Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

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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

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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.

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.

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

The writer provides the definition for the name Melchizedek.

V3 is a bit strange.

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.