the Church has confessed that Christ took upon Himself real human nature from the virgin Mary, not as it was before the fall, but such as it had become, by and after the fall. This is clearly stated in Heb. ii. 14, 17: "Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself took part of the same . . . . Wherefore in
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Power of an Endless Life
Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. --Hebrews 7:16. The message and hope of immortality are nowhere more distinctly conveyed to our minds than in connection with that resurrection morn when Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. The anniversary of that day will ever be the festival of the human soul. Even those who do not clearly understand or fully accept its meaning in history and religion,--even children and ignorant folk and doubters and
Henry Van Dyke—What Peace Means

Christ Our High Priest.
"Now, if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it hath the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be reckoned after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are said belongeth to another tribe, from which no man hath given attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord hath sprung
Frank G. Allen—Autobiography of Frank G. Allen, Minister of the Gospel

The Great High Priest
T. P. Heb. vii. 24, 25 Sweet to trace His toiling footsteps Here amidst the desert sands; Bear in memory all His sorrow, Thorn-clad head and pierced hands! Learn His love beside the manger, Learn it on the stormy wave, By the well, and in the garden-- Learn it by the Cross and grave. Yet not only in remembrance Do we watch that stream of love-- Still a mighty torrent flowing From the throne of God above. Still a treasure all uncounted-- Still a story half untold-- Unexhausted and unfathomed, Fresh
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

The Doctrine
OF THE LAW AND GRACE UNFOLDED; OR, A DISCOURSE TOUCHING THE LAW AND GRACE; THE NATURE OF THE ONE, AND THE NATURE OF THE OTHER; SHOWING WHAT THEY ARE, AS THEY ARE THE TWO COVENANTS; AND LIKEWISE, WHO THEY BE, AND WHAT THEIR CONDITIONS ARE, THAT BE UNDER EITHER OF THESE TWO COVENANTS: Wherein, for the better understanding of the reader, there are several questions answered touching the law and grace, very easy to be read, and as easy to be understood, by those that are the sons of wisdom, the children
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Christ a Complete Saviour:
OR, THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST, AND WHO ARE PRIVILEGED IN IT. BY JOHN BUNYAN Advertisement by the Editor. However strange it may appear, it is a solemn fact, that the heart of man, unless prepared by a sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, rejects Christ as a complete Saviour. The pride of human nature will not suffer it to fall, as helpless and utterly undone, into the arms of Divine mercy. Man prefers a partial Saviour; one who had done so much, that, with the sinner's aid, the work might be
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Early Years of Jesus
Matt. i. 1 to ii. 23; Luke i. 5 to ii. 52; iii. 23-38 58. It is surprising that within a century of the life of the apostles, Christian imagination could have so completely mistaken the real greatness of Jesus as to let its thirst for wonder fill his early years with scenes in which his conduct is as unlovely as it is shocking. That he who in manhood was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" (Heb. vii. 26), could in youth, in a fit of ill-temper, strike a companion with death and then
Rush Rhees—The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

Waiting on God
Psalms 62:5.--My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from Him. The solemn question comes to us, "Is the God I have, a God that is to me above all circumstances, nearer to me than any circumstance can be?" Brother, have you learned to live your life having God so really with you every moment, that in circumstances the most difficult He is always more present and nearer than anything around you? All our knowledge of God's Word will help us very little, unless that comes to be the question
Andrew Murray—The Master's Indwelling

Christian Standing and Christian Progress
PHILIPPIANS iii. 12-16 Christian exultation--Christian confidence--"Not in the flesh"--"In Jesus Christ"--The prize in view--No finality in the progress--"Not already perfect"--The recompense of reward--What the prize will be In a certain sense we have completed our study of the first section of the third chapter of the Epistle. But the treatment has been so extremely imperfect, in view of the importance of that section, that a few further remarks must be made. Let us ponder one weighty verse,
Handley C. G. Moule—Philippian Studies

Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant
"I give thee for a covenant of the people."--ISA. xlii. 6, xlix. 8. "The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in."--MAL. iii. 1. "Jesus was made Surety of a better covenant."--HEB. vii. 22. "The Mediator of the Better Covenant, established upon better promises . . . The Mediator of the New Covenant. . . Ye are come to Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant."--HEB. viii. 6, ix. 15, xii. 24. WE have here four titles given to our Lord Jesus in
Andrew Murray—The Two Covenants

Twenty-Sixth Lesson. I have Prayed for Thee;'
I have prayed for thee;' Or, Christ the Intercessor. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.'--Luke xxii. 32. I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you.'--John xvi. 26. He ever liveth to make intercession.'--Heb. vii. 25. ALL growth in the spiritual life is connected with the clearer insight into what Jesus is to us. The more I realize that Christ must be all to me and in me, that all in Christ is indeed for me, the more I learn to live the real life of faith, which,
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer

The Intercession of Christ
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us! T he Redemption of the soul is precious. Fools make mock of sin (Proverbs 14:9) . But they will not think lightly of it, who duly consider the majesty, authority, and goodness of Him, against whom it is committed; and who are taught, by what God actually has done, what sin rendered necessary to be done, before a sinner could have a well-grounded
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

How Christ is to be Made Use Of, in Reference to Growing in Grace.
I come now to speak a little to the other part of sanctification, which concerneth the change of our nature and frame, and is called vivification, or quickening of the new man of grace; which is called the new man, as having all its several members and parts, as well as the old man; and called new, because posterior to the other; and after regeneration is upon the growing hand, this duty of growing in grace, as it is called, 2 Pet. iii. &c. is variously expressed and held forth to us in Scripture;
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

The Epistle to the Hebrews
THE Epistle to the Hebrews is in many ways one of the most perplexing books of the New Testament. It stands quite alone and is peculiarly independent, yet it has affinities with almost every strain of thought to be found elsewhere in primitive Christianity, and points of historical attachment for it have been sought all round the compass. [60] Thus there are those who think its true line of descent is to be traced to James, Cephas, and John -- the three apostles who seemed to be pillars in the mother
James Denney—The Death of Christ

The Right Understanding of the Law
Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.' Exod 20: 3. Before I come to the commandments, I shall answer questions, and lay down rules respecting the moral law. What is the difference between the moral laud and the gospel? (1) The law requires that we worship God as our Creator; the gospel, that we worship him in and through Christ. God in Christ is propitious; out of him we may see God's power, justice, and holiness: in him we see his mercy displayed. (2) The moral law requires obedience, but gives
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The Copies of Things in the Heavens
'And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2. On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 3. And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and cover the ark with the vail. 4. And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order the things that are to be set in order upon it; and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. 5. And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on the Sabbath-Day.
Almighty God will have himself worshipped, not only in a private manner by private persons and families, but also in a more public sort, of all the godly joined together in a visible church; that by this means he may be known not only to be the God and Lord of every Singular person, but also of the creatures of the whole universal world. Question--But why do not we Christians under the New, keep the Sabbath on the same seventh day on which it was kept under the Old Testament? I answer--Because our
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

An Admonition to them who Come to visit the Sick.
They who come to visit ihe sick, must have a special care not to stand dumb and staring in the sick person's face to disquiet him, nor yet to speak idly and ask unprofitable questions, as most do. If they see, therefore, that the sick party is like to die, let them not dissemble, but lovingly and discreetly admonish him of his weakness, and to prepare for eternal life. One hour well spent, when a man's life is almost out-spent, may gain a man the assurance of eternal life. Soothe him not with the
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

He is Lovely in his Relations.
First, He is a lovely Redeemer, Isa. 61:1. He came to open the prison-doors to them that are bound. Needs must this Redeemer be a lovely one, if we consider the depth of misery from which he redeemed us, even "from the wrath to come," 1 Thess. 1:10. Consider the numbers redeemed, and the means of their redemption. Rev. 5:9, "And they sang a new song, saying, 'You are worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood, out of every
John Flavel—Christ Altogether Lovely

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