Hebrews 7:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

That is, everyone knows that the lesser is blessed by the greater. Therefore the type of Christ was higher even than the one who had the promises.

Here is another argument proving that Melchizedek is higher than the priests of the law. Here, that is, in the law, those who receive tithes die.

But there, that is, in the case of Melchizedek, the one who received tithes is he of whom Scripture testifies that he lives. For it says: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (Ps 109:4).

As for Melchizedek's living forever, understand this as was said above, namely, that Scripture does not mention his death.

Some understand the statement that the Levites die while Melchizedek lives in this way. The form of the Levitical priesthood became dead, because it was made ineffective. But the form of Melchizedek's priesthood, or of life according to Christ, lives, remains, and will exist forever.

And here mortal men receive tithes. Melchizedek, who was mortal, lived at that time as a testimony for Abraham's sake. That is, he lived for the true blessing of Melchizedek, in order to give that blessing appointed in the seed of Abraham.

The Apostle took this from the prophetic testimony, for it is said: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (Ps 109:4). Since the Jews could rightly say that Abraham was not a priest, and that it was fitting for him to offer tithes and receive a blessing for this, but that Aaron received the priestly rank. And after him his race became partakers of God's grace, the Apostle prudently shows that Aaron also, with his race, offered tithes in the person of the patriarch.

And here mortal men receive tithes. Here means under the law. There is nothing especially great in their receiving tithes, for they are subject to death. Who would envy honor given to one who is going to die? But there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. There, in the book of Genesis, in the account of the event, the tithe was received by one witnessed as living. Yet he is witnessed as living only because his end is passed over in silence, not according to the truth of the matter. For everything concerning Melchizedek is only a type of what concerns Christ.

There he is witnessed as living. This is said of Melchizedek. The Apostle contrasts Melchizedek with the Levites. Calling the latter mortal men, he says of the former that he lives. Holy Scripture does not say directly that he did not die, but only does not mention his death. The Psalmist ascribes to the Son of God an eternal priesthood according to the likeness of Melchizedek. In this way he, as it were, also regards Melchizedek himself as eternal. The Apostle Paul mentions this testimony.

Above, the Apostle indicated three superior features of Melchizedek in comparison with Abraham. First was the general and formal feature of Melchizedek's lordship and Abraham's subordination. By virtue of this, Abraham presented the tithe, and Melchizedek received it as something due and fitting.

Second was the feature that Melchizedek belonged to another tribe than Abraham. In this case, Abraham could be disposed and moved to give Melchizedek a tithe only by his own awareness of dependence and subordination, and of Melchizedek's superiority over him.

This superiority was, of course, witnessed and sealed by God Himself in some way. Third was the feature of Melchizedek's spiritual and priestly superiority over Abraham.

Moreover, he had another advantage: he stood higher than the Levitical priests and their forefather Levi. The latter, as men who must die, άποθνήσχοντες, received tithes only as temporary bearers of the priesthood.

Consequently, the right granted to them did not belong to them by virtue of their personal dignity. It belonged to them because they belonged to the family of Aaron, in which some members were constantly replaced by others.

Meanwhile Melchizedek, again not the historical man, but as a type of the Messiah, enjoys his high position by virtue of his own personal dignity. In the portrayal of Holy Scripture, he is not dying, but continually living.