Jesus is > OT Priesthood

Introduction

Recap of where we have been. . .

What was the role of a High Priest?

The high priest was a person that was appointed by God to serve as a representative to God on behalf of the people of Israel.

The High Priest came from the line of Levi (one of Jacob’s twelve sons).

The High Priest was the one who prayed for the people. . . interceding to the Lord on their behalf.

The High Priest was the person who also made sacrifices for the people so that they could be forgiven of their sins.

Only the High Priest could enter the holy of holies to offer a lamb to atone for Israel’s sin on the day of atonement each year.

Explain why the High Priest would have been so important to Jewish Christians.

In these chapters, the author is showing the futility to the Hebrews of going back to the Levitical priesthood for their salvation. . . because Jesus has surpassed it. . . it cannot save them. . . and has become obsolete.

Key Point: Because Jesus is our sinless savior, superior High Priest, and provider of eternal salvation, we must draw near to him by faith.

There are three reasons why Jesus is greater than the OT Priesthood:

He is sinless and provides eternal salvation (5:1-10).

He comes from the priesthood of Melchizedek, which is greater than the Levitical priesthood (7:1-28).

He is the mediator of a superior covenant (8:1-13).

Since each of these reasons is reiterated in chapter 7, we will spend the remainder of our time walking that chapter and focusing on that second point. . . that Jesus comes from the priesthood of Melchizedek.

He Comes From the Priesthood of Melchizedek (7:1-28)

The Priesthood of Melchizedek is > the priesthood of Levi (v. 1-10)

The story of Melchizedek comes from Genesis 14:17-20 and the author highlights how Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of all his portions.

Melchizedek was a King-Priest who’s name means “King of righteousness.”

Being King of Salem. . . he is also a “King of Peace.”

Melchizedek’s priesthood was greater than the Levitical priesthood because. . .

Melchizedek has no genealogy.

Hebrews 7:3 ESV

He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

Melchizedek intervened between God and Abraham and being the superior, blessed Abraham, who was inferior.

Melchizedek’s priesthood “lives forever” but Levi’s priesthood is only carried out by mortal men.

Hebrews 7:7–8 ESV

It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives.

Abraham and Levi both paid tithes to Melchizedek, showing that Melchizedek was their priest and held the greater priesthood (v. 9-10).

Jesus is > the OT Priesthood Because He Comes From Priesthood of Melchizedek (7:11-28)

Hebrews 7:13–14 ESV

For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

In these verses. . . the author connects Jesus to Melchizedek because like Melchizedek, Jesus did not come from the tribe of the priests of Levi, but rather from the tribe of Judah. . . which was not the priestly line but the kingship line.

Not only is Jesus greater because he comes from the priesthood of Melchizedek but also because he was appointed a priest based on his indestructible life. . .

Hebrews 7:15–17 ESV

This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

The author quotes Psalm 110:4 in verse 17 to prove that Jesus’ priesthood is eternal and he is after the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus did not become a priest from “bodily descent” being a son of Levi, but became a priest because of his immortality.

In verses 18-28. . . the author rattles off five more reasons why Jesus, being from the order of Melchizedek, is greater than the Levitical Priesthood. . .

Jesus enacts a better commandment with a better hope that allows us to draw near to God.

Hebrews 7:18–19 ESV

For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

Jesus was declared a priest by God with an oath. . . whereas the Levitical priests did not receive this oath when they were made priests.

Hebrews 7:20–21 ESV

And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’ ”

Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant.

Hebrews 7:22 ESV

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

Chapter 8 highlights that Jesus has instituted a better covenant and has made the Old Covenant obsolete.

The people could not obey the Old Covenant so God, in the New Covenant wrote the his law on their hearts by his Spirit.

In the New Covenant, through the blood that was shed by Christ on the cross, God can be merciful towards our iniquities and remember our sins no more.

Jesus lives forever (never dies), therefore his priesthood remains forever and he daily intercedes for us.

Hebrews 7:23–25 ESV

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Since Jesus keeps his priesthood permanently, he is able to save to the uttermost (i.e. completely) those who trust in him.

This is the same argument the author makes in chapter 5. . . that Jesus is greater than the OT priesthood because he can provide eternal salvation.

He can save us completely because he will never stop interceding for us to the Father. . . he will continually plead his finished work to the Father and be our advocate forever!

“The duties of Christians go up many times as pillars or clouds of smoke from them, more smoke than fire, prayers smoked and sullied with their offensive corruptions, but remember, Christ perfumes them with myrrh. He by his intercession gives them a sweet perfume.” -John Flavel

Jesus needs no sacrifice for sins because he is perfect. . . he only has to offer one sacrifice, in himself (not many), to cleanse us completely of our sin.

Hebrews 7:26–27 ESV

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

In chapter 5, the author talks about how Jesus’ prayers were heard because of his perfect obedience and he was qualified to be our high priest through his obedience to the point of death. . . even death on the cross.

Verse 28 gives then the summation for the reasons why Jesus is superior than the OT priests because he comes from the order of Melchizedek. . .

Hebrews 7:28 (ESV)

For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Application

We must draw near to Christ because. . .

He is our sinless savior who alone can atone for our sin.

He lived a perfect life in our place.

He can sympathize with our weakness

He lifted up tears and loud cries. . . he suffered in his humanity and knows what we feel when we suffer.

We must follow Jesus’ example in prayer when he offered up tears and loud cries in the garden of Gethsemane. . . just as he relinquished his will to the Father, we must relinquish ours.

If we want to be blessed by God in the garden of Eden, we must surrender our will to his in the garden of Gethsemane.

He died for our sins on the cross. . . so that God can be merciful towards our iniquities and remember our sins no more (Heb. 8:12).

He rose victorious from the grave (indestructible life).

He is our eternal high priest who can save us to the uttermost.

His priesthood remains forever.

He daily lives to make intercession for us.

He is the one who can bring us near to God.

Because of this. . . our salvation is secure.

So because of these reasons, we would be foolish to not draw near to Christ but the question now remains. . . how can we draw near to Christ. . . and that is a question that you will take up in your LifeGroup discussions in more detail. . .

But, suffice to say, the first way you must draw near to God is through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. . . you must first come to him as your great high priest and trust him for the salvation from your sin.