Letter to the Hebrews Volume 63

 The Absolute Necessity for a New Priesthood Part 2

Hebrews 7:12-14 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. KJV

The writer of Hebrews now makes the very sound point (that I fear many Hebrew converts to Christ back then and many converts to Christ now and in every era and generation miss) that if the Levitical Priesthood was changed by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, then so does He change the 'Law' forever just as He does with the Priesthood, as it is written here by the author, "For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." (Hebrews 7:12) (KJV). How then does the 'Law' change? Well, in no way did our Lord Jesus Christ (during His earthly Ministry) ever speak of the abolishment of the 'Ten Commandments', however, what He did declare to everyone who had 'ears to hear' (Luke 8:8) was the abolishment of the law of ordinances and ceremonies. He proclaimed that every sinner who would come to Him would be 'born again' (John 3:7-8) and in so doing each person would have the 'Law' written upon their/our hearts or their/our inner man or inner woman (their/our souls which is the real them/us), as it is written with these words for us by the Prophet Jeremiah, "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an Husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31:31-34) (KJV). This too is the covenant that He (God/Jesus) makes with every person that comes to Him and is 'born again', He remembers our sin no more. Here is what Vincent's Word Studies had to say of Hebrews 7:12, "The inferiority of the Levitical priesthood is inferred from the fact that another Priesthood was promised. If perfection was possible at all under the Mosaic economy, it must come through the Levitical priesthood, since that priesthood was, in a sense, the basis of the law. The whole legal system centered in it. The fundamental idea of the law was that of a people united with God. Sin, the obstacle to this ideal union, was dealt with through the priesthood. If the law failed to effect complete fellowship with God, the priesthood was shown to be a failure, and must be abolished; and the change of the priesthood involved the abolition of the entire legal system."

The writer of Hebrews now points out the fact that the Levitical priesthood was established out of the 'Tribe of Levi', however, the Messiah (our Lord Jesus Christ) came into the earth realm through the 'Tribe of Judah' and who has already been declared by this same writer at the end of the previous Chapter a Priest forever, as it is written by him with these words speaking of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:20) (KJV). The prophecy (of this forever Priesthood) was made by King David when he wrote these words by God the Holy Spirit's inspiration, "The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." (Psalms 110:4) (KJV). So, then we see that not only was this foretold by God, but the fact that the Messiah was from another Hebrew Tribe stands for, or signifies, and secures the abolishment of the Levitical priesthood and establishes this new Priesthood of Jesus Christ that is radical, revolutionary, and remarkably different than the old system because it gives every individual follower of Jesus Christ a personal relationship with God the Father through Him eliminating the requirement that anyone had to go to and through another sinful man to gain or get access to God, therefore, we now read these words from the author of Hebrews, "For He of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood." (Hebrews 7:13-14) (KJV). Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of these facts, "In Psalms 110:4 and in the type of him Melchizedek, in the preceding verses; for not Melchizedek is here meant, but the Lord Jesus Christ, as appears by what follows; the antitype of Melchizedek, the Lord our righteousness, the Prince of peace, the priest of God, that lives for ever, without father, without mother, &c. Pertaineth to another tribe; the tribe of Judah, and not the tribe of Levi: of which no man gave attendance at the altar; either of burnt offering or of incense; that is, no man waited there, or took upon him and exercised the priest's office that was of the tribe of Judah: no man might lawfully do it; Uzziah, indeed, thrust himself into the priest's office, who was of that tribe, and went into the temple and burnt incense upon the altar of incense; but then he had no right to do it, and was punished for it."

Here is the account of King Uzziah's rebellion and punishment by God for doing only what was lawful for the priest of God to do, "But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land. Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write. So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, He is a leper: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead." (2 Chronicles 26:16-23) (KJV).

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 62

 The Absolute Necessity for a New Priesthood Part 1

Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? KJV

God the Father through His servant Moses gave the Hebrew people 'The Law', that is, the 'Ten Commandments', however, He meant the law to be only a mirror (Galatians 3:24) that the Hebrew Nation could hold up before themselves and see their wretchedness and look forward to the coming Messiah who only could take away their sin and make them acceptable to God. Also, through Moses' brother Aaron God the Father established the Levitical Priesthood in the Hebrew Nation. So we see now the writer of Hebrews begin to establish, expound, and explain why (despite the Law and Priesthood being given to the Hebrew people by God Himself) their was then and is now a necessity for a new Priesthood, even a better Priesthood for the Hebrew Nation and for the rest of the world of sinful humanity, as it is written here with these words to begin his discourse, "If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?" (Hebrews 7:11) (KJV). The Levitical Priesthood and the Law were then and still remains even to this very day of 2021 in human History inseparably connected together by the Hebrew people. The Law and the Levitical Priesthood was the mode, method, and manner by which God the Father (at that time) established fellowship between Himself and the Hebrew people. However, this was not His perfect will being manifested yet and "The Levitical priesthood failed to give men 'a perfectly adequate relation to God.'" (Moffatt), but He permitted it to be during this particuliar time in the growth of the Hebrew Nation. The English word 'perfection' used by the writer of Hebrews in Hebrew 7:11 is translated by the Greek word teleiōsis meaning (as used here) completion or finality. Perfection or completion of the Priesthood and the Law had to come through the Man Christ Jesus, therefore, the giving of the Levitical Priesthood and the Law was done to prepare the people for the coming of the One (our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ) who would make the way of fellowship with God truly possible by virtue of our sin being cloaked, concealed, and covered from Him by the Blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ (our Sacrifice for our sins).

Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of Hebrews 7:11, "The word teleiōsis, as we have before seen, signifies the completing or finishing of any thing, so as to leave nothing imperfect, and nothing wanting. Applied here to the Levitical priesthood, it signifies the accomplishment of that for which a priesthood is established, viz.: giving the Deity an acceptable service, enlightening and instructing the people, pardoning all offenses, purging the conscience from guilt, purifying the soul and preparing it for heaven, and regulating the conduct of the people according to the precepts of the moral law. This perfection never came, and never could come, by the Levitical law; it was the shadow of good things to come, but was not the substance. It represented a perfect system, but was imperfect in itself. It showed that there was guilt, and that there was an absolute need for a sacrificial offering to atone for sin, and it typified that sacrifice; but every sacrificial act under that law most forcibly proved that it was impossible for the blood of Bulls and Goats to take away sin. That is, as most interpret this place, under the priesthood, being understood; because, on the priesthood the whole Mosaical law and the Jewish economy depended: but it is much better to understand on account of it, instead of under it; for it is a positive fact that the law was given before any priesthood was established, for Aaron and his sons were not called nor separated to this office till Moses came down the second time from the mount with the tables renewed, after that he had broken them, Exodus 40:12-14. But it was in reference to the great sacrificial system that the law was given, and on that law the priesthood was established; for, why was a priesthood necessary, but because that law was broken and must be fulfilled? The law was given that the offense might abound, and sin appear exceeding sinful; and to show the absolute necessity of the sacrifice and mediation of the great Messiah, but it was neither perfect in itself, nor could it confer perfection, nor did it contain the original priesthood. Melchizedek had a priesthood more than four hundred years (422) before the law was given; and David prophesied, Psalms 110:4, that another priest should arise after the order of Melchizedek, nearly five hundred years (476) after the law was given. The law, therefore, did not contain the original priesthood; this existed typically in Melchizedek, and really in Jesus Christ."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 61

 Jesus Christ is our Forerunner and He Appeared to Abraham as Melchizedek Part 5

Hebrews 7:8-10 And here men that die receive tithes; but there He receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that He liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. KJV

If the words from the writer of Hebrews in the previous verses 1-7 were not enough to make it abundantly clear that this Man Melchizedek was more than just a man, but instead that He was the Pre-Incarnate God/Man our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, then he seals his intention in this very next verse with these words, "And here men that die receive tithes; but there He receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that He liveth." (Hebrews 7:8) (KJV). We find no where in any of the rest of this Chapter or indeed in the rest of this Book of Hebrews or anywhere in the Book of Genesis that records the record of the death of this Man Melchizedek. Moses even his death is recorded for us in (Deuteronomy 34:5-8), however, there is no record of the death of Melchizedek and that is because Melchizedek was and is our Lord Jesus Christ who had no beginning and has no end as it is written in these two places in the Psalms, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." (Psalms 90:2) (KJV) and also, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD." (Psalms 106:48) (KJV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "The Apostle is speaking of the ecclesiastical constitution of the Jews, which was standing at the time this epistle was written. Under the Jewish dispensation, though the priests were successively removed by death, yet they were as duly replaced by others appointed from the same family, and the payment of tithes was never interrupted. But as there is no account of Melchizedek ceasing to be a Priest, or of His dying, He is represented as still living, the better to point Him out as a type of Christ, and to show His Priesthood to be more excellent than that which was according to the law, as an unchanging Priesthood must be more excellent than that which was continually changing. The word here, in the first clause of this verse refers to Mosaical institutions, as then existing: the word there, in this clause refers to the place in Genesis (Genesis 14:20) where it is related that Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, who is still considered as being alive or without a successor, because there is no account of His death, nor of any termination of His Priesthood."

The writer now continuing to make his point of the superiority of the Priesthood of the Man Melchizedek, now references the Hebrew man (Levi) in whom the Levitical Priesthood was named and founded even many years after the death of Abraham, however, the writer wants to further declare the forever continuance of the Priesthood of Melchizedek by stating that in Levi's ancestor Abraham, he (Levi) even paid tithes to Melchizedek, as it is written here, "And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham." (Hebrews 7:9) (KJV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of this verse, "This form of speech, which is very frequent among the purest Greek writers, is generally used to soften some harsh expression, or to limit the meaning when the proposition might otherwise appear to be too general. It answers fully to our so to speak - as one would say - I had almost said - in a certain sense. Many examples of its use by Aristotle, Philo, Lucian, Josephus, Demosthenes, Aeschines, and Plutarch, may be seen in Raphelius and Kypke. The Levites, who were descendants of Abraham, paid tithes to Melchizedek through, Abraham, their progenitor and representative."

The writer declares how this honoring of the Man and Priesthood of Melchizedek was clearly an act of the honoring of the very God that their ancestor Abraham honored when he gave a tenth of his spoils to Melchizedek after he defeated the kings of the earth at the valley of Shaveh because they were yet to be conceived and born into the human family as Hebrews  and so does he declare this with the following words, "For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him." (Hebrews 7:10) (KJV). The writer here is speaking of Levi who wasn't born yet and was born to Abraham's grandson Jacob many years after the death of Abraham. Here is what Vincent's Word Studies said of this verse, "In the person of Abraham. The whole Jewish/Hebrew law, its ordinances and priesthood, are regarded as potentially in Abraham. When Abraham paid tithes, Levi paid tithes. When Abraham was blessed, Israel was blessed. It is a kind of reasoning which would appeal to Hebrews, who so strongly emphasized the solidarity of their race." Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "Now Levi received the office of the priesthood from God, and was to take tithes of the people, yet even Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek, as to a greater and higher priest than himself; therefore that high priest who should afterwards appear, of whom Melchizedek was a type, must be much superior to any of the Levitical priests, who paid tithes, in Abraham, to Melchizedek. And now by this argument of persons doing things that are matters of right or injury in the loins of their predecessors we have an illustration how we may be said to have sinned in Adam, and fallen with him in his first transgression. We were in Adam's loins when he sinned, and the guilt and depravity contracted by the human nature when it was in our first parents are equitably imputed and derived to the same nature as it is in all other persons naturally descended from them."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 60

 Jesus Christ is our Forerunner and He Appeared to Abraham as Melchizedek Part 4

Hebrews 7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. KJV

The reason for the sound, sudden, and even surprising appearance of this Man Melchizedek to Abraham right after his war victory at Shaveh was to bless him, as it is written here for us by the writer of Hebrews with these words, "And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better." (Hebrews 7:7) (KJV). The English word 'contradiction' used in this verse is translated by the Greek word antilogia meaning dispute, disobedience: - contradiction, gainsaying, strife. The English word 'less' is translated by the Greek word elassōn meaning (as used here) smaller in quanity or to be under. The English word 'blessed' is translated by the Greek word eulogeō meaning to speak well of, that is, (religiously) to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper): - bless, praise. The English word 'better' is translated by the Greek word kreittōn meaning stronger, that is, (figuratively) better, that is, nobler: - best, better. In other words, the Greater One appeared surprisingly to the one under His Authority to bless him or praise him and to render a formal act of approval of this man Abraham. He (Melchizedek) did so at that particular time because the many earthly kings upon the land (at the time) did not regard, revere, or respect  Abraham because they were men who took what they wanted when they wanted as they did when Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five defeated the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah and they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed (Genesis 14:9-12). This is what caused Abraham to go to war against these earthly kings and defeat them at the valley of Shaveh (Genesis 14:13-17) and rescue Lot along with all the women and all of their goods or belongings. Melchizedek wanted to show these earthly kings His approval of Abraham. Melchizedek (the God Man Jesus Christ) also wanted Abraham to understand the source of his victory was not his human planning, process, or procedures, but instead it was the 'will of God' and by the 'power of God' that he defeated all these kings with just 318 men (Genesis 14:14), therefore, without dispute or disobedience Abraham offered up one tenth of the spoils he took from the earthly kings when they were soundly defeated to Melchizedek. The true blessing for Abraham was that he belonged to All Mighty God and was under His (God's) protection. What Abraham did in giving the tenth of the spoils was out of reverence and respect acknowledging his dependency on God and his trust in God to provide for him and his family, knowing and understanding that everything he had belonged to God and that he was just the steward.

Here is what Adam Clarke says of Hebrews 7:7, "That the superior blesses the inferior is a general proposition; but Abraham was blessed of Melchizedek, therefore Melchizedek was greater than Abraham. 'The blessing here spoken of,' says Dr. Macknight, 'is not the simple wishing of good to others, which may be done by inferiors to superiors; but it is the action of a person authorized to declare God's intention to bestow good things on another. In this manner Isaac and Jacob blessed their children under a prophetic impulse; in this manner the priests under the law blessed the people; in this manner, likewise, Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God, blessed Abraham.'" Here also is what Albert Barnes had to say of Hebrews 7:7, "It is an admitted principle; a point about which there can be no dispute. The act of pronouncing a blessing is understood to imply superiority of rank, age, or station. So when a father lays his hand on his children and blesses them, it is understood to be the act of one superior in age, venerableness, and authority; when a prophet pronounced a blessing on the people, the same thing was understood, and the same is true also when a minister of religion pronounces a blessing on a congregation. It is the act of one who is understood to sustain an office above the people on whom the blessing is pronounced. This was understood of the Saviour when parents brought their children to Him to lay His hands on them and bless them Matthew 19:13; and the same was true of Jacob when dying he blessed the sons of Joseph; Hebrews 11:21; Genesis 48:5-20. The word 'less' here means the one of inferior rank; who is less in office, honor, or age. It does not imply inferiority of moral or religious character, for this is not the point under consideration. The word 'better' means one who is of superior office or rank, not one who has necessarily a purer or holier character. That Melchizedek was thus superior to Abraham, Paul says, is implied by the very declaration that he 'blessed him.' It is also seen to be true by the whole comparison. Abraham was a petty prince; an 'Emir' - the head of a company of Nomades, or migratory shepherds, having, it is true, a large number of dependants, but still not having the rank here given to Melchizedek. Though called 'a prophet' Genesis 20:7, yet he is nowhere called either a priest or a king. In these respects, it was undoubted that he was inferior to Melchizedek."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 59

 Jesus Christ is our Forerunner and He Appeared to Abraham as Melchizedek Part 3

Hebrews 7:4-6 Now consider how great this Man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: But He whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. KJV

The writer of Hebrews continues in these next few verses to detail how the Hebrew patriarch Abraham revered and reverenced this Man Melchizedek having not even meeting the Man before his war victory at Shaveh (Genesis 14:18), but in fact Abraham knew and recognized Him as not merely a Man but God who called him out of the land of the Chaldees (Genesis 11:31) into a new land that He (God) would show unto him. This is exactly why the writer of Hebrews declares these words next for us in Hebrews 7:4, "Now consider how great this Man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils." (Hebrews 7:4) (KJV). Abraham would not bow to any earthly king by giving that king one tenth of what he had taken from his defeated enemies, therefore, Abraham knew the greatness of this Man because He knew it was the God/Man Himself our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ who told the Hebrews thousands of years in the future of this time of Abraham, that he had already seen His (Christ) days upon the earth as God Incarnate and rejoiced and was glad. This is exactly what we see here and it is exactly what our Lord Jesus Christ told the Hebrews in (John 8:48-58).

Note: "For we mere mortals (human beings) we live only in the present and we can see the past by virtue of our memories and the recorded accounts in History by those people who lived in that time, however, we mere mortals cannot see into the future (no matter what those with crystal balls tell you), because if humans could see into the future, then they would see the period, place, and personal manner of their impending death and change it by avoiding it all together. We know this is impossible because we see people dying and stepping out of time into eternity every single day, even Harry Houdini perhaps the greatest escape artist/magician that ever lived could not and did not escape death dying in 1926, for as it is written, 'And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.' (Hebrews 9:27) (KJV). However, unlike men/women (God's Creation), He (God/Jesus) lives in eternity, for He is the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9-12) and this signifies that He is without days because He had no beginning and has no end, for He just is, therefore, He (God) living in eternity sees the past, present, and future all together at the same time or instance. This is why every single prophesy recorded in the Bible through the human instruments God chose like Isaiah, Daniel, Zechariah, Joel, Jeremiah, etc, have all come to pass being fulfilled right down to the very exact detail that was spoken through these men (research it for yourselves if you are sceptical)." Here is what John Wesley had to say of Hebrews 7:4, "The greatness of Melchizedek is described in all the preceding and following particulars. But the most manifest proof of it was, that Abraham gave him tithes as to a priest of God and a superior; though he was himself a patriarch, greater than a king, and a progenitor of many kings."

The writer of Hebrews goes on next to lay out for us the order of superiority that being the patriarch, the priesthood, then the people, with these words in verse 5, "And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:" (Hebrews 7:5) (KJV). The Hebrew people were below the Levitical Priest in greatness and the Levitical Priest were most definately below the Patriarch of the Hebrew Nation Abraham seeing that every Hebrew came from the loins of Abraham through his miraculously born son Isaac, however, the Man Melchizedek was greater than Abraham, and this tells me that Melchizedek was Christ Incarnate. Here is what John Wesley had to say of Hebrews 7:5, "The sons of Levi take tithes of their brethren - Sprung from Abraham as well as themselves. The Levites therefore are greater than they; but the priests are greater than the Levites, the patriarch Abraham than the priests, and Melchizedek than him."

The writer of Hebrews continues making his point of the superiority of  Melchizedek to Abraham with these following words, "But He whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises." (Hebrews 7:6) (KJV). The English phrase 'He whose descent is not counted' is translated by the Greek word genealogeō (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning to reckon by generations, that is, trace in genealogy: - count by descent. This was not possible with this Man Melchizedek because He was not a mere man, but the Pre-incarnate God/Man Jesus Christ. The idea that Abraham would willingly give a tenth of his spoils to a man who was not known to him is obsurd, therefore, Abraham knew Him because He was God who made the promise to Abraham with these words here, "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect. And I will make My covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, As for Me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee." (Genesis 17:1-7) (KJV). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of Hebrews 7:6, "This is a continuation of the same argument, namely, to show the superiority of Melchizedek; and, in consequence, to prove the superiority of the priesthood of Christ beyond that of Aaron. As in the seed of Abraham all the nations of the earth were to be blessed, Abraham received a sacerdotal blessing from Melchizedek, who was the representative of the Messiah, the promised seed, to show that it was through Him, as the High Priest of the human race, that this blessing was to be derived on all mankind."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 58

 Jesus Christ is our Forerunner and He Appeared to Abraham as Melchizedek Part 2

Hebrews 7:2-3 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. KJV

As we declared in the very last study/commentary the Word of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Hebrews during the time He was on the earth as the God-Man to die for the sins of the world (John 8:48-58), He told them that Abraham had already seen Him on the earth and that Abraham also understood the day of His (Christ) Incarnation as the God-Man that would happen thousands of years in the future. The Jews/Hebrews who argued with our Lord, Master and Savior Jesus Christ in the discourse of (John 8:48-58) were unbelieving and did not see that God in Human Flesh was standing before them and this is why they could not fathom, that is, come to understand how it would have been possible for this 33 year old Jewish/Hebrew Man (Jesus Christ) who stood before them could have seen Abraham who lived thousands of years earlier on the earth, this is why they considered Him to be crazy or demon possessed instead of the truth being that He was God Incarnate.

Now the the writer of Hebrews declares next how Abraham recognized that the Man Melchizedek who stood before him was no ordinary Man, but instead He was the very God that spoke to Abram (Genesis 12:1) and just as he had obeyed Him then (Genesis 12:4), so does he obey Him now as it is written here by the author of Hebrews with these words, "To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;" (Hebrews 7:2) (KJV). The fact that Abraham (who during his time) was never under the rulership of any earthly king and the fact that he fought against many kings during his day was evidence of this being the Pre-incarnate Christ. However, when this Man Melchizedek appeared before him he payed homage, humility, and honor by giving unto Him a percentage (a tenth) of the spoils that were taken from the earthly kings when he defeated them (Genesis 14:17). Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of the giving of this tenth or tithe, "It was an ancient custom, among all the nations of the earth, to consecrate a part or tenth of the spoils taken in war to the objects of their worship. Many examples of this kind occur. This however was not according to any provision in law, but merely ad libitum, and as a eucharistic offering to those to whom they imagined they owed the victory. But neither Abraham’s decimation, nor theirs, had any thing to do, either with tithes as prescribed under the Mosaic dispensation, or as claimed under the Christian."

This Man Melchizedek that Abraham met after his great war victory had a name that was interpreted or translated as first 'King of Righteousness' and 'King of Peace'. During that time or period Abraham had conflict, clashing, and a colliding with various kings at the valley of Shaveh, however, after he defeated them all righteousness and peace reined, as it is written, "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever." (Isaiah 32:17) (KJV). Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of Hebrews 7:2, "Melchizedek was a King, and so is the Lord Jesus - a King of God's anointing; the government is laid upon His shoulders, and He rules over all for the good of His people. That He was King of righteousness: His name signifies the righteous King. Jesus Christ is a rightful and a righteous King - rightful in His title, righteous in His government. He is the Lord our righteousness; He has fulfilled all righteousness, and brought in an everlasting righteousness, and He loves righteousness and righteous persons, and hates iniquity. He was King of Salem, that is, King of peace; first King of righteousness, and after that King of peace. So is our Lord Jesus; He by His righteousness made peace, the fruit of righteousness is peace. Christ speaks peace, creates peace, is our peace-maker. He was Priest of the Most High God, qualified and anointed in an extraordinary manner to be His Priest among the Gentiles. So is the Lord Jesus; He is the Priest of the Most High God, and the Gentiles must come to God by Him; it is only through His Priesthood that we can obtain reconciliation and remission of sin."

The writer of Hebrews goes on now to secure for me that the Man Melchizedek who appeared to Abraham was indeed the Pre-incarnate Lord Jesus Christ, as he writes these words, "Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually." (Hebrews 7:3) (KJV). The debate, discourse, and disagreement among many Christians of the past and present of who this Man Melchizedek actually was is numerous with some declaring him to be from this or that part of the country at the time or even from a foreign land far from where Abraham was at the time of his defeat of the kings at Shaveh, however, with what we have before us from the writer of Hebrews declaring the Man had no record of a Father or Mother seals for me that the Man was the Pre-incarnate Christ. Abraham was visited by Him (Pre-incarnate Christ) again years after this to reassure Him that a son would be born to he and Sarah by way of natural child birth one year from the time of His visit, even though they were 100 years old (Abraham) and 90 years old (Sarah), read the account in (Genesis 18). Here is what John Wesley said of Hebrews 7:3, "Without father, without mother, without pedigree - Recorded, without any account of his descent from any ancestors of the priestly order. Having neither beginning of days, nor end of life - Mentioned by Moses. But being - In all these respects. Made like the Son of God - Who is really without father, as to His human nature; without mother, as to His divine; and in this also, without pedigree - Neither descended from any ancestors of the priestly order. Remaineth a priest continually - Nothing is recorded of the death or successor of Melchizedek. But Christ alone does really remain without death, and without successor."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 57

 Jesus Christ is our Forerunner and He Appeared to Abraham as Melchizedek Part 1

Hebrews 6:20-7:1 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, Priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; KJV

The writer of Hebrews now brings his discourse back around full circle to the blessed, beloved, and bountiful Priesthood of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ who alone is the certainty of God the Father's Promise to Abraham and through Abraham's seed, that being, his miraculous seed Isaac being born to he and Sarah at the ages of 100 and 90 years old. In the Levitical priesthood, the Hebrew priest would enter into the 'holy of hollies' as a representative of the people of Israel or the Hebrew Nation, however, none of the people could ever enter into this part of the Jewish/Hebrew Temple, but now they had then and we have now Someone that has opened the way for us, as it is written here by the writer of Hebrews, "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:20) (KJV).  Now the writer of Hebrews declares to the then Hebrew converts (who lived under this rite, this rule, this reality for many centuries) that through the death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross for our sins and now our trust and faith in Him as Lord and Savior this veil was torn apart from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51) allowing every believer in Jesus Christ direct access to the Throne of God through Him, as it is written, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6) (KJV).

More than just the people's representative and mediator before God the Father our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ is our 'forerunner' and this English word is translated by the Greek word prodromos (used this one time only in the New Testament) which means a runner ahead, that is, scout (figuratively precursor): - forerunner. In other words, not only did our Lord Jesus Christ become our ransom (buying us back from our captivity to the devil (Colossians 1:13-14)), but He has also opened up the way for every sinner to have direct access and communication and fellowship with God our Father and our Creator. Here is what Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary had to say of Hebrews 6:20, "The 'for us' implies that it was not for Himself, as God, He needed to enter there, but as our High Priest, representing and introducing us, His followers, opening the way to us, by His intercession with the Father, as the Aaronic high priest entered the Holiest Place once a year to make propitiation for the people. The first-fruits of our nature are ascended, and so the rest is sanctified. Christ's ascension is our promotion: and whither the glory of the Head has preceded, thither the hope of the body, too, is called. We ought to keep festal day, since Christ has taken up and set in the heavens the first-fruit of our lump, that is, the human flesh [Chrysostom]. As John the Baptist was Christ's forerunner on earth, so Christ is ours in heaven."

Now the writer of Hebrews begins to declare, detail, and describe Melchizedek (who appears to Abram/Abraham once after his 'slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale' (Genesis 14:17)). This Melchizedek (who appeared out of nowhere) was the Priest of the Most High God (greater than Abraham & Aaron), therefore, it was the Pre-incarnate Christ Jesus our Lord who appeared to Abram/Abraham in (Genesis 14:18), as it is referenced here by the writer of Hebrews with these words, "For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, Priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;" (Hebrews 7:1) (KJV). Let us remember these words of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself when speaking to some of the Jews/Hebrews before He ever went to the Cross to be Crucified they were questioning His Authority and here is the discussion as documented for us by the Apostle John, "Then answered the Jews, and said unto Him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon? Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honour My Father, and ye do dishonour Me. And I seek not Mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto Him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour Myself, My honour is nothing: it is My Father that honoureth Me; of whom ye say, that He is your God: Yet ye have not known Him; but I know Him: and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know Him, and keep His saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I Am." (John 8:48-58) (KJV). What we are reading now from the writer of Hebrews as he began from Hebrews 6:13 until the end of Hebrews 7 is some of the strong meat of the Word of God that he wanted all of the then Hebrew converts to be able to digest or discern or distinguish with complete understanding by virtue of them growing up into spiritual maturity and graduating from the milk of the Word of God by remaining babes in Christ. Here is what John Wesley had to say of Hebrews 7:1, "The sum of this chapter is, Christ, as appears from His type, Melchizedek, who was greater than Abraham himself, from whom Levi descended, has a priesthood altogether excellent, new, firm, perpetual. Genesis 14:18."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…