Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!
Hebrews 7:3,4
Honor is one of those ideas and words that’s hard to pin down. Just when you think you’ve got it nailed down, it squirms away. Just when you think you understand honor, it slips away. You try to put it in an envelope, but it doesn’t seem to want to fit into one.
I was in exactly the same place for many years. I listened to people who had been desperately hurt by their parents. They deeply struggled with the idea where God says to honor their mother and father because it didn’t seem like they deserved it. So, how do we noodle this out? It turns out that there’s honor and then there’s honor.
Honor Assigned. This is the honor that God says is due to our parents. By the very fact that they were there when we began and took care of us in those very early days, means that they deserve some honor. This is the same kind of honor that officials and people in different positions should be shown. No matter your political party or views, our leaders deserve to be shown honor.In The West Wing, there was a scene that clearly shows this kind of honor. President Bartlet comes into a room and one person refuses to stand because they disagree with him and his policies. The President stares at them and says, “In this building, when the President stands, nobody sits[1].” This is honor assigned.
Honor Earned. A second kind of honor is shown to people who have done something special. Something great. Their life and accomplishments have put them into a unique category where they’ve earned additional honor. People that sacrifice themselves for the benefit and care of others. This can be something as small as a cup of cool water[2].The military does this through recognition of self-sacrifice. Abraham Lincoln called it "the last full measure of devotion" in The Gettysburg Address. If you want to see this kind of earned honor in action, visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside Washington, DC. These soldiers are honored, even though their rank was insignificant.
The writer reminds the Hebrews that Abraham showed great honor by giving Melchizedek, Mr. M., a tenth of everything he received when Lot was rescued. Mr. M. didn’t ask for it or anything for that matter. He didn’t give an invoice to Abraham that outlined all the things that God had done for him. He didn’t demand anything. Heck, he didn’t even try to guilt him into giving.
So, what did Mr. M. do to deserve all this from Abraham? What did he give to earn the tenth of all Abraham recovered? Why would Abraham give him this honor? When you look back at the historical story[3], Mr. M. didn’t do all that much. He didn’t even pray for Abraham’s protection or victory.
Mr. M. did bring out bread and wine after the battle was all over, but that wasn’t what separated him from everyone else. The most important thing he did was to pray for and bless Abraham. As the King of Salem and priest of God Most High, Mr. M. was able to speak for God and to bless Abraham.
While the idea of honor is still very much around, we don’t really think about it very much. And we show it even less. And maybe that’s the way it’s supposed to be. After all, if we honored everyone, then no one is honored. Honors are supposed to be special, given only to certain people. In recognition of certain things.
Remember that the Hebrews who were reading this letter were under great persecution. They were thinking about turning their backs on the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to going back to paying for their sins by themselves. This would be the greatest dishonor of all. They knew what the sacrifice of Jesus meant, and they were looking to ignore it.
God himself tells us that he’s lifted Jesus to the highest possible place. He’s also given Jesus the highest and greatest name. When Jesus’ name is spoken or heard, our reaction is to bow our knees in worship. Us and every other knee in all of creation. And every voice is to praise Jesus as Lord of all[4].
Now, that’s some kind of honor. As God from eternity past and our creator, he’s earned all the assigned honor possible. And through his death on the cross for all our sins, he deserves all possible earned honor.
The question for us is how are we doing with our honoring Jesus? Are we bowing down to him in worship to him or are we totally consumed with what’s happening to us? Or not happing for us? How’s our honoring him through thanksgiving going, or are we constantly complaining? Today is the day to start responding with honor for who he is and all he’s done in our lives.
Noodling Questions
How is showing honor not very modern?
Why is it hard to think about two different sources and kinds of honor?
On a scale of 1-to-10, how are you doing with both kinds of honoring Jesus?
[2] Mark 9:41
[3] Genesis 14:18-20
[4] Philippians 2:9-11
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