The Gift and the Blessing

Hebrews 7-10

St. John’s United Church of Christ
Greeley, Colorado
October 27, 2024
Rev. Juvenal Cervantes 

One of the most remarkable things in the bible is revealed when God’s people bring a gift to God and how God blesses his people. Today we’ll see Melchizedek, who is a picture of Christ, being honored and Christ blessing his children.

Hebrews 7:4-7

Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater.

First, Abraham gave tithe to Melchizedek.

You say, “Well, what do you mean by that?”

Well, look at verse 4, “Now consider how great this man was” – think about it; this guy was something – why? – “whom – unto whom even the patriarch” – patriarch from two Greek words, archēs first, patēr father, the first father – “Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.” Now He says, “Consider how great this man is; Abraham, number one guy, our Father Abraham – nobody’s better than Abraham – and Abraham gave his tithes to this guy.” That’s a pretty heavy point, a pretty strong argument to show the superiority of Melchizedek.

Now, back to verse 2, we saw that, didn’t we? “To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all.” Now, in this argument, the Holy Spirit shows that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham because He wants to show that he was greater than Aaron and Levi. Now, the point being that Abraham was better than Aaron and Levi. Therefore, if Melchizedek was better than Abraham, he was also better than Aaron and Levi. If he’s better than Aaron and Levi, he’s the mediator of a better covenant, and you ought to turn from Judaism and come to Christ. Do you see the argument?

It says that Abraham gave this Melchizedek a tenth of the spoils – akrothiniōn. Interesting word “spoils.” It comes from two words: akron, a word which means the highest point, and this which means a heap. The heap on the top. That’s what the word means. Abraham gave him the heap on the top.

You say, “What does that mean?”

Of all the stuff he had, he gave Melchizedek the top stuff. He gave him the best. That’s really what Old Testament tithing was all about. You remember in the book of Malachi when God got real angry with Israel and said, “Why did you bring me the lame and the halt?” They were supposed to make a sacrifice; so, they brought the sick animals. And God says, “I reject that. I reject that.”

Abraham gave him the top of the heap. The Greeks, after a victory, had a custom. They’d bring all the spoils that they’d won in the battle, and they’d dump them in a big pile, and the best was taken out of it and given to the gods. And that’s exactly what Abraham does. He doesn’t just give him a little part of it; he gives him the top of the heap. The fact that Abraham gave to Melchizedek magnifies Melchizedek’s greatness, for Abraham was the great father, the first father. Consider how great Melchizedek must have been.

Now, this may be a good time to share a message on tithing. However, I’m not convinced the New Testament encourages a system of tithing. If you want to be technical about tithing, the Jew gave 33 1/3 percent every year. If you want to tithe, you feel free to do that. I want you to feel free. But when you add together the tithe that the Jew gave, it was 10 percent of this, and 10 percent of that, and every 3rd year 10 percent of another, and therefore added up to 33-1/3 percent of all that he possessed.

But the principles are the same, beloved, and I share those with you. Do you understand the principles of giving to God? Do you understand what it means to give Him the top of the heap? I mean when the month comes, and the check is there, and you start to write your checks, what comes first? What comes top of the heap?

You say, “Well, I – I sometimes like I ought to give to the Lord. You know? And I operate on impulse.”

God does not want to be responsive only to our whimsical generosity. For all the centuries of Israel’s life, God set the pattern. In grace, we’re free from the law, but grace must require more than law. Because our High Priest is so great: not because we feel so generous. Did you get that? If Abraham gave the top of the heap to Melchizedek, what should we give to Jesus Christ? Some of us don’t even give the tenth. Some of us don’t even give the top of the heap. We give Him whatever’s left of the lame and whatever else.

And we’re not giving to God because of a desire in our heart to be generous; we’re giving to God because of the glory of who He is and to our Messiah because He’s great and He deserves all we have.

Secondly, Melchizedek blessed Abraham. Now, that’s something. A lot of people have been blessed by Abraham, but this is the only one I’ve ever read about that blessed Abraham. Look at verse 6, “But he whose descent is not counted” – that’s Melchizedek – “from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.” This guy, who doesn’t even fit into anything chronological or genealogical, he blessed Abraham.

Now look at verse 7, “And without any contradiction” – we can’t reverse this – “the less is blessed of the better.” Right? In other words, Melchizedek must have been greater than Abraham, because he blessed Abraham. No, this is a fantastic argument. The principle is simply this: God operated in Melchizedek’s life on the basis of personal qualification. And he was higher than Abraham in those qualifications. Therefore, he was chosen to bless Abraham.

And don’t you see what we’re seeing here? If this man was greater than Abraham, then he was greater than anything that came from Abraham. And we’ll see that in a moment. And this is a principle. What is the application for our day and time? Today God works on the basis of an individual’s personal qualifications. And in the church, He sets up teaching shepherds, Ephesians 4:11, and He sets up evangelists and ruling elders.

Now, in James chapter 3 and verse 1, we are warned, “My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation” or the greater judgment. At the end of the book of Hebrews, chapter 13, verse 17, “Obey them that have the rule over you, submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”

God set certain people in the church to rule. We don’t want everybody to do that. That’s the problem that Paul talked about when he says, “Those people are in trouble because they heap to themselves” – what? – “teachers.” Too many teachers. Heaping it up, just teachers, and teachers, and more teachers. And some today have, you know, settled for an ecclesiastical socialism, where anybody and everybody who wants to can stand up and say what they want to say.

Not many teachers. We don’t heap to ourselves teachers. We subject ourselves to those whom God has chosen, who according to the apostle Paul, in 1 Timothy 5:16 and 17, are worthy of double honor if they rule well, especially if they labor in the Word and doctrine.

So, God has set certain people, in this economy of grace, on the basis of special, personal qualifications. If you’re faithful over a little – what? – He’ll make you Lord over much. You see, when you meet the qualifications, God will lift you to the ministry. And so, Melchizedek was like that. He was qualified to be what he was personally, not from heredity. He was superior, and therefore, he blessed Abraham.

Growing up in church we often sang, “Give of your best to the Master.” The lyrics of this song encourage us to give God our best and to trust that He will bless us.

1. Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Throw your soul’s fresh, glowing ardor
Into the battle for truth.
Jesus has set the example,
Dauntless was He, young and brave;
Give Him your loyal devotion;
Give Him the best that you have.

Refrain:

Give of your best to the Master;
Give of the strength of your youth;
Clad in salvation’s full armor,
Join in the battle for truth.

2. Give of your best to the Master;
Give Him first place in your heart;
Give Him first place in your service;
Consecrate every part.
Give, and to you will be given;
God His beloved Son gave;
Gratefully seeking to serve Him,
Give Him the best that you have.

3. Give of your best to the Master;
Naught else is worthy His love;
He gave Himself for your ransom,
Gave up His glory above.
Laid down His life without murmur,
You from sin’s ruin to save;
Give Him your heart’s adoration,
Give Him the best that you have.

Honor the Lord and He will bless you, in ways that you never dreamed of.