Jesus > Melchizedek

His Throne Demands Your Worship

Hebrews 7 gives us this picture of Jesus as both King of righteousness and King of peace (7:2). When we hear the word “king,” our minds often jump to power, wealth, armies, and thrones. We think of rulers who often become tyrants. But here the text holds up a very different kind of ruler. This ruler is one whose reign is marked by perfect justice and lasting peace.

Melchizedek, this mysterious figure who shows up in Genesis, is called both “King of righteousness” and “King of Salem,” which means peace. He held two roles that normally never went together: king and priest. Later in Israel’s history, those roles were divided. All kings came from the line of Judah, and priests from the line of Levi. But Melchizedek held both at once, and his shadow points us forward to Christ.

If Melchizedek is called the King of righteousness and peace, how much more must that be true of Jesus? He does not rule like earthly kings who fail, who misuse their power, or who reign with cruelty and fear. His reign is perfect. His reign is eternal. His throne demands your worship.

Our worship is not simply an emotional reaction of gratitude, though gratitude is right. Our worship is the full allegiance of our lives to the King who reigns over all. To know that Christ is King is one thing; to live in light of His kingship is another.

God’s Oath Secures Your Assurance

Hebrews 7 doesn’t just show us a King, it shows us a Priest. And the heart of this priesthood is anchored in God’s oath. Psalm 110 declares, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, you are a priest forever” (Ps. 110:4). That same verse is repeated in Hebrews 7:21, and the writer makes it clear: Christ’s priesthood is not a temporary arrangement. It is forever.

Unlike the priests of Israel, who inherited their office by family descent and whose service ended in death, Jesus’ priesthood is established by “the power of an indestructible life” (Heb. 7:16). His appointment rests not on human authority but on God’s unchangeable promise.

That means your access to God does not depend on your performance. It does not hang on whether you had a good week or a bad week. It is not fragile or temporary. It is guaranteed by God’s own oath, sealed in Christ’s indestructible life.

If salvation was not something you could earn by your own works, then it is not something you can lose by your own weakness. Your assurance rests on the unchanging character of God and the unbreakable priesthood of Christ. That is a foundation worth standing on.

His Priesthood Secures Your Access

Finally, Hebrews 7 reminds us that Jesus’ priesthood is not distant or detached. He is not only the perfect and eternal High Priest. He is the Priest who knows your weakness.

There is no suffering He has not endured. There is no temptation He has not experienced. There is no humiliation beneath Him. There is no abandonment that He does not understand. He is not unable to sympathize with our weakness, because He has been tempted in every way and has endured every form of suffering.

That means when you feel like no one else gets it, Christ does. When you feel crushed by temptation, Christ has walked that road. When you feel abandoned or humiliated, Christ has entered into that place. He stands not only as Priest, but as your substitute.

And because of this, He is the guarantor that your story will not end in hopelessness or separation from God. His priesthood secures your access to the throne of grace. The curtain has been torn. The way is open.

Living in Light of These Realities

So what does it mean for us? Hebrews 7 calls us not only to know these truths, but to live in light of them.

• If His throne demands your worship, then worship Him not only with songs, but with your whole life in allegiance and obedience.

• If God’s oath secures your assurance, then stop resting your confidence in yourself. Rest in the promise that cannot be broken.

• If His priesthood secures your access, then draw near. Pray boldly. Live closely with Him, knowing He intercedes for you even now.

To know these things intellectually is one thing. To live in light of them is another. Hebrews 7 is an invitation: worship the King, rest in His promise, and walk in the assurance of His priesthood.