Hebrews 7:11-22

INTRO

In premarital counseling it is important for the newly weds to understand the new relationship they have as a family. For them to continue living as autonomous members of their individual families would damaging, so it is important for them to see their biological family and their new marriage in a proper relationship.

To slip back into your old allegiance to your family may feel right at times, but would be damaging to your relationship with your spouse.

Likewise, for the New Covenant Christian to fall back into Old Covenant living would be damaging too, even as they try to escape persecution or because of lack of knowledge.

1. Because Jesus is the eternal priest-king PERFECTION IS POSSIBLE (vv.11-14)

v.11—“Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law)...

What does perfection mean?

Perfection in the eyes of God is holiness, pure, sinless.

The author of Hebrews uses this word here to show the difference between Jesus and the Levitical priests.

One was perfect and the other was not.

One left the people guilty, and the other left them innocent.

He makes the argument “what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek” if perfection was possible through the Levitical priesthood, the line of Aaron?

v.12— In verse 12 the word “change” is used twice. First in relation to the priesthood and then to the law.

This would have been life changing and culture shattering.

The writer shows that the coming of Jesus brought an end to the Levitical priesthood which was a major part of God’s covenant with Israel.

And the priest were central to Israel’s relationship to God.

The male heirs of the tribe of Levi carried out the important task of being the middle men between God and Israel.

They were central and essential to ancient Israel, but they were imperfect “mortal men (7:8).”

Now, This doesn’t mean that the OT Law didn’t have an important purpose. Oh, it did!

Rick Phillips, “The priesthood, with its sacrifices was the means under the old covenant by which sinful people were reconciled to God; the law served as an agent of their priestly ministry.”

Gal 3:23-24 “Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”

The law at it’s core was a tutor to lead Israel to Christ who was represented in the OT by the priesthood and tabernacle.

The function of the priest, the purpose of the bloodshed through the sacrificial system, was always pointing to Christ’s death on the cross, but it wasn’t him.

Heb. 8:6-7 “Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.”

v.11—To further demonstrate practically, the writer states that Jesus is not of the order of Aaron.

One’s tribal lineage was very important, and (v.14)Jesus was not of the tribe of priest, but of the kingly tribe of Judah, where David came from.

Kings didn’t serve as priests, and priests didn’t serve as king. Each tribe did what they were assigned to do, and this was protected from generation to generation.

But, Jesus was unique, so unique that the writer of Hebrews says (v.14) “Moses didn’t even say anything about a king from the line of Judah serving at the altar of God.”

So, due to the imperfection of the Mosaic Law and the perfection of Jesus, (v.12) a change had occured.

And, because of Jesus perfect work, perfection is possible for God’s people.

Not situationally we still sin, but positionally we have been made perfect through Jesus.

Heb. 10:1 “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.”

God has allowed his people even now to draw near to him, and rest in Christ’s eternal perfections.

2. Because Jesus is the eternal priest-king ETERNITY IS ENSURED (vv. 15-17)

The point the writer of Hebrews is making with his comparison of Jesus to the priesthood of Melchizedek is meant to show the eternality of Jesus’ work.

He does this clearly in v.16 by restating that Jesus was not of the mortal, changing, earthly line resulting from bodily descent, “but by the power of an indestructible life.”

The OT law dealt specifically with the earthly people of Israel in a temporary way.

It was kind of like paying your taxes. Once you submit and pay this years taxes you are clear and free until next year, but if you fail to pay your taxes next year you are no longer innocent.

Similarly, even with the day of Atonement, the sacrifices had to be made year after year. This shows that the forgiveness obtained on that wonderful day was temporal.

The temporal ministry of the earthly priest meant that blood was continually being shed. We take for granted the cleanliness and comfort of our church, but that would not have been the case under the OT priestly system. . !

Thankfully we no longer have to bring a personal sacrifice to a priest, but our eternal hope is ensured by the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus.

1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,”

Rom 6:10-11 “For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

This is what David was declaring in the Psalm 110:4 (v.21)“The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.””

DO you understand your eternal position before God in Christ?

Do you struggle with insecurity? I think many Christians do, and this leaves us crippled in our ability to care for and minister to one another.

The perfection of the eternal priesthood of Jesus is meant to provide security. “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind” Jesus is the great high priest, he is the perfect Savior, the final sacrifice and if you have trusted in him you can rest eternally secure in the love of God.

From this position, you are prepared to love others, encourage others, sacrifice for others, restore others.

Col 3:12-13 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another ”

Col 3:15-17 “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Does this seem impossible?

It’s not! This is truly possible when you know that your eternity is secure in Jesus Christ!

Through Jesus’ priestly ministry perfection is possible, and eternity is ensured.

3. Because Jesus is the eternal priest-king A BETTER HOPE IS HERE (vv.18-22)

You might be tempted to think “what was the point of the OT Law”, but don’t forget that Jesus didn’t abandon the law when he came. In fact, in the sermon on the mount Jesus said, (Matt 5:17 ““Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

However, the writer of Hebrews has a particular view of the law in mind, particularly as a system of salvation.

Rick Phillips points out that is why he says in (Heb. 7:12 )“For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.”

A new order of priesthood inaugurated a new law—salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not works!

The writer of Hebrews says Heb 7:18 “For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness”

These are strong words, “weak and useless,” but the OT law is weak and useless in regard to the change mentioned in v.12, as a mode of salvation.

This is true today! There is no hope in a system of religious rules, a moral code that may,of course, give us guidance, but cannot save us.

You can be the best person morally, but have no hope eternally.

Jesus came to give us a “better hope.”

(v.19 )This better hope in the perfection and eternality of Jesus’ ministry gives us boldness to draw near to God (v.19).

This is what the Christian life is all about—drawing near to God.

2 Cor 4:16 “So do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”

The Hebrew writer knew that his audience was tempted to lose heart, become spiritually lazy, and ultimately fall away from God.

But, the better hope, the better law, the better priest encourages them to come boldly to God.

Heb 4:16 “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

When we are confident in the perfection of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection you can be confident that even in your imperfections God declares you perfect.

When we are confident in the eternal hope secured in Christ’s resurrection you can display the hope you have in him more regularly than doubt, despair, and disagreement?

Church, you can’t do this yourself, that’s the old way. But, through Jesus you can have an internal change brought by God leading to life!

Donald Barnhouse, “Take the eleventh chapter of Isaiah which says the lion will lie down with the lamb, and read it to the lions at the zoo. Tell the lion that God’s Word says that he is to lie down with the lamb. The lion will roar and say that he is tired of his regular diet and would like to devour some lamb. In order to turn the lion from his natural appetite for flesh, it will be necessary to change his nature. Only then will the eleventh chapter of Isaiah come into it’s fulfillment. Likewise, to make mankind live up to the requirements of the law, the miracle of an internal change is necessary. A new nature, the life of Christ is required.”

Heb. 7:22 “This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.”

Understanding the new relationship within a married family is important, but understanding the relationship of the OT law and the NT promise of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, is eternally important.