Hebrews 7:7, New International Version

“And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater.”

Hebrews 7 opens by introducing us to one of the most intriguing figures in all of Scripture: Melchizedek. He appears briefly in Genesis, blessing Abraham and receiving a tenth of the spoils, and then disappears just as quickly. Yet the writer of Hebrews brings him back into focus to help us understand something much bigger—who Jesus is and why His priesthood is unlike any other. This passage reminds us that God’s plan of redemption has always been bigger and deeper than the systems we are used to relying on.

Melchizedek is described as both king of Salem and priest of God Most High. His name means “king of righteousness,” and Salem means “peace.” Even in these details, we see a foreshadowing of Christ. Long before the law of Moses or the Levitical priesthood, God established a priesthood that combined righteousness and peace. Melchizedek did not receive his authority through genealogy or law, but through God’s appointment. This prepares us to understand Jesus—not as another priest in a long line, but as the fulfillment of God’s eternal design.

Abraham’s response to Melchizedek is especially important. Abraham, the great patriarch, gives him a tenth of everything and receives a blessing from him. The writer makes a clear point: the one who blesses is greater than the one who is blessed. That means Melchizedek stands above Abraham in this moment. And since Levi—and the entire Levitical priesthood—would come from Abraham’s line, the argument follows that Melchizedek’s priesthood is greater than that of Levi. This isn’t about diminishing Abraham; it’s about showing that something greater was already in place.

The message here is not merely historical—it’s theological and deeply practical. The law and the priesthood that came through Moses were never meant to be final. They were always pointing forward. Hebrews 7:1–10 helps us see that Jesus did not replace a perfect system; He fulfilled an incomplete one. His priesthood is not temporary, limited, or inherited—it is eternal, sufficient, and established by God Himself.

For believers, this truth brings assurance. Our standing before God does not depend on human mediators, religious performance, or lineage. It depends on Jesus alone. He is our righteousness. He is our peace. Like Melchizedek, His priesthood is not bound by time or tradition, and unlike Melchizedek, His work is fully known and eternally effective.

Hebrews 7:1–10 invites us to lift our eyes beyond what is familiar and trust fully in Christ. He is not just part of God’s plan—He is the center of it. And because our High Priest is greater, our hope is secure, our access to God is sure, and our faith rests on a foundation that will never fail.

(All scripture quotations in this article are from the New International Version)