Greater Than (7)
Notes
Transcript
Greater Than
Greater Than
Good morning. I am so glad you made the choice for worshiping with us today. For you that are here and those online, I know there are a hundred places you could be and I am so humbled that you are here. It is so hard to believe it is June and summer is in full swing. The most obvious sign is the beginning of the great VBS migration, which starts here tomorrow.
Please pray and invite and share with all your neighbors and friends. It is is going to be an amazing week.
Today we are continuing our study of the book of Hebrews, and we are getting back on track. The past two weeks the author has been challenging us to grow, dig deep and hold on while also reminding us of the assurance we have.
Today we go back to answering the claim that Jesus is greater than anyone and anything by taking a closer look at what it means Christ is the Great High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Please open your Bible or Tablets, both stone and electronic, to Hebrews 7.
As you are doing that, have you ever tried to look up your lineage or ancestry?
I know most people probably dont think about it but many sociologist and historians say:
“the tracing of ancestry, family history, or a line of descent—is important because it provides a foundation for our identity, informs our medical history, and connects us to broader historical and cultural contexts.”
Be careful, you might be surprised by what you find?
I read a lot of stories about people thinking they were related to famous people only like King Henry only to find they were related to Kevin Henry.
I want to focus on the truth that Christ is greater than where and who you have come from.
Today I want to try something a little different. There is a lot in this chapter so we will be bouncing around a little, but I am still going to ask you stand with me as we read and hear God’s word. Today though I am going have you read some of it out loud.
Let’s see how this goes, so please stand with me for the only words that can change everything for you.
I’ll start
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, 2 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.
Your turn
3 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.
My turn
4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 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.
Your turn
6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
Let’s jump to verse 11:
11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?
You read verses 15-16
15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.
Jumjping to verse 22
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. 23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.
Last one for you
25 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.
Great job. Let’s do this last part together
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27 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.
28 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.
Let’s pray
Lineage has never been more important to group of people as it was and still is to the Jewish people. Even today to be granted citizenship in Israel you have to prove your Jewish lineage.
It defines who they are an their place in the nation.
Those who came form the tribe of Levi were chosen by God serve as the priests. Aaron , the brother of Moses, was the first High Priest.
His ancestors would carry on the office of High Priest.
They had done this for centuries in spite of their failures.
The author is now driving home the idea that the Levitical and Aaronic priesthood has ended.
In fact, in the next 4 chapters he argues that this new priesthood in the order of Melchizedek, first mentioned in chapter 4, is superior than the ones before.
TOday when you hear me say “Christ’s priesthood”, I am talking about the order of Melchizedek.
First, we lay out that Christ’s priesthood is superior due to legacy not lineage.
It is not about who or where we come from, but how we live out what has been modeled before.
For too many, like the Jews here, we let our history get in the way.
Historically, Christ’s priesthood was greater than Abraham.
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, 2 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.
Historically, Christ’s priesthood was greater than Abraham.
If you not familiar with this story, I encourage to read Gen 14:17-24 this week.
Melchizedek was both King and priest. Everywhere else these offices are separated.
King of righteousness and peace - the law does not produce this type of life
20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
Historically, Christ’s priesthood was greater than Abraham.
It also states Abraham tithed to him.
7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 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. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Historically, Christ’s priesthood was greater than Abraham.
The family history is different. There is no record of genealogy.
THis does not mean you skip those sections in the Bible - they show how God used ordinary people to extraordinary things.
3 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.
Historically, Christ’s priesthood was greater than Abraham.
There is no record of death. We know He did but the application is clear.
Aaron and his descendants could never claim endless ministry as well as being a king and priest.
Doctrinally, Christ’s priesthood superior that Aarons.
The priesthood and the Law were imperfect.
11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?
19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
Doctrinally, Christ’s priesthood superior that Aarons.
The normal sacrifices could not give anyone perfect standing before God.
They were only temporary.
The priesthood has been changed. It is now a perfect priesthood. It has changed the very nature of the priesthood.
12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
Doctrinally, Christ’s priesthood superior that Aarons.
The qualifications have changed.
For Jewish Priests it is lineage in Levi.
For Christ it is endless life.
16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
Doctrinally, Christ’s priesthood superior that Aarons.
Christ can never and will never be replaced.
Christ accomplished what the priesthood and law could not.
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
As we learned last week, God has placed His oath on iy and it cannot be broken.
20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 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.’ ”
Practically, Christ’s priesthood is superior in meeting our needs.
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
Practically, Christ’s priesthood is superior in meeting our needs.
No matter how devoted, the Aaronic priests could not meet all the needs of all the people, all the time.
The priests were never perfect, but Christ is.
27 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.
Practically, Christ’s priesthood is superior in meeting our needs.
He never needed to offer sacrifices for His own sin, He had none.
Christ’s sacrifice was one and done.
28 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.
Why would we look anywhere else?
Great Lineage / Greater Legacy
Great Lineage / Greater Legacy
Your faith and position is not based on who your parents are, where you are from, your education, your economic status, or anything else other than our perfect Great High Priest Jesus Christ and what we have done with our need for Him.
"Christ is not one of many ways to God, nor is He the best of several ways. He is the Way! All other paths are dead ends." AW Tozer
Great Lineage / Greater Legacy
Great Lineage / Greater Legacy
There is nothing out there than can answer the deepest questions and meet the deepest needs of your heart.
It does matter not where you look.
Don’t let your history get in the way of surrender.
Whatever you have experienced or think you know, there is so much more in Christ to find.
I close with the words of the great Baptist preacher John McClaren that I have read to you before.
In Christ, as a great storehouse, lie all the riches of spiritual wisdom, the massive ingots of solid gold which when coined into creeds and doctrines are the wealth of the Church. All which we can know concerning God and man, concerning sin and righteousness and duty, concerning another life, is in Him Who is the home and deep mine where truth is stored… The central fact of the universe and the perfect encyclopedia of all moral and spiritual truth is in Christ, the Incarnate Word, the Lamb slain, the ascended King.
Let’s pray.
