Hebrews 7:4-6

Summary retelling of Hebrews 7:4-6

We are then reminded how great Melchizedek was in order for Abraham to give him a tenth of all his spoils of conquest.  The priests from the line of Levi (or Aaron, as the case may be) receive their tithe because the Law demands it of the Jews.  Melchizedek received from Abraham not because Abraham was ordered to do so but because Abraham was led to do so through the blessing.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In this passage we begin to talk about something called entitlement.  Entitlement is when you receive something that you believe is owed to you, regardless of whether or not you actually deserve it.  For example, when a person believes they should be able to cut in front of you when you are driving regardless of whether or not there is room for them to occupy that space – that is a person who believes they are entitled to drive where they want to drive.  In the same kind of manner, the Hebrew priests were entitled to their tithe because the Law forced it to be given regardless of their actual worthiness.  {Although please don’t hear me saying that there weren’t worthy priests.  Of course there were some who were absolutely worthy!}

How do entitlement systems make you feel?  Do you ever feel that you are entitled to something – even though you don’t actually deserve it?  What such things evoke a sense of entitlement from you?

Second Thought:

Melchizedek, on the other hand, was not entitled to the tithe.  Abraham was not forced to give it to him.  In fact, Melchizedek’s spiritual obedience to God brought about an attitude of generosity within Abraham.  As Abraham saw God in Melchizedek, Abraham began to sense God within himself.  Following God often leads to obedience in God in others who are in a relationship with God.

How does this system that is described differ from the entitlement system?  In what ways can God be present in this system than how we see the entitlement system work out?

Third Thought:

If we think about it, this response from Abraham to Melchizedek mirrors exactly what we should see in Christ.  Christ came to this earth, and we certainly did not deserve that.  Christ taught us about God; we didn’t deserve that either.  Christ died for us; there’s no way that we deserved that.  Christ rose again, demonstrating God’s ability to conquer death; there’s no way we deserve that, either.  Just like Abraham was not entitled to receive a blessing but he received one anyway from Melchizedek, we have also received a blessing from God through Christ to which we are not entitled.

So the question then becomes – how do we respond to this?  Because we are not entitled to it, we must ask ourselves: how can we respond to God’s generosity?

Passage for Tomorrow: Hebrews 7:7-10