Hebrews 7:8-10 (NIV) In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Levi paid the tithe through Abraham, even though Levi wasn't born yet. That's hard to understand. Yet simple at the same time.
The purpose of this passage is to show the greatness of Jesus Christ, and it uses the story of Melchizedek (who represents Jesus) and Abraham (who represents Levi) to make the point: when Abraham returned from rescuing Lot, Melchizedek (King of Peace) came out to meet him and Abraham paid him a tithe.
The point the author to the Hebrews is making is that Jesus and His High Priesthood is greater than the Levitical priesthood, as proved by the fact that Levi paid through the body of Abraham. Levi was still "in the loins" or in the body of Abraham.
Isn't that amazing? That Levi paid through the body of Abraham?
And here is the truth this passage is teaching: when Jesus paid your debt of sin through His death, you were not born yet. In a matter of speaking, you were yet in the body of your ancestor, Jesus. Yet your payment, through Him, has been accepted on your behalf, and you now owe no debt to God. Jesus paid for you, you paid through Him.
Look at Jesus shedding His blood on the cross and dying there. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and you are paying through the body of Jesus as He hangs on the cross. Your payment of the debt of sin was accepted by God, as was made evident on the third day after Jesus died, when He rose from the dead and ascended to the Father.
Are you thankful?
