Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of the Highest God. He met Abraham, who was returning from “the royal massacre,” and gave him his blessing. Abraham in turn gave him a tenth of the spoils. “Melchizedek” means “King of Righteousness.” “Salem” means “Peace.” So, he is also “King of Peace.” Melchizedek towers out of the past–without record of family ties, no account of beginning or end. In this way he is like the Son of God, one huge priestly presence dominating the landscape always.

You realize just how great Melchizedek is when you see that Father Abraham gave him a tenth of the captured treasure. Priests descended from Levi are commanded by law to collect tithes from the people, even though they are all more or less equals, priests and people, having a common father in Abraham. But this man, a complete outsider, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him, the one to whom the promises had been given. In acts of blessing, the lesser is blessed by the greater. Or look at it this way: We pay our tithes to priests who die, but Abraham paid tithes to a priest who, the Scripture says, “lives.” Ultimately you could even say that since Levi descended from Abraham, who paid tithes to Melchizedek, when we pay tithes to the priestly tribe of Levi they end up with Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:1-10 (The Message)

Several years ago (not as long as you think it was) as a teen-ager, I answered the phone at our home in Grants Pass, Oregon to discover that some respected and influential leaders in the timber industry were wanting to speak to my dad. Upon saying “hello”, a couple of these individuals noticed the similarity between my voice and my dad’s and responded, “Is this Tillman?” Well, I not only share my dad’s vocal pitch and patterns, but his name, so recognizing a unique opportunity I answered, “Yes”!!

My dad was a respected authority in a specialized area of the industry relating to a process called “planing.” Several corporations and lumber companies sought his advice and service, and while I didn’t play the masquerade for long, there was a sense of courage and confidence growing about one day being like my dad, a man I respect and love.

As we start Hebrews 7, our author returns to the high priesthood of Jesus and its similarity with the priesthood of Melchizedek revealed in Genesis 14 and Psalm 110. But, we must realize that the focus is Jesus, not Melchizedek! The logic goes something like this: Abraham was a great man of faith that you would do well to imitate recognizing that Melchizedek was greater than him. Melchizedek bears witness to the priesthood of Jesus, so in imitating Abraham you must relate to Jesus as King-Priest.

As this teaching continues to develop, it is impossible to miss the obvious implication in our lives as a community of faith.  While it is important to understand that Jesus is my King-Priest, it is essential to realize that He is our King-Priest.  If I am a member of a community of faith, this reality changes the way I work, play, and relate to others.  The focus of our life in community becomes less ritual and more relational in values.  We begin to be mistaken for Jesus, right?

What do you think this means for us as people in relationship with each other?  As a church in relationship to other churches?  As a church in relationship to our neighborhood?