OUR HIGH PRIEST

Hebrews 7 (KJV)

1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

How can a man approach God?

Why is this the great question of the ages?

Its because man is sinful and imperfect and God is perfect. Sin and imperfection do not honor God; they dishonor Him.

There was only one way: Someone has to stand before God for man. Man needed to have some person who was perfect and acceptable to God and who would represent man before God. Is there such a person- such a perfect mediator and priest?

This is the purpose of the present passage: to show the inadequacy of earthly priests and superiority of the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

The priesthood of Jesus Christ is superior to the Levitical or Jewish priesthood. A story is taken from the Old Testament to illustrate this fact.

It is a story involving Abraham and a king and priest named Melchisedec. (Gen.14:14-21 )

Abraham’s enemies had attacked Abraham and his people, and Abraham had fought and won the victory.

Then seemingly out of nowhere Melchisedec, the priest of God, appeared and refreshed Abraham, giving him bread and wine. In appreciation and thankfulness to God for the victory and for sending the priest to him, Abraham gave Melchisedec ten percent of all the spoils.

1. The change of our approach to God is illustrated: in the historical event of Melchisedec (v. 1–3).

1. Melchisedec was the king of Salem which was probably Jerusalem.

Psalm 76:2 “ In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.”

⇒ His name Melchisedec means king of righteousness.

⇒ His realm of rule, Salem or Jerusalem, means king of peace.

⇒ Remember: earthly Jerusalem is a type of the heavenly Jerusalem, that is, of heaven itself.

Hebrews 11:10 “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

Revelation 21:1–2 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”

2. Melchisedec was a priest of the most high God, of the living and true God.

3. Melchisedec was paid tithes by Abraham himself, the very first man to whom God gave His great promise. It happened when Abraham was returning from battle. Almost out of nowhere Melchisedec appeared and refreshed and blessed Abraham by giving him bread and wine and pronouncing a blessing upon him.

As a result Abraham gave a tenth of his spoils to the priest in appreciation to God The significance is this: Abraham, who was to give birth to the priesthood of God’s people, paid tithes to a much greater priest, Melchisedec. Remember: Abraham was the father of Levi, the Levi who was to be the first High Priest of Israel and who was to give his name “Levi” to the Levitical priest.

4. Melchisedec was an eternal priest just like the Son of God. How can it be said that he was eternal? Because so far as men know, he had no genealogy. There was no record of his roots whatsoever, and this was most unusual.

In that day and time it was important for a priest to have a record of his genealogy. If he had no record of a priestly genealogy, he could not serve as a priest. The point is this: there is no record in Scripture of Melchizedek's roots; therefore, he stands as a type of the eternal priest who was to be sent into the world by God, even the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. The change of our approach to God is seen in the superiority of Melchizedek's priesthood.

1. First, why is Melchisedec a greater priest than other earthly priests (the Levitical priests)? Because Abraham paid tithes to him (v. 4). Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils he had taken in battle.

Therefore, Melchisedec is greater than Abraham, which means he must be greater than the priests of Israel, for they trace their roots from Abraham.

2. Second, why is Melchisedec a greater priest than other earthly priests (the Levitical priests)? Because he had a special right to the priesthood (vs. 5–6a).

⇒ His priesthood was not based upon the legal priesthood of the Levites who received tithes according to the law. He was paid tithes because of his greatness, out of Abraham’s heart of appreciation and thankfulness to God.

⇒ His priesthood was not based upon human roots and genealogy. So far as is known from Scripture, he did not come from an organized priesthood. He did not descend from earthly priests.

3. Third, why is Melchisedec a greater priest than other earthly priests (the Levitical priests)? Because he blessed Abraham. As great as Abraham was, he recognized the superiority of Melchisedec and gladly received his blessing. And without dispute, the less is blessed by the greater. Remember: the legal priesthood (the Levitical priests) was in the bosom of Abraham.

4. Fourth, why is Melchisedec a greater priest than other earthly priests (the Levitical priests)? Because as far as the record of Scripture is concerned, he was not mortal but eternal.

Here on earth men who receive tithes die, but Melchisedec received tithes and it is never witnessed or recorded that he died. Therefore, he is the picture of an eternal priest, a far greater priest than any earthly priest.

5. Fifth, why is Melchisedec a greater priest than other earthly priests (the Levitical priesthood)? Because all priests also tithed to him. How could priests who were not yet born be said to have paid tithes to Melchisedec?

In Biblical times a man’s descendants were considered to be in his bosom. Therefore when Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec, his great grandson Levi and all his priestly descendants were represented in Abraham. They, too, paid tithes to Melchisedec. Therefore, Melchisedec was a greater priest than the earthly priests of Levi.

Why all this is being written:

⇒ to show that men are no longer to approach God through an earthly priesthood and priest.

⇒ to show that there is a greater priesthood than that of earthly priests.

⇒ to show that earthly religion and earthly priests are inadequate in representing man before God.

⇒ to show that God has provided a perfect and eternal Priest to represent man before Him.

⇒ to show that the imperfect priesthood of man has been changed; there is now a perfect and an eternal priesthood.

Remember also the points of the illustration of Melchisedec and Abraham. Abraham represented the earthly or Levitical priesthood of the most religious people who ever lived, the Jews. Melchisedec represented the perfect and eternal priesthood, and in representing the eternal priesthood, he pointed toward the priesthood of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. With these basic facts in mind, we are now ready to look at how Jesus Christ has changed our approach to God—at how Jesus Christ is the perfect and eternal Priest who represents man before God.

3. The change of our approach to God is seen in Jesus Christ.

1. Man has always sought God through religion. Man has used religion to become good enough and perfect enough for God to accept him. And within religion three things have been developed to help man in his search for fellowship with God.

⇒ First, there is the law. So long as a person keeps the law, he is thought to be acceptable to God. But if he breaks the law, he is unacceptable to God. (Gal 3:24-25)

And it is this that is the problem, for the thinking and honest man knows that no person can perfectly keep the law. Therefore no person can ever be acceptable to God—not perfectly, not permanently, not forever.

⇒ Second, there is the sacrifice for sins. When a person sins, he is guilty; therefore, some sacrifice has to be made for his sins. There has to be a substitute who will bear the person’s sins and the guilt for them. There has to be a substitute who will pay the penalty for the person’s sins.

⇒ Third, there is the priesthood. There has to be some person who will teach the law and demand obedience to it, and then when man fails, who will offer sacrifice to God for man. There has to be a priest who is acceptable to God and who can stand as a Mediator between God and man. There has to be a priest who can make God accept sinful man.

Now, note verse 11. It says clearly that the earthly or Levitical priesthood could not bring perfection to man. The earthly priests who arose from Aaron just could not make man perfect. If they could have, then there would not have been the need for a priest who was perfect and eternal to arise from the priesthood of Melchisedec. Remember: Melchisedec is a priest of the perfect and eternal priesthood, and God promised to send a priest after the order of Melchisedec—a perfect and eternal priest (He. 6:20). If an earthly priest could make man perfect before God, there would never have been a need for God to make that promise. But there is a need; no matter how often we seek God through earthly priests and ministers, they do not make us perfect. Man desperately needs a perfect and eternal priest. This is the reason God promised the perfect and eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ.

2. There has to be change in the law and legal system of the priesthood. Again, this is the reason God promised a priest forever in the Lord Jesus Christ, a priesthood after the order of the perfect and eternal priesthood of Melchisedec.

3. There has been a change in the origin of the priesthood (v. 13–14). By law the earthly priests had to come from the tribe and roots of Levi. But Jesus Christ, the Person of whom these things are being said, did not come from Levi. He came from the tribe of Juda, and no priest ever came from Juda. Therefore, the priesthood of Jesus Christ belongs to a different order entirely. It does not belong to a human or earthly origin. Jesus Christ is a perfect and eternal priest after the order of Melchisedec.

4. There has been a change in the very qualifications of the priesthood (v. 15–17). Men became priests because they met the qualifications of carnal or earthly laws and rules. They were appointed because they met the legal requirements of the law. But not Christ. He was appointed to be the great High Priest because of His endless life. His “life and immortality which He had in himself were his right and title to the priesthood” (Matthew Henry. Matthew Henry’s Commentary, Vol.6, p. 919).

The law knew that men were frail and weak, corruptible and dying; hence, even the priests chosen to represent men before God were frail, weak, corruptible, and dying. Therefore, the law laid it down that the priesthood should pass on to the oldest sons. But note: not a single priest—not even all the priests of every generation combined—could give life to a single person. But this is not true with the Lord Jesus Christ. He is a High Priest because of His endless life. He is perfect and eternal; He has an endless life—the very perfection for which men seek. Therefore, He is qualified to be the Supreme High Priest for man.

5. There has been a change in the way man draws near to God (v. 18–19). Note that the law has been disannulled and cancelled. Why? As shown above in point one, man has always sought to draw near God by law, that is, by being as good as he could and by keeping enough laws to become acceptable to God.

But the law is weak and unprofitable because man is weak and sinful. He does not and cannot keep the law; therefore, the law cannot make him perfect and acceptable to God. In fact all the law can do is show man that he is sinful. Every time man looks at the law and is honest, all he sees is that he comes short and is sinful. Therefore, men cannot approach and become acceptable to God by law. If man is to ever become acceptable to God, it has to be by some way other than law. This is the reason the law has been disannulled and cancelled.

But note: If we cannot become acceptable to God by keeping the law and by being as good as we can, how then can we be saved? Is there any way to become acceptable to God? YES—a thousand times YES!

God has brought a better hope for man, and it is by this hope that we draw near God. What is that hope? It is the hope for the perfect and eternal High Priest …

• for the High Priest who can offer the perfect and eternal sacrifice for our sins.

• for the High Priest who can present us to God and cause God to accept us.

That High Priest, of course, is Jesus Christ. He is the perfect and eternal priest who is after the order of Melchisedec.

6. There has been a change in the guarantee and covenant of the priesthood. God’s Word is enough. If God had just spoken the Word of promise—if He had just promised to send the perfect and eternal High Priest to men—that would have been enough. But God did more. He swore that He would fulfill His promise. This is very significant. It means that the priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ shall be exactly as God said it would be. The priesthood of Jesus Christ is doubly sure, for God both promised the perfect and eternal priest and then swore that he would send Him into the world. Note the word repent or change. God will never change His mind: Jesus Christ shall remain High Priest forever (see Ps. 110:4; Heb. 3:1). God has sworn that He will be a priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Note one other fact: this means that Jesus Christ is the surety of a better testament or covenant. The old covenant was the law, and as has been seen above, the law never could make man perfect. But now God has given a better covenant to man, the new covenant that is based upon the love and sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. Under the old covenant, men did all they could to approach God by law, being as good as they could. But now, under the new covenant, men approach God through the love and the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ for them. When a person accepts the death of Jesus Christ as the sacrifice for his sins, God accepts the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the man’s sin. God takes the person’s acceptance of Christ—the person’s faith in the sacrifice of Christ—and counts him as having already died in Christ. God counts the man as being free of sin. This is the love of God, the love of the new covenant.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Ro. 5:8).

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Pe. 2:24).