"And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them of who it is witnessed that he liveth" (Hebrews 7:8).This verse announces the strongest appeal in all the Bible on tithing; it makes it a matter of loyalty to Christ. That strikes a responsive note in the heart of lovers of Jesus Christ.
Let us paraphrase the text. "And here in the Levitical priesthood of the Old Testament men subject to death collect tithes; but there in the priestly order or Melchizedec type of Christ, he receiveth tithes, of who it is witnessed that he liveth."
The expression, "that he liveth," transcends the limits of the typical Melchizedec and passes on to the great Antitypical Christ, our everliving High Priest. Who intercedes for us at the right hand.
The burden of Hebrews 7 is the superiority of Christ as High Priest in making atonement on the cross for our sins and stepping up to glory to intercede for us. The secondary message of this chapter is our obligation and privilege to honor Christ with tithes even as Abraham did Melchizedec. This lifts the question of tithing above the law and posits it at the foot of the Cross for its firm basis and at the believer's access to God through Christ for its daily practice. Here is victorious ground for the Christian and for tithing, too.
May I add a personal word? My heart is moved to tithe because God commands it, but more, because Jesus' love for me demands it. I fear not to tithe lest God collect His own with painful interest, but more I tremble at the thought of wounding My Saviour with the ingratitude of not tithing. I tithe and make offerings because the interests of my church, Christ's body, need both, but more because I, share so graciously in the saving benefits of His cross and so freely in the upholding influences of His intercession for me. As long as I love my Saviour, it is unthinkable that I would refuse Him my tithe. If this appeal does not touch a sensitive cord in my soul, I should investigate my relation to Jesus Christ, either as to union or communion.
Once more, let me place this type so you cannot forget it. 1. Melchizedec is the type of Christ, our great High Priest. 2. Abraham is the father and type of a believer in Christ. 3. Abraham's tithe of gratitude is a type of the gratitude of a Christian for his Saviour.
Since I believe that you would tithe if you got the message of this verse, read it in modern renditions. "Again it is mortal men who receive tithes in the one case; while in the other it is he of whom it is attester, 'He lives'" (Montgomery). "In the one case, mortal men collect tithes; but in the other, one who it is intimated, lives on" (Goodspeed).
He receives tithes from me; does He receive them from you? If not, I want you to know the joy and blessing of the tither as well as to honor our great high priest.
(This appeared recently in "The Immanuel Clarion," Paducah.)
====== [From West Kentucky Baptist School Voice, Murray, Kentucky, October, 1936, p. 2, 3. Document from Boyce Digital Library, SBTS Archives, Louisville, KY. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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