And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
Read Chapter 7
John Chrysostom
AD 407
Hebrews 7:8 And here men that die receive tithes: but there he of whom it is testified that he lives. But lest we should say, Tell us, why are you going so far back? He says, Hebrews 7:9 And as I may so say (and he did well in softening it) Levi also who receives tithes payed tithes in Abraham. How? Hebrews 7:10 For he was yet in his loins when Melchisedec met him, i.e. Levi was in him, although he was not yet born. And he said not the Levites but Levi.
Have you seen the superiority? Have you seen how great is the interval between Abraham and Melchisedec, who bears the type of our High Priest? And he shows that the superiority had been caused by authority, not necessity. For the one paid the tithe, which indicates the priest: the other gave the blessing, which indicates the superior. This superiority passes on also to the descendants.
In a marvelous and triumphant way he cast out the Jewish [system]. On this account he said, You have become dull, Hebrews 5:12, because he wished t...
And after that he did not simply pass on, but added, and blessed him that had the promises. Inasmuch as throughout, this was regarded with reverence, he shows that [Melchisedec] was to be reverenced more than Abraham, from the common judgment of all men. Hebrews 7:7 And without all contradiction, he says, the less is blessed of the better, i.e. in the opinion of all men it is the inferior that is blessed by the superior. So then the type of Christ is superior even to him that had the promises.
