Hebrews 7:1-10• Genesis 14

– Four hostile (bad) kings• Abuse 5 other (victim) kings• 12 years later a rebellion• Battle ensues—5 kings lose• Spoils taken

– Plot thickens—the bad Kings take Lot, and family & Lot’s possessions from Sodom

• Abram the Hebrew gets word from a fugitive

– Abram talks with LORD God most High– Yahweh El Elyon

– Abram goes to War• Takes 318 of his own men• Takes three allies, all brothers Amorite• He divides his troops and attacks at night• Victory and pursuit

– Captures all the spoil—people and goods

– Abram comes by Salem, (Urusalem)• The king of Salem greets him• The king of Righteousness greets him• And a priest of the God Most High-El Elyon• One and the same—Melchizedek blesses Abram

– Dividing the spoils• First—Abram gives a tenth to Melchizedek• Abram reveals an oath made to the Lord

– To take nothing

• Last a share to those who fought with him• Everything else returned to their owners

• Melchizedek– Without father or mother or genealogy– No beginning or end– Being like a Son of God—a perpetual priest

• Lets study this relationship– Abraham, the patriarch

• Gave Melchizedek a choicest tenth

– Levite priests command a tenth from Hebrews• By law

– Yet Melchizedek not of Abram genealogy• Commanded a tenth and blessed the one of promise

– Rule—blessings go from greater to lesser

• Yes, there is a point here!– The Levite priests through Abram

• Who now receive tithes• Gave tithes to the perpetual priest of God Most High