There is a Better Way

Introduction

I want you to remember the context of the book of Hebrews. He is writing to a Jewish audience, and he is pleading with them to let go of what was so that they can embrace what God was doing.

The Lord Jesus had come, He died, was buried, and had ascended on high, and instead of fully embracing the Lord, these Jews were trying to hang onto the law and add the ministry of the Lord Jesus to it. This entire letter was written to change that perspective. This entire letter is to show these people that there is a better way, if they will simply lay down what they know and embrace what God is giving them.

This section is theologically heavy, but if we can understand it, the rest of the book will make much more sense. I want to remind you of some things we have covered so that we can get ahold of chapter 7.

A. Spiritual Rest Comes From Obedience

Hebrews 4:11–12 NKJV

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

They didn’t want to obey the Lord, they wanted to obey their traditions and their culture. But it is the Word of God that gives us the ability to see what God is doing and to follow Him with our lives. And because they were hard-hearted like their forefathers, they were at risk of never entering the rest of Christ. Not in Heaven, but they were at risk of never entering the rest Christ offers even here on earth.

We don’t have to wait till heaven to have rest. When we read the Old Testament accounts of the Israelites crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land, it’s not a symbol of death to life, but it is a symbol of disobedience to obedience. That when we are obedient the Lord in this life, we may face Jericho and Ai, but we are still in a land flowing with milk and honey.

B. Jesus is Behind the Veil of Heaven

Hebrews 4:14–16 NKJV

Seeing then that 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 cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus was a man. He was tempted. He overcame. Now, He is worthy to pass through the heavens. In the Old Testament, the priest would have to pass through the temple wall into the courtyard, go behind the veil, and then go behind another veil and enter what is called the Holy of Holies. There, he would meet with God and make atonement for people’s sins by sacrifice.

Jesus has not only passed into the Holy of Holies, but He has passed through the heavens and sits at the throne of grace praying for us. Now that we belong to Christ, we know that we approach Him boldly without fear of condemnation, because no condemnation exists for us who have accepted the Lord.

C. Spiritual Immaturity Destroys Your Potential

Hebrews 5:5–6 NKJV

So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”;

Hebrews 5:9–12 NKJV

And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

The author wanted to explain the deeper things to them, but they weren’t interested. They were spiritually immature. And even though they should have been teachers and winning their friends and family to the Lord Jesus, they couldn’t even grasp the concept that they didn’t need to follow the law anymore because Jesus already fulfilled the law.

This means that Jesus came to save us because we couldn’t save ourselves. The law of God instructed us to be absolutely perfect. The problem is that we are not perfect. So the law was ineffective to truly save. But now, the Lord Jesus has come and He has saved us.

When the writer refers to the “milk of the word,” he is referring to the earthly ministry of Jesus. He is talking about the saving work of Christ on the cross. When Nicodemus didn’t understand salvation, Jesus posed a question to Him.

John 3:12 NKJV

If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

This is exactly where these Jews were. Jesus came to do His work here on earth, and they couldn’t understand it or embrace it. They weren’t ready for the discussion on heavenly things because of immaturity.

D. Sin Prevents Us From Maturity

Hebrews 6:4–6 NKJV

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

Some associate these verses to say that people can lose their salvation. But He is not talking about losing salvation here, he is talking about spiritual maturity. That those who are saved but continue to walk in sin put the Lord to an open shame and prevent Him from performing a maturing work in them.

It is one of the great mysteries of the Bible, that we can somehow limit God. When we disobey, God is limited in what He can do. But when we walk in maturity and in surrender to Him, He can do what His word describes as “exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or think.

Now we arrive at chapter 7, and the writer is setting out to prove to them that Jesus is a legitimate High Priest. The problem with their understanding is that Jesus wasn’t from the Tribe of Levi. In the Old Testament, the tribe of Levi was set apart as the priests of Israel. You couldn’t just sign up to be a priest, you had to be born into it. And it didn’t matter about your character, if you were a Levite, you were a priest.

Jesus was born from the Tribe of Judah.

The argument here is that Jesus wasn’t from the priestly line of Levi, but that He was from a greater priestly line, the line of Melchizedek.

I. Our Perfection

Hebrews 7:1–11 “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?”

A. Melchizedek and Abraham v. 1-4

What we have is a historical description of Melchizedek. You have to remember that the Jewish people value their history and they value genealogies. If you can say that you read through the Bible, and if you’ll be honest about it, you tend to skip the genealogies! But the Jews won’t. So, to reach them, he begins here with a history.

1. “God Most High” v. 1a

This is an interesting title for God. The Jewish people didn’t call God, God Most High. When the Jewish people addressed God, they called Him Jehova. The name for God is revealed in Exodus 3:14

Exodus 3:14 NKJV

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”

This is the name YHWH. There are no vowels. Well, to prevent from taking His name in vain, they added the vowels found in the word for “Lord.” That is the word “Adoni,” thus we get the name YeHoWeh, Yahweh, or Jehova (which is our langauge). So when the Bible speaks about God using the name Jehova, He is specifically relating Himself to the nation of Israel, because that is the name that God gave them to address Him as.

But when Melchizedek addressed God as God Most High in Genesis 14, it was different name. And the writer of Hebrews emphasizes that Melchizedek was a priest of God Most High. The name God Most High is the name El Elyon. Psalm 57:2

Psalm 57:2 NKJV

I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me.

This is notable because when God is in relation to Israel, He is called Jehova. But here, He is called El Elyon. This means that He is not only the God of Israel, but that He is the God of all. What the writer is trying to convey to the Jews he is writing to is that God’s power and God’s ability to work transcends the Jewish nation. Where he is going is that Jesus is not just a priest in Israel, but that Jesus is a priest according to the order of Melchizedek, who was a priest of the God of the Universe, El Elyon.

2. Melchizedek Blessed Abraham v. 1b-2

This is another historical argument to show the Jews that something greater than Abraham is here. He tells them in v. 1 and 2 that Melchizedek blessed Abraham and that Abraham gave him a “tenth of all.” Again, he is establishing that Abraham is lesser than Melchizedek, because Melchizedek is the one who gave the blessing, and it was Abraham who responded to that blessing by giving a tenth.

3. Melchizedek’s Priesthood v. 3

This verse is not trying to say that Melchizedek appeared out of thin air and then never died. It is just saying that, as important as genealogies are, there isn’t one for Melchizedek. And this is not about his physical life, it is about his priestly line. That the priestly line of Melchizedek was not established by the law of Moses, but that it was established by God Himself. This means that Melchizedek wasn’t a priest because he inherited it or because he worked for it. He was a priest because God ordained him to be.

The Jews were priests because of their lineage. If they were born into the tribe of Levi, then they were a priest. Melchizedek was a priest because God ordained him, and his priesthood is eternal, not temporary.

4. Melchizedek’s Superiority v. 4

There are two interesting words in v. 4.

Patriarch

This is a word that describes the highest level of honor in the Jewish life. Some of the other patriarchs of the faith are Isaac and Jacob. Several times in the book of Exodus, beginning in chapter 3, you’ll see God refer to Himself as the “God of Abraham, The God of Isaac, and The God of Jacob.” The reason He does this is to remind the Israelites where they came from and Who they belong to. Because it is with each of these patriarchs that God established His covenant with to make them a mighty nation.

“spoils”

When Abraham gave a tenth of the “spoils” (spoils of war), he didn’t give 10% of the leftovers. The word “spoils” literally means “the top of the heap.”

The Israelites are later rebuked by God for offering Him lame sacrifices as if He were an afterthought.

Malachi 3:8 NKJV

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

Malachi 1:7–8 NKJV

“You offer defiled food on My altar, But say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table of the Lord is contemptible.’ And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?” Says the Lord of hosts.

Abraham didn’t do this. He gave Melchizedek a tithe right off the top. He gave God the best that he collected in war.

v. 4’s purpose is to show that Melchizedek was even superior to Abraham.

B. Melchizedek and Levi v. 5-10

The purpose of v. 5-10 is to show us that through Abraham, even the tribe of Levi paid tithes to the priest we know as Melchizedek.

The Levites were a tribe in Israel, but they didn’t get any land. They were to be available for service in the nation of Israel. And because they had no land, all of their provision came from the people. When people would come and bring sacrifices to get forgiveness of sins, the Levite priests were to receive their own tithe.

Deuteronomy 18:3–4 NKJV

“And this shall be the priest’s due from the people, from those who offer a sacrifice, whether it is bull or sheep: they shall give to the priest the shoulder, the cheeks, and the stomach. The firstfruits of your grain and your new wine and your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you shall give him.

Look in v. 9-10. The writer is saying to them that there is a priestly line greater than the priests of Israel, and it is the priesthood of Melchizedek. And that the Lord Jesus is of the priesthood of Melchizedek, therefore, the priesthood of the Levites is no longer necessary.

C. Our Perfection

Hebrews 7:11 NKJV

Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron?

His argument - If the Levitical priests were good enough, why did we need the Lord Jesus?

If you’ll remember the context of Hebrews, you’ll remember that the author is trying to get these Jews to fully trust in the Lord Jesus as their savior. In this audience that he is writing to, there is a group that are trying to hold on to what was and simply add Jesus to it.

But the gospel makes it clear, Paul makes it clear, and the writer of Hebrews is making it clear, that we cannot get our perfection by the law, but that we can only have perfection through the priestly ministry of the Lord Jesus.

It can seem very difficult to us when God begins to do something new.

Can you imagine how these Jews feel? They have been raised a certain way, they have been trained a certain way, and they have believed a certain way. And in this time, God has chosen to do something new while they are here, and they just cannot let it go. There is great danger in not letting go of what was in order to embrace what needs to be.

God is God, and we are not. And in life, in the church, and in the earth, season change. But here is what the Bible says about the seasons changing.

Psalm 34:1 NKJV

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:6 NKJV

A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away;

There is a Greek word in the New Testament for this. It is the word kairos. We think of time and our version of time is the Greek word chronos. Chronos is time on the clock, it moves in a linear fashion, and it is how we understand the chronology of something. Kairos is a season in time that God has established to accomplish His will.

It’s not something we can tell on a clock. It’s a “time” that something historical happened or happens, and God Himself establishes these seasons and times.

For instance, we are in a kairos right now. God called me here to pastor, and He is working. This time is not something that has caught Him off guard, but it is a season of life that we are all experiencing together. And whether it is here on earth or in the heavenly places, we will never forget this season of our lives.

II. Our Purpose v. 12-25

We can get very confused on our purpose as Christians. We can make it about all sorts of things other than what its supposed to be. We can reduce it to Bible study, we can reduce it to church attendance, we can reduce it to service in the church, but none of those things are our purpose. Our purpose is highlighted in v. 19.

Hebrews 7:19 NKJV

for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Our purpose in life is to draw near to God. That is why the law ended, and why Jesus came to make a way for us, so that we could be near to God. If we make this life about anything else, then we are missing the point.

Hebrews 7:12–25 “For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’ ”), by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”

A. Ineffectiveness Requires Change

When something is ineffective, no matter how much we adore it, if we want to grow, the thing that is ineffective must change. Well, the Bible tells us that the law was weak and ineffective, and that it couldn’t continue.

Hebrews 7:18–19 NKJV

For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

But through the ministry of Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that we can now have what the law could never give us, a relationship with God, in which we draw near to Him. To try and go back to the old ways was to waste the gift that God had given in His Son Jesus.

B. Perfection Cannot Be Improved

When something is perfect, then it can never be improved. If something can be improved, then it isn’t really perfect to begin with! This is what the Lord provided for us through the priestly ministry of His Son Jesus. He provided a perfect priesthood according to what the Bible calls and oath, something that, to God, is unbreakable.

Hebrews 7:20–22 NKJV

And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek’ ”), by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

The ministry of Jesus was established by more than lineage, it was established by an oath from God, something that will never be broken. This is one of the major reasons why we have security as a believer, because our Lord lives to make intercession for us, always forgiving us of sins.

C. Perfection Cannot Fail

Hebrews 7:24–25 NKJV

But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Intercession means to meet, approach, to appeal, to petition. It involves us drawing near to God in prayer, through Christ as He prays for us.

The truth here is this, that the Lord Jesus was established by an oath, that He is absolutely perfect, and that He cannot fail in His priestly duties to make intercession for those who believe in Him.

III. Our Priest

Hebrews 7:26–28 NKJV

For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

These last three verses are all about His person. That because He is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners, He has become higher than the heavens. He is in the heavenly places behind the veil. An earthly priest had to pass through the tent’s courtyard, into the holy place, and then into the Holy of Holies where God would meet them. But Christ in there in Heaven. And when we pray, we are already behind the veil because our Lord is there. And He doesn’t waste time cleansing Himself like an earthly priest. He is already cleansed and He is worthy.

God did this because the law was weak and ineffective, and the time needed to change. This is not to say that God created the law by mistake. What it does is it shows us that God uses certain things in certain seasons to accomplish His will. And when that season is over, He will do something else.

Just like now, we are in a season of repentance, and we are awaiting the return of the Lord Jesus. The earth is here now, but God, in due season, will destroy the earth and He will recreate it. This is not a guess, but it is according to God’s word that He will come again. That is what it means when it says that the Lord Jesus was established by the word of oath. That He was chosen to come and save us and to be perfected forever.

Conclusion

Why do we turn away from a great High Priest and try to do things on our own? We try to earn God’s favor, we try to work our way into spiritual success, and we fail to realize that we have an Advocate in the heavenly places praying and interceding for us.

Why do we get frustrated when God begins to usher in a new season? Seasons come and seasons go, and we have to rejoice in Him and allow Him to work. These Jews were discouraged because things were different than how they expected them to be. Their problem was that they were hanging onto their raising and their culture and they weren’t embracing the Word of God or the plans of God.

God gives us grace in everything. It’s a wonderful thing that we can pray and have direct access to God. We can lay our burdens on Him, we can ask for what we need, and we can have confidence that the Lord Jesus isn’t on break or in sin, but that He is available to hear us when we call.