King of Righteousness
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Hebrews 7:1-28
Hebrews 7:1-28
Genesis 14:18-24 NIV
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “With raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshkol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”
This account takes place after Abram led the 318 men to defeat the armies of 4 kings.
Abram rescued Lot and others who were taken captive.
Abram also recovered all of the possessions stolen by the kings.
V. 18- We have a strange event.
Abram met with Melchizedek, who is called the King of Salem.
Melchizedek brings Abram bread and wine and then he blesses Abram.
The text says that Melchizedek is a priest of God Most High.
This happened about 1000 years before Moses.
God established the Levitical Priesthood at Mt. Sinai after Moses led the people out of captivity.
Melchizedek is a bit of a mystery because we do not know much about him.
He is called King of Salem.
Salem was an early term designating the region where Jerusalem eventually was built.
Salem means peace.
Melchizedek was by title, King of Peace.
It is debated wether Melchizedek was his name or if it was a title.
A translation of the word Melchizedek is also interesting.
Click
Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Hebrew (Old Testament) 4900 מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק
מַלְכִּי־צֶדֶק (mǎl·kî-·ṣě·ḏěq)
1. Two words: Melech- King
2. Sadaq- Righteous
It is speculated that Melchizedek is a theophany.
It is interesting to speculate.
There are many other instances in the first testament that could be theophany.
But we have to be careful not to take our speculations too far.
With anything, we as humans have a tendency to take things to the extreme.
We add things, to fit our interpretations into the Word.
Was Melchizedek a preincarnate Jesus, maybe?
Was he just a king who served God and was given opportunity to bless Abram?
But we do know this, and the reason God chose to place this event in His Word is because it allows us to open a discussion of truly who Jesus is.
First look at Psalms 110
Of David. A psalm. The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high.
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3. Psalm 110 addresses the Lordship of Jesus.
The enemies of God and all that is Holy are placed under the feet of Jesus our King!
The Psalm speaks of the fact that Jesus is the judge.
4. Jesus is the final authority that all the world is subject to.
The Psalm also says that Jesus is king and a priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
These positions were not supposed to be combined.
Melchizedek held both offices.
At the very least Melchizedek serves as a type and shadow of Jesus.
Melchizedek serves as a type and shadow of Jesus.
Jesus is both our King, who possesses authority over all heaven and earth.
David wrote in the Psalm about the authority of jesus as King over heaven and earth.
But Jesus is also our great High priest.
He is the One and the only One who can make atonement for our sins.
He is the only Redeemer.
Jesus is the only hope we have to enter into the promises of God’s eternal Kingdom.
It is only Jesus.
David wrote this Psalm through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to point to Jesus.
Turn to the book of Hebrews.
We are going to move through a few chapters and verses in the book of Hebrews.
I want to bring out the fullness of what was happening in the book of Genesis when Melchizedek blessed Abram.
Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
The writer is giving a definition to the role of High Priest.
The high priest served as one who made temporary atonement for the sins of the people.
He did it through offering sacrifices to God that served as a temporary covering of sin.
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5. The sacrificial system was meant to point to the finality of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross.
This is not a temporal but an eternal sacrifice.
Not only did the high priest need to offer sacrifices on behalf of the people, he need to make atonement for his own sin.
The High Priest was not sinless.
This is the greatest distinction between someone who was called to serve as high priest and the supremacy of Jesus.
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6. Jesus is without sin. This is why His sacrifice is eternal, unblemished and perfect.
In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand.
Quoting from Psalm 110.
The writer is reiterating the perpetual priesthood and authority of Jesus.
He is a priest forever.
In the order of Melchizedek, meaning that Jesus serves as both High Priest and Eternal King.
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7. Jesus has the authority to remove the penalty of sin and death.
He also has the authority to rule in command of all Creation as its King.
Jesus learned obedience through the things that He suffered.
He was obedient to the will of God.
Jesus was obedient to the penalty of the Cross.
This suffering was made perfect through His willingness to die for those He loved.
Then after He rose form the grave, He became the source of Salvation for those who call upon His name.
The Lamb of God made perfect due to His willingness to be obedient to His purpose.
This is why Jesus is called a King and Priest forever,
He wields eternal authority to rule and reign.
He also possesses the authority to deliver us from slavery unto eternal life.
Turn to Hebrews 7
Hebrews 7
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
The writer provides the definition for the name Melchizedek.
V3 is a bit strange.
Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
Two explanations.
One- Melchizedek’s lineage was not recorded.
Two- Alluding to the speculation that Melchizedek is a preincarnate Jesus.
One thing is for certain-
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8. Jesus is our High Priest forever.
The example of Melchizedek was given to point to Jesus.
Hebrews 7:4-10
Talking about how Abram paid a tenth of the plunder to Melchizedek.
This event took place around 1000 years before the establishment of the Levitical priesthood.
The writer is simply suggesting that Abram recognized the superiority of Melchizedek.
Read Quote- From Chosen People Ministries
Since a major theme of Hebrews is the superiority of Jesus, we see here in chapter 7 the superiority of His priesthood, by showing the superiority of Melchizedek over Aaron. The supremacy of Melchizedek is seen in the fact that Abraham gave him tithes. Abraham acknowledged the authority of Melchizedek and his priesthood. Additionally, Melchizedek blessed Abraham, and the writer of Hebrews tells us, “the lesser is blessed by the greater.” In giving Melchizedek tithes and in receiving his blessing, Abraham asserts the greatness of this king-priest, who is indeed a type of Christ.
(Source listed at Bottom)
Look at Verse 11
If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?
The Levitical priesthood, the animal sacrifices for sin could not bring about permanent forgiveness of sin.
This system could not bring about perfection.
This system was meant to point to a greater Priest and King.
This is why a greater priest needed to come.
One in the order of Melchizedek, serving as both priest and king.
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9. Jesus makes perpetual atonement for sin through His perfect sacrifice.
V12-17
For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
Jesus became our High Priest.
He ushered in the law of grace.
It is through Him and only through Him that we can find peace with God.
The law, the sacrificial system, points to the necessity of a Savior.
The law shows us just how inadequate we are.
How unable we are to save ourselves.
The unbelievable amount of sacrifices offered, could not and will not ver be enough to cover our sinfulness.
Take a step to the side, just for a moment.
All religions, apart from Christianity require adherents to work toward a goal.
Jesus came to save us.
All other religions will declare that we must climb the mountain to find salvation.
It is only the Christian faith who has a Savior that came down the mountain to rescue us.
The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
Former regulations, referring to the sacrificial system, was weak because it was not able to save perpetually.
This system was meant to point to the perpetual sacrifice.
V20-22 speak about an oath that the priests would take when they entered into Temple service.
This is actually referring back to Ezra.
The reason God placed these verses in our Bible is to point to the frailty of the words of men.
Jesus says the words of men are like sand.
In these verses God declares that His promise of Salvation is not based on the words of men.
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10. The promises of Jesus are based on His unchanging, enduring and eternal truth.
So therefore we can have confidence in What God speaks over us.
Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
The Levitical Priests were just humans.
They suffered death.
Jesus rules and reigns forever.
He is our permanent High Priest.
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11. Because Jesus is our eternal Priest, He is able to save completely.
V25.
Jesus is able to save completely.
He is able to save completely because He is Holy, blameless, pure and set apart form sin.
He is exalted in the heavens.
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12. We can have confidence in His salvation.
We can have confidence in the words HE speaks over us.
We do not have to fear failing to the point of separation because when we call upon our Savior for help, He will always and forever Redeem.
Jesus offered Himself as perpetual sacrifice once for all.
He is the appointed Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of those who trust in Him.
He is all of these things not through the empty promises of fallen humanity, but by the very Word of the Almighty.
Benediction: Psalm 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
“The Significance of Melchizedek” Chosen People Ministries. https://www.chosenpeople.com/the-significance-of-melchizedek/?utm_source=google_ads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=search_ads&gclid=Cj0KCQjwuaiXBhCCARIsAKZLt3mFZf_pzyiVi8DwZ267ZgHy-UPlBtZaxDmohl5R_T5SsgvGXxr7HxkaAobtEALw_wcB