Hebrews 7:5 - They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham,
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What does "Hebrews 7:5" mean?
Hebrews 7:5 is a key verse in the author's argument for the superiority of Melchizedek's priesthood (and thus Jesus' priesthood) over the Levitical priesthood established in the Old Testament. Let's break it down phrase by phrase:
"They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office..." This is referring to the Levitical priests under the Mosaic Law. Only descendants of Levi were eligible to be priests.
"...have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law..." This describes the legal basis for the Levitical priesthood. They were specifically commanded (a "commandment") under the Law of Moses to receive a tenth of the produce and livestock (tithes) from the other tribes of Israel. This was their compensation for not inheriting land and for dedicating themselves to serving in the tabernacle/temple.
"...that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham." This is the crucial point of the verse for the author's argument. The Levites, who collected tithes, and the people paying the tithes (the other tribes of Israel) were all descendants of Abraham. They were brothers, equals in lineage.
The Significance of the Verse in Context:
The author's argument is that Melchizedek (mentioned earlier in the chapter) was a priest who received tithes from Abraham before the Levitical priesthood existed. This means Abraham, the patriarch of Israel and the father of all who believe, was in a sense paying tithes to Melchizedek.
The author uses this argument to suggest several things:
1. Melchizedek's Priesthood is Superior: If Abraham, the father of the chosen people, paid tithes to Melchizedek, then Melchizedek's priesthood must be superior to Abraham's lineage and therefore superior to the Levitical priesthood, which descends from Abraham.
2. Jesus' Priesthood is Modeled After Melchizedek's: The author argues that Jesus is a priest "in the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 7:17), meaning His priesthood is of a higher order than the Levitical priesthood.
3. The Old Covenant is Imperfect: If the priesthood which collects tithes is made from the same flesh, from the brothers who paid the tithes, it is an imperfect priesthood that needs an upgrade.
In summary, Hebrews 7:5 highlights the fact that the Levitical priesthood, while divinely ordained, was based on a system where brothers collected tithes from brothers. This creates a hierarchy within the family of Abraham. The author uses this to emphasize the superiority of Melchizedek's priesthood, to which Abraham, the very ancestor of the Levitical priests, paid tithes. This, in turn, is used to argue for the superiority of Jesus' priesthood, which is modeled after Melchizedek's, and the superiority of the new covenant over the old.
Hebrews 7:5 - They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham,
What does "Hebrews 7:5" mean?
Hebrews 7:5 is a key verse in the author's argument for the superiority of Melchizedek's priesthood (and thus Jesus' priesthood) over the Levitical priesthood established in the Old Testament. Let's break it down phrase by phrase:
"They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office..." This is referring to the Levitical priests under the Mosaic Law. Only descendants of Levi were eligible to be priests.
"...have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law..." This describes the legal basis for the Levitical priesthood. They were specifically commanded (a "commandment") under the Law of Moses to receive a tenth of the produce and livestock (tithes) from the other tribes of Israel. This was their compensation for not inheriting land and for dedicating themselves to serving in the tabernacle/temple.
"...that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham." This is the crucial point of the verse for the author's argument. The Levites, who collected tithes, and the people paying the tithes (the other tribes of Israel) were all descendants of Abraham. They were brothers, equals in lineage.
The Significance of the Verse in Context:
The author's argument is that Melchizedek (mentioned earlier in the chapter) was a priest who received tithes from Abraham before the Levitical priesthood existed. This means Abraham, the patriarch of Israel and the father of all who believe, was in a sense paying tithes to Melchizedek.
The author uses this argument to suggest several things:
1. Melchizedek's Priesthood is Superior: If Abraham, the father of the chosen people, paid tithes to Melchizedek, then Melchizedek's priesthood must be superior to Abraham's lineage and therefore superior to the Levitical priesthood, which descends from Abraham.
2. Jesus' Priesthood is Modeled After Melchizedek's: The author argues that Jesus is a priest "in the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 7:17), meaning His priesthood is of a higher order than the Levitical priesthood.
3. The Old Covenant is Imperfect: If the priesthood which collects tithes is made from the same flesh, from the brothers who paid the tithes, it is an imperfect priesthood that needs an upgrade.
In summary, Hebrews 7:5 highlights the fact that the Levitical priesthood, while divinely ordained, was based on a system where brothers collected tithes from brothers. This creates a hierarchy within the family of Abraham. The author uses this to emphasize the superiority of Melchizedek's priesthood, to which Abraham, the very ancestor of the Levitical priests, paid tithes. This, in turn, is used to argue for the superiority of Jesus' priesthood, which is modeled after Melchizedek's, and the superiority of the new covenant over the old.