Meeting Kings

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 103

Psalm 103 ESV

Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Scripture Memorization: Genesis 50:19-20

Genesis 50:19–20 “But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

New Testament Reading: Hebrews 4:14-5:6

Hebrews 4:14–5:6 ESV

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 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. For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

Sermon:

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Speaker 1

00:01

Well once again, and as always, good morning church. I was certainly glad when they said to me let us go and worship in the house of the Lord. Well, this morning, we are continuing through the Book of Genesis. We have made it to the end of chapter 14. In what is?

00:23

A highly puzzling. In many ways. Extraordinarily important. In many ways. Fun for me, and hopefully for you in other other ways passage. This morning. We will be introduced to. One of the most enigmatic, but also important characters. In the Old Testament. In the Book of Genesis is largely about Abram and his family, and we had the pre-history in chapters one through 12.

01:02

But the next characters, the main characters Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and then the longest, actually continual section is Jacob's son, Joseph. But yet, none of them are the most important character. In some sense, God is, that's the theme. The title of our series in the beginning, God Genesis is a book teaching us that God is the one moving.

01:24

God is the one working. But theologically speaking, we are introduced in Genesis 14 to a character with. A funny name. But a very important. Job, and so this morning we will be reading about Abraham and his interaction with the priest king of Salem, a man by the name of Melchizedek.

01:50

Let's start this morning by reading God's word Genesis chapter 14, starting in verse 17. This is page 12 in your Pew Bible. You'll be using those this morning Genesis chapter 14, starting in verse 17.

02:10

After his return from the defeat of catalaire Murr and the kings who were with him? The King of Sodom went out to meet him in the valley of Chavez, that is, the Kings Valley. And Melchizedek, the King of Salem, brought out Bread and Wine. He was a priest of God, most high.

02:29

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 the King of Sodom said to Abram. Give me the persons, but you take the goods for yourself.

02:54

But Abram said to the king of Sodom. I have lifted my hand to the Lord God most high possessor of Heaven and Earth that I would not take a thread or a strap of sandal or anything that is yours, lest you should say I have made Abram Rich. I will take nothing, but what the young man have eaten and the share of the men who went with me?

03:16

Let enter escal and mamrie take their share. These are the words of the Lord for us this morning. Let's open with a word of prayer. Do Lord, we thank you for your goodness and your grace, your kindness towards us. For the great blessings that you have given to us.

03:34

Even now, we think and are grateful for. Our high priest, the one who intercedes on our behalf. And so, as we lift our prayers and our requests and? Petitions before you. We know that by your grace and mercy, you will hear and look on favor with us. For Jesus Christ, Our intercessor.

03:55

Is there? Ask that you reveal these things to us, give us ears to hear, and eyes to see. Help us to see your word in all its beauty and Splendor. As you speak to our hearts in Jesus name, we pray. Amen. Amen. This passage. I mean, we noted a little bit Gideon read for us earlier from the book of Hebrews.

04:20

Melchizedek, who appears only here. This is his his stage debut and his final curtain call in many ways. Will become for the writer of Hebrews, and then therefore for all of us who come after the writing of Hebrews. An extraordinarily important character loaded with theological christological philosophical. And importance.

04:50

And we'll get there. But in order to understand where we're going to go. We have to start where we are. If that makes sense? In order to understand, how does Hebrews? How does the writer of Hebrews get to this stuff? What argument is he trying to make? We need to understand the text in front of us.

05:11

And so we, before we dive into any of these deep weighty things. What's this story? What's going on in this story? What's happening in this narrative?

05:23

I, I think it's a little. Sad is not the right word, but the translators of the ESV, right. So, just so you know, just so everyone's clear. I've said this. I'll say it a billion times, probably before the day I die. When you have little headings in your Bible above chapters or verses, maybe those don't exist in scripture.

05:42

Those are just the translators and the editors who are putting it together, trying to help you out. And the ESV translators have have said, this passage is Abram blessed by Melchizedek. That's part of it. But there's a bigger story going on that we need to see and understand. So, if I were, if they were to ask me, David, we'd like you to be editor for a day of the ESV translation.

06:08

I would say, no, thank you. My Hebrew is not that good, but if they say, well, just, you get to change one-headed. I'd probably call this section Abram meets. Kings. It's not just Melchizedek who shows up in this story, and in fact, Melchizedek, in some ways, is the gets less.

06:31

Words than the other king that he will meet. But both of these Kings will teach us something important about Abram. To remember our context, Abram, his, his faith. Is being tested, and he has failed in the past, but we're in the middle of Abram just. Knocking it out of the park, just doing so well.

06:56

His faith is on display and is a testimony for us. His magnanimous faith is he blessed and gave lot first choice of the land. He said, you pick what you want. God may have blessed, promised all of this. You pick what you want. And light picks the more beautiful portion.

07:15

And God says to Abram. Don't worry. Your children. Your descendants will inherit this all. And then Abram with his faith goes and rescues lot when lot finds himself in trouble. He goes and protects his Kinsmen. He redeems his Kinsmen. Abram. Here, a picture and type of Christ. This is what we looked at last week.

07:39

In his willingness to go and redeem, though, he had a 318 men going against. We don't know the size of King kettleermer and his Coalition of Nations Army. But Abram defeated them. And he's walking back with all the possessions with the women and the people. And as he's walking back his faith, passing multiple tests, we're here again.

08:06

And to call this a test, it kind of is, we will see that as we look at the two kings. But in many ways, this isn't really a test for Abram because he's just doing so well right now. He will fail again in what is probably his greatest failure of faith will get there.

08:25

But here. As he's meeting these two kings, Abram is for us a picture of. The first king, we need to talk about is this King Melchizedek? We see him. In verse 18, Melchizedek is the king of Salem. This is one of those texts where, knowing and understanding the the root of Hebrew names of places is important and will help us.

08:55

Melchizedek. Is a sort of smooshing together. Of two words. Milk. The beginning of Melchizedek, the melk part. Is? Zedek. Is righteousness? In verse 18, the king of righteousness. Comes to meet Abram. It's important. But he's Melchizedek king of righteousness, king of Salem. Salem. Here, the same route for peace.

09:38

The king of righteousness and the king of Peace. Comes to visit Abram. Where is Salem? There's some debate on this. This is where I've landed, and most commentators would agree on this. Salem. Is the same place as another city that you're more familiar with. Jeru Salem. Jerusalem. The city of Peace?

10:07

The king of righteousness. The king of Peace comes from. What will one day be God's city? And he brings with him Bread and Wine King Melchizedek, the king of righteousness. The king of Peace comes out bringing gifts, bringing a meal to share with Abram. Now, Bread and Wine. There's there's a lot going on here, and we can think through okay.

10:31

What other meals deal with Bread and Wine, and if I point here towards the communion table, our mind can maybe go there. But on a base level, we don't even need to go there. Bread and Wine. This would be a. Better meal.

10:48

Bread and water is what most would drink. We hear that, and we think, well, that's like prison rations. Back before. Refrigeration and restaurants all over the place. Cuz what you ate. If you wanted to be fancy and you wanted to treat someone, you'd bring Bread and Wine. But we have one of the most important notes here.

11:08

In verse 18, the king of righteousness and King of Peace in a in a parenthetical note we have in verse 18, he was a priest. Of God, most high. This is a first time that this name for God has appeared God most high. Melchizedek is a priest. Of God.

11:37

And as the king of righteousness and the king of Peace comes to meet Abram after his victory over the forces of catalyirmer. He comes with verse 19, tells us a blessing. And the blessing of Melchizedek is twofold. First, He blesses Abram, but in his Blessing of Abram. He is still praising God, blessed be Abram by.

12:04

Who has blessed Abram? Blessed be Abram by the strength of his might and his army of 318 men. Blessed be Abram by his military intellect and his ability to pounce upon his enemies in the cover of Darkness. Blessed be Abram because of his alliance with mammary and eshgol and Anna, blessed be Abram, because why blessed be Abram by God most high?

12:33

The possessor of Heaven and Earth. Blessed be Abram by The God Who owns and holds everything. And while I'm at it, Melchizedek says, blessed be God most high. Because he has delivered your enemies into your hand. It is not by strength, or might that you have one Abram? It's because God was on your side Abram.

12:57

It was not because of your intellect and goodness that you won. It is because God is on your side. Melchizedek here is speaking the truth to Abram in a very profound way. The one who owns all things, the one who holds all things, is the one who has blessed you and the one who owns all things, and the one who holds all things The God Who is Seated on the throne, the God above all other gods and men, the possessor of Heaven and Earth.

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He has worked on your behalf. He has delivered your enemies into your hands. That's Abram's blessing. You are blessed because God has blessed you and God is blessed because God is the one who blesses.

13:44

Melchizedek. In many ways, is the first character in all of the all of scripture. To fully understand.

13:56

Soledeo Gloria to God Alone, be the glory. Abram. You can be blessed but understand who you're blessed by it's God. And no, God is ultimately the one who is blessed. He's the one who will deliver. He's the one with the strength. It is his might. It is his glory.

14:11

It's his goodness. It's his provision. It's his protection. Don't you forget it, Abram?

14:20

There's many ways what a priest of God knows how I should do. Remind Abram. Of the goodness of God. And bring blessing from God most high. And Abram. Here again, his faith alive and well and moving and and causing him to follow the right course of action. Step by step in this portion of scripture step by blessed step.

14:45

Abram is walking in faith and taking the correct steps.

14:51

Abram. The patriarch. Abram. The one who God said, I will bless you. I will multiply you. Your descendants will outnumber the Sands on the in the desert. Your descendants will will get to this part of this promise, but shades of it we've seen will outnumber the stars in the sky.

15:10

They will be blessed and they will be a blessing to the whole wide world. This land, it's yours. Abram, who God has made a covenant with. Looks to this priest of God, most high.

15:27

It says, you're right. God has blessed me. God is to be blessed. And Abram in turn blesses Melchizedek. He gives him a tenth of everything he tithes.

15:44

There's so much in this text. I do not want to make this a sermon about tithing. This church is. Generous Beyond measure, and I am grateful for that. But just hear the heart for just a moment. Why does Abram give a blessing because he has been blessed? And when his soul is encouraged and when he sees the one who is enlivening his soul with truth about who God is, he gives.

16:16

Some to think about a heart behind. Why do we give? There's gratitude in God's blessings involved in all of this. Abram in a story filled with Kings. In many ways, Abram is a king. We'll get into that at some point as we go through the story of Abraham's life.

16:35

Melchizedek. The king of righteousness and the king of peace, and also there's another king that we'll talk about in just a minute. But Abram will bow. To. He bows to Melchizedek. First and foremost, because of his message. Also, because he's a king of God, priest of God, most high.

17:01

But that's smack dab in the middle. Melchizedek. This King is smack dab in the middle of another king that's showing up. The King of Sodom.

17:19

This is how it opens. In fact, 17. After his return from the defeat of ketamir layermer and the kings who were with him? So, after his return, Abrams returned from the defeat of Kevin Larimer and the Kings who were with kettleermer. The King of Sodom went out to meet Abram in the valley of Chave.

17:35

That is, the King's Valley king of Sodom comes to King Abram in Kings Valley. And then, in verse 18, Melchizedek's inserted also Melchizedek is with him, and we have this whole part about Melchizedek. And so the picture here is the King of Sodom's coming and Melchizedek is coming. And Melchizedek get?

17:56

Priority in the order of telling what he's going to do, because Melchizedek's more important and better and bigger and stronger. But also because there's something. You see this a lot in Hebrew writing, you introduce something you introduce something else. You close something else, then you come back and close.

18:14

The first thing it's called a chiastic structure, that's what's going on. I believe in this text. So, we have introduction King of Sodom introduction Melchizedek Melchizedek's blessing. Now, what's going to happen with the King of Sodom? After hearing this testimony after hearing. What Melchizedek has done after seeing Abram give a tenth of everything.

18:34

I think this is important context here. Okay. Right, the King of Sodom, who's been defeated. This is probably a new king of Sodom, because the first king of Sodom was probably pursued and killed. He fell into some bittermin pit somewhere. That's what we read last week. And so this new king of Sodom.

18:54

Okay. Got this. Bless Abram! Abram blesses you.

19:04

Even as I say, that, is that what we just said? Did no kids bless Abram kind of, but who was the ultimate Source God? And so, God's blessings then flowed from Abram to Melchizedek, but the king of Sodom thinks you bless. Abram Abram blesses you, so he starts scheming.

19:21

And the King of Sodom thinks he comes up with a great plant. Again, commentators disagree on this. There's two ways to read what the king of Sodom is doing here, either. He's actually being very generous to Abram, saying, look, just just leave the people here, but you can take everything.

19:42

Or you look at this a little more negatively. Right Abram didn't know the king of Sodom anything? Abram's already walking away with all of the Kinsmen, all the possessions with all the women and the people they're already Abrams. And so the king of Sodom is bringing to Abram something he already has.

19:58

It's not a great gift here. Either way, you read this. What we need to understand is the king of Sodom. Is thinking an Earthly terms? Okay. Just give me the people you keep the possessions. But Abram says to the king of Sodom. Not for a second. I don't want anything.

20:21

I don't want any of your stuff. Because you King of Sodom have completely missed the point. Melchizedek got the point. What was this blessed Be Abram by God most high and blessed be God? Most high King of Sodom, you want to come and offer this so that you can say you blessed Abram.

20:41

You want to be able to say Abram has stuff because the Kingdom of Sodom has blessed him. You don't see and understand and know who God most high is I do. So, he says, I have promised. I have lifted my hand. I have made a vow. Yahweh. God, most high.

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To the Lord God, most high. Abram will attach. The personal name of God.

21:11

The name that Melchizedek has used as well to just let everyone know we're talking about the same person. The possessor of Heaven and Earth, I promise God. That I would not take a thread or a sandal strap. The smallest or largest thing. I will take nothing from your hand.

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You don't get to say you made me Rich, only God has.

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The King of Sodom. Is not thinking there. He's thinking in Earthly terms and Melchizedek. Sorry, Abram sees through this. Again, this is a victory of Abram's Faith. He sees Melchizedek Melchizedek offering. The the right blessing in the right way, giving the right credit to the right person, which is ultimately God.

21:59

And he sees the king of Sodom for selfish ambition and vain can see pursuing whatever it is that he wants. Name says, I'm not going to have part of that. My people have already eaten. I'll take that, I guess. Not gonna make him throw it up, and then you can have it back.

22:17

And bless mammary ashkel and bless my allies. But I don't want your stuff.

22:26

I'm not taken. It's not even just that Abram blesses Melchizedek. It's that the King of Sodom is so worldly and so missing the point that to Abram just looks and says I, I don't want it. I'm not going to touch it. I'm not going to go there. So, here's the contrast.

22:45

Before we get into theological lessons, notice the difference lot last week sought to find provision and protection and underneath the protection of King Sodom. He ended up. Captured. Told off, taken into endured. Indentured servitude. Abram looks to the king of Sodom, sees with eyes of faith, and those I don't want any part.

23:13

Don't your stuff, but don't you land? I want your protection. I want your blessing. I don't want anything. Kick rocks. I'm good. The world may offer us many great things. The eyes of Faith can see through see to the heart.

23:31

I think that's a practical lesson we could take from this passage. But that's definitely not the only and probably not the most important message we could take from this passage. There is. A joke. That Seminary students will sometimes tell people who go to Seminary. I get the joke. I think.

23:57

It speaks to it should speak to our heart because there is truth to this joke. I think it should speak to our heart that we need to be very, very careful. Right, it's. It's one of those jokes that sort of you use big words because it makes you think like you're you're making it sound funnier.

24:11

Right? If any of the Apostles were to take a modern hermeneutics course, they would probably fail. What's the joke saying the way that the people who wrote the New Testament use the Old Testament? It's a little confusing and a little hard, and most of us probably wouldn't do the same thing.

24:33

The the writer of Hebrews in particular looks to Melchizedek. And is like this dude is so incredibly important.

24:45

He is a priest King who points. To someone much more important. The writer of Hebrews reads Melchizedek, and this is the the thought that he has.

25:00

We must meet the better. Priest King. Abram meets two kings in this story, the king of Sodom and Melchizedek, the king of peace and the king, or the king of righteousness and the king of Peace. And the writer of Hebrew says, we must go out and meet the much better priest King.

25:22

His name is Jesus. I won't read the entire text. Here's your homework, and I do mean it this week. Go home! At some point tonight tomorrow this week. Read Hebrews chapter 7.

25:42

Because a writer of Hebrews looks at Melchizing, I think this guy. This guy Melchizedek. Is so important for us to understand. Jesus. David knew this, too. If we go to the Old Testament, read Psalm 110, David knew that Melchizedek was important to understand all of God's promises. The writer of Hebrews just connects all the dots, draws all the lines, and says.

26:06

You need to go and meet with the priest King, who will save and deliver your soul and bring every blessing and goodness that flows down from heaven. That's the point. There are one of my commentators say three main connections. I think these are three helpful connections for us to understand.

26:27

The three connections to make between Melchizedek and Christ are this one. Both are king and Priest. They are King, so they rule. To say Melchizedek is the king of Justice and or sorry of righteousness and peace means both that he is a king who goes out and brings righteousness and peace, but also he rules over righteousness and peace.

26:52

They belong to him. They are his kingdom. Jesus is the same King. And just as Melchizedek is a priest of God, most high, who brings offerings and blessings from God to the people, and then offers up offering from the people to God. So too? Jesus, our great high priest, lives forever to intercede on our behalf.

27:16

Jesus is like Melchizedek because Jesus is also a priest King. Just like Melchizedek. Here's the second one is King over righteousness and peace. So too, Jesus is our king of righteousness, our Prince of Peace. He has given us a Ministry of reconciliation. He, in his body, has reconciled us with God, bringing us peace in the most foundational and important and eternal way.

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He's given us peace with God. He is righteousness. He taught righteousness. He lived righteousness, and then Jesus gives to us our righteousness. As we live in the imputed righteousness of Christ.

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He is the Melchizedek that Melchizedek. Pre figures and looks towards. And finally, Jesus is like Melchizedek. Because both. Live and Reign. Forever!

28:24

This is one of those weird ones. And this is one of those. Like, if I was preaching through, I have. I just preached Genesis 14. I did not once mention, Melchizedek does not have a genealogy. Didn't come up. Trey Hebrews is important. He's, like, wait a second Melchizedek. Has no father and mother.

28:45

We don't know where he came from. He has no beginning. Melchizedek, I said this was his his. Grand entry and also his final curtain call. This is what we know of Melchizedek. Right here. He was, like, well, wait, a second. He has no beginning. We don't know where he came from.

29:02

He has no end. We don't know where, how he died. Everyone else in Genesis, and he died, and he died, and he died, and he died, and he died. We've read that over and over again. We don't read that about Melchizedek. Is there any Hebrews thinks? Now, kizdick has no beginning or no end.

29:20

Wait a second Jesus. The Eternal King Of Heaven, the second person of the Trinity, the one who has lived forever, who? Is always Tina say he lived forever. Isn't even fully right before the beginning was Jesus was there before. The very foundations of the world, and now seated for all time at the right hand of the father.

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Is Jesus Christ Our Lord? That's who we must meet. That's who we must go and bow before. That's who we owe. All duty. That's who we owe all affection. That's who we owe all praise to.

30:03

Abraham Abram. Saw Melchizedek and noticed. This is one that I should tithe to. This is one that I should bless. This is one who deserves my. Outpouring of gratitude and in some sense service. The right of Hebrews would look to you and say how much more. Does Jesus deserve that from you?

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How much more? Because how much better is Jesus? Melchizedek is a great man, a priest of God, most high one who brings blessing and Abram. This is where, knowing sort of our whole Bible theology is helpful. We. All who are of the line of Faith have been grafted into the family of Abraham.

30:58

We've said this before and before we get to the end of Abram's story, I'll say it again. There's a Sunday school song that people sing that carries great and important truths. It goes like this. Father Abraham had many sons. And many sons had Father Abraham. And I am one of them.

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And so are you? So, let's just praise the Lord. Right, arm left arm, nod your head, right? You do all the dancing stuff. It's the Sunday school song. But here's the truth. We are grafted in the line of Abram.

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And so when, when? Spiritual forefather. Has tied to Melchizedek, that's saying he's important. Anyway, Hebrew is saying is Jesus is more important. Jesus is better, he's greater. He, he's more influential more of a king and a better King of more righteousness and better peace. And he's more of a priest of the most high God because Melchizedek was a human priest who had to offer sacrifice here on Earth for himself and for others because, as a man, he was sinful.

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Jesus never sinned. Melchizedek was a priest of God, most high here on Earth. Jesus is a priest of God, most high in the Heavenly realm.

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He is a high priest. Hebrews chapter 7, verse 26, holy innocent, unstained, separated from Sinners exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like other priests, to offer sacrifices daily first for his own sin, and then for the sins of others. Since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

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The law appointment and their weakness is high priest, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a son who has been made perfect forever Jesus. Is the better priest came?

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Chapter 8 continues chapter 9 in 10 chapter 10. Continues this that Jesus is the better. Sacrifice the better priest of the better Covenant doing better things.

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And so hear this. Here's the heart. Here's the message. Here's the point. Part of it is certainly.

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We should bless those who bless us. We need to understand see with eyes of Faith. Know that God receives all glory. Yes. But all of that is moot if we don't. Set our eyes and our affection. On our great high priest. Jesus Christ. Let's pray.