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Remember what he said, Hebrews 5 “About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers…

What is a teacher supposed do?

They not only tell you what you need to know right this moment, but they also tell you how to get to it.

You learn what came before so you can build on it.

When Luke was in the 9th grade, he was given some math homework that none of us could do.

So, Renee’ went to the teacher and asked her to do it.

The teacher took her calculator and punched in the equation and out popped the answer.

When she was pressed on “how do you do it,” the teacher conceded

She didn’t know and didn’t need to know.

“We have calculators.”

Sounds reasonable

We can solve this problem

But, what does it mean?

How does it fit?

It had no context.

And see, that’s the problem the Hebrews were having.

They knew the rules they had followed as Jews.

The temple, the sacrifices, all of the things they were supposed to do on a day by day basis to be God’s people.

And then they heard about Jesus - and the Way He taught sounded so much better.

But when things got hard, they wanted to go back to something easier.

But they didn’t know what was behind all of that.

They couldn’t make a good decision because they really didn’t know how things fit together.

We’re going to be in three places in the Bible today.

We’ll start at Hebrews 7, then go to Genesis 14, then Psalm 110 and finally back to Hebrews 7.

While you look those up, let me remind the children that their worship guide has three words each week for them to listen for.

The purpose is to help you pay attention to what I’m saying because the Holy Spirit will speak to you so you can understand

Just like He speaks to your parents and grandparent so they can understand.

Your three words today are Jesus, King and Priest.

Our primary text is Hebrews 7:1-10. Hear now the Word of the Lord. Hebrews 7:1-10

Hebrews 7:1–10 ESV

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 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. See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 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. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Let us pray,

Dear Father, help us to see Jesus in everything we read and hear today.

We believe you reward those who seek you so today Father, please be our reward.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

For this Melchizedek

So out of curiosity, I asked “The Google,” “who are some famous people who were named Melchizedek?”

And strangely, Google only pointed to the Bible.

I even clicked on images expecting to see some dudes smiling with the name “Melchizedek Smith” or something like that.

And nothing. Nada. Nary a one.

Granted, I didn’t spend a lot of time the search

But surely, somebody’s mama would have thought Melchizedek was a really cool Bible name.

Melchizedek is mentioned in only three places in the Bible.

Here in Hebrews, in Psalm 110:4 and in Genesis 14.

And even then, he’s barely mentioned - but that’s part of the Pastor’s argument.

Let’s start with Genesis 14:17-20

Now, here’s the story.

You probably remember the story of God speaking to Abraham and telling him to go to a land I show you.

So Abraham packed up, took his wife and other folks, including his nephew Lot.

When they got to where they were going, their flocks grew so large that Lot and Abram, as Abraham was called then, had to part ways a little bit.

Abram gave Lot the choice and, of course Lot choice the prettiest pasture land that also contained the big cities.

You might have heard of them - Sodom and Gomorrah.

Lot is a picture of American Christianity.

We want to flirt with the world enough to have a blast

But not so much that we lose our way.

But you know, there is a reason our parents told us not to run with scissors or don’t play with fire

Because Mom and Dad knew, sooner or later, if you run with scissors or you play with fire, you’re going to get hurt.

Lot played with fire in Sodom and he got burned.

A regional conflict broke out and some kings invaded Sodom and Gomorrah and won.

That was bad news for Lot - Genesis 14:11–12 “So the enemy took all the possessions of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, the son of Abram’s brother, who was dwelling in Sodom, and his possessions, and went their way.”

Abram heard about it and he didn’t like people picking on his kin.

He took 318 of his own men and took off after the main King.

He caught them.

He defeated them and chased them off.

Then he took all of their possessions and his nephew Lot and he returned home.

It’s when Abram got home that we meet Melchizedek. Genesis 14:17-20

Genesis 14:17–20 ESV

After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

And that’s all we know about him which is basically nothing.

We don’t know where he came from.

We don’t know how he got to be a king.

We don’t know how he got to be a priest.

In fact, up until this time, we really didn’t know that God dealt with anyone other than Abram.

We know nothing about this guy.

Now, when most of us read this in our daily bible reading, we blast past it like it is nothing special.

There is no reason to think Melchizedek is anything special.

I mean really, there are lots of people with strange names all through the Old Testament.

And really, he wasn’t a big deal until King David.

Quite a number of years later, King David wrote

A Psalm That Changed Everything

Turn to Psalm 110.

As we read the first 4 verses, listen and see if something doesn’t ring a bell.

Psalm 110:1–4 ESV

The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

Remember that “until I make your enemies your footstool” phrase?

Where have you heard it?

Jesus quotes it in Luke 20:43.

Peter quotes it in Acts 2:35.

You heard it in Hebrews 1:13 and you’ll hear it again in Hebrews 10:13.

Here’s the $64,000 question - who’s enemies will be who’s footstool?

Jesus right?

Psalm 110 is about Jesus.

Which is why Melchizedek becomes so important.

Listen to verse 4 again: Psalm 110:4 “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.””

So now we have a direct link from Jesus to Melchizedek.

You are a priest for how long?

Forever.

After the order of who?

Melchizedek.

All of a sudden, those three little verses in Genesis just got real important.

Melchizedek is a type for Christ.

That doesn’t mean that Melchizedek was a Christophany - and appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament

Although with the bread and wine imagery, I’d lean towards it being an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament

But King David and the Pastor in Hebrews would say he is a PICTURE of Jesus in the Old Testament.

The Pastor in Hebrews shows us that Jesus a priest like no other and a…

A King Like No Other

So now, back to Hebrews 7 - verse 1 Hebrews 7:1 “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,”

The name Melchizedek is made of two Hebrew words - Melek meaning King and tsedik meaning righteous.

So Melchizedek is the king of righteousness - the pastor says that in verse 2.

This rings a bell for some of us too - Old Testament again - Isaiah 32:1 talks of a “king will reign in righteousness”

Isaiah is talking about Jesus.

Zechariah 9:9 is the palm Sunday prophecy about Jesus entering into Jerusalem Zechariah 9:9 “Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey…”

Zechariah is talking about Jesus.

Jesus is the righteous king - He rules His people rightly - in accordance to God’s law.

Jesus in the Old Testament again.

Melchizedek is the King of Salem.

Salem means peace and geographically, Salem just happens to be the name of Jerusalem while it was still Canaanite territory

Before the Israelites entered the promised land.

And what does Isaiah 9:6 say about the Messiah?

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Jesus is a King like no other and He is…

A Priest Like No Other

Melchizedek is also a “priest of the most high God.”

He is the first priest mentioned in the Bible.

Now, you already know something about priests in the Old Testament.

All priests had to be descendants of who? Do you remember?

Levi.

They had to be Levites.

And by God’s direction, the tribe of Levi was never to own property in the promised land.

Instead, they were to be priests and keep the temple going

And the people were required to bring a tithe - 10% of all of their income and give to the priests.

That was to be their inheritance

It’s what kept them alive.

But what tribe was Melchizedek from?

Well, since Abraham had not had Isaac and Isaac had not had Jacob and Jacob had not had 12 sons yet

Well, he couldn’t be from Levi.

So who was his father?

No one knows.

Who was his mother?

No one knows.

When did he quit serving as a priest?

There is no indication he ever quit serving as a priest.

So who was Jesus’ dad?

Don’t say Joseph - he was the adoptive dad.

Who was Bio dad?

God the Father.

When did God the Father start being God?

Dumb question, right - He was and is and…

When will Jesus not be our priest who represents us before the Father?

Well, He was and is and is to come - He will forever be our priest.

Was Jesus a Levite?

No, he is the lion from the tribe of Judah.

Melchizedek was different type of priest

Jesus is different type of priest

And not just different - look at verse 7 Hebrews 7:7 “It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior.”

Melchizedek was superior to Abraham who God blessed.

Melchizedek was superior to all priests that were ever ordained because they all quit serving when they died.

But Jesus is our priest forever just like Melchizedek

Who has no beginning and has no end.

He is superior to all other priests that have ever lived.

Now, the pastor asks, why do you want to return to your old way of life having seen that your new way of life is far superior?

Friend, what is it in your life now that is so attractive that it prevents you from coming to the one who is far superior?

I know you want to be treated right.

I know you want peace in your life.

I know you want to know that you know that you know that whatever comes your way, you will overcome it.

That’s what Jesus gives

In a far more superior way than any thing.

What Is the More Superior Way of Living?

The last two verses teach us something interesting.

Hebrews 7:9–10 “One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.”

When we think of genetics, we think of all of the component parts and how everything fits together and if all goes well, another human is born.

They think in different terms.

The Israelites would look at your daddy and say to you, “Without him, you would not be.”

“Without you, your children would not be.”

Think of the ramifications of seeing things that way.

In our way of thinking, an individual stands alone.

A bio-mechanical process occurs and another individual comes to be.

In their way of thinking, our existence predates us.

We are “in” our ancestors.

And whatever our ancestors have done, with us as a part of them, we have done.

So if you go all the way back to Adam, where were we?

We were “in” Adam - a long time back for sure but if Adam had no kids, we wouldn’t be here.

So when Adam sinned and we were in Adam, we sinned too.

They became our sins - we were there - we participated if only, in our minds, on a cellular level.

It doesn’t negate the truth - we were there.

So for those who believe that Jesus is the Savior and have committed their life to following Christ

We are what?

We are - Jesus used the words - born again.

Remember what Jesus said to that guy with another strange name, Nicodemus?

“You must be born again.” John 3:7

So, now follow me here.

If you are born again, you die to your old ancestors

And you are reborn to your new ancestors.

So with that logic - it’s how they think

When Jesus was on the cross, where were you?

I was “In” Jesus.

So when He took my sins, I was there.

When Jesus died, I was in him.

And when Jesus was raised to new life

So was I.

And if you are a Christ follower, so were you.

So what does that mean?

It means if you are simply the result of a bio-mechanical process then you get what you get.

But if you are born again, as Christ lives forever, so too shall you live with him forever.

Jesus is so much more superior to anything else anything can offer us.

And you know what?

If you know, you know.

Let us pray.

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