Jesus, Our Superior High Priest

Text: Hebrews 7

Introduction

Illustration: I don’t know if you have every read a fictional story or watched one where something happened early on in the story and it led you to think, “Why did they do that?” or “That could have been a little more clearer” or “Where did that character go to?”. Then, closer to the end of the story, that part comes full circle and now it makes a lot more sense.

That is sort of like when Melchisedec is mentioned in the book of Genesis — Genesis 14:18 “18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.”

You get to meet him in the book of Genesis and then he vanishes off the stage and not mentioned for centuries until King David penned Psalm 110. Then, you won’t here of his name again for another 1,000 years until you come to our text this evening in Hebrews 7. Melchisedec should be seen as one of those “foreshadowing” features in the Old Testament pointing people to the coming superior lamb of God, Jesus Christ. (Examples: OT feasts, Tabernacle, prophecies, promise of a New Covenant…) Now, Melchisedec comes full circle for us to understand more of why he had such a brief moment early on in the story during Abraham’s day.

As we will witness in our text this evening, God, once again, has woven in a historical moment with laser-like precision in order to bring reassurance than Jesus is the Son of God, the gospel must be received by faith, and there should never be a retraction from following Him.

We have now completed the detour of the writer addressing the status of their immaturity and the danger they are in if they continue in their prolonged period of spiritual infancy (heading back to a dead religion). Now, the writer can continue on to the “many things” he needed to say to them.

Main Point — The priestly order of Melchisedec is far superior than the Levitical order of priests (those from Aaron), brings about a superior covenant, and most of all, Jesus is of the order of Melchisedec.

1) Jesus Is Our Appointed High Priest

Verses 1-10

The writer references back to Genesis 14:17–20 “17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king’s dale. 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.”

Defining his name: Melchisedec = King of righteousness & King of Salem (Jerusalem) = King of peace

Isaiah 9:6–7 “6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, To order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice From henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Isaiah 11:4–5 “4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, And reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, And with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. 5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, And faithfulness the girdle of his reins.”

The writer is not trying to teach how we should tithe, but that because Abraham paid a tithe unto Melchisedec, it shows who was superior to who. WHY WOULD THIS BE IMPORTANT?

Remember, the original audience were Jewish believers.

Remember, Abraham was promised a child named Isaac, who had a son named Jacob, who had sons from which the 12 tribes came, which one of those tribes was Levi from which God set aside to serve as Priests to serve in the Tabernacle (later the Temple) and administer the Law of Covenant of Moses.

(v3) Melchisedec’s priesthood was not established upon genealogy.

Notice how there is no info regarding where this guy came from or who any of his family is.

This is very important when it came to pointing to Jesus!

The Levitical tribe based their superiority on their genealogy coming from Abraham. A man had to come from a particular tribe and his parents were of that tribe in order to serve in the priesthood.

Now, there was no genealogy to point to when it came to Melchisedec (v3).

It is important to point out that this is a “simile,” “made like unto the Son of God.” This does not mean Melchisedec was eternal or did not

He is simply being used a a “type” or “picture” of Jesus.

The Levites were “mortal” and died. Jesus however “abideth continually.”

Let’s follow the progression of the writer’s argument (v4-10).

Just as Abraham paid tithes to the superior Melchisedec, so did the Levites being from the loins of Abraham.

Since the Levites, who recieved tithes, pay tithes unto Melchisedec through Abraham, they are less superior to the priesthood of Melchisedec.

2) Jesus Is Our Perfect High Priest

Verses 11-14

The author is actually asking an rhetorical question here: If perfection was brought through the Levitical Priesthood, why would there need to be another priest come into the picture through the order of Melchisedec and not Aaron?

The answer is assumed is that there was never found “perfection” in the Levitical priesthood and the Law of Moses they administered.

Romans 3:19–28 “19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

Romans 5:20 “20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:”

Romans 7:5–12 “5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”

There is necessity for there to be a changing of the law.

The author is showing us that the Priesthood and the Law they administered are seen as a “single unit.”

Our new High priest is Jesus Christ!

Jesus came from the tribe of Juda (v14). That is specifically through Jacob’s son Judah.

Therefore, Jesus would not be permitted to serve as priest.

3) Jesus Is Our Eternal High Priest

Verses 15-24

The contrast here is between those who became temporary priests of the law of Moses who replaced those who died before them and the One who became a priest by God’s divine appointment.

By the ushering in of Jesus’ role as High priest, the law of Moses was disannuled.

The law of Moses was made weak because of the flesh of people who were not able to keep it perfectly.

God’s law did not have the ability to make anyone right before God!

“bringing in of a better hope did”

Jesus did what humanity alone could not accomplish!

The consequences of Jesus’ victory is us being able to draw nigh unto God!

Jesus’ superior priesthood gave us a superior “covenant.”

Another thing to consider is that the Levitical priests were all “mortal” and died!

In contrast, Jesus lives forever! His priesthood is forever and never changing!

4) Jesus Is Our Personal High Priest

Verses 25-28

We learn about the ability of this new priest who lives forever.

“save them to the uttermost” — Jesus saves us in the complete sense: Justified, sanctified, and glorified!

He makes intercession continually!

“intercession” = interpose or plead on behalf of another person; in context, Jesus prays to the Father on behalf of the believer.

Romans 8:34 “34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

Don’t forget, the Holy Spirit also makes intercession for us!

Romans 8:26 “26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

1 Timothy 2:1 “1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;”

The author focuses on Jesus’ deity and humanity (v26-28)

Through the incarnation, Jesus learned what it is to be human and therefore sympathizes with all the trials and struggles we face.

Unlike the priest who had to first make a sacrifice for themselves before making a sacrifice for the people, Jesus was the sacrifice for the people; the perfect sacrifice!

Psalm 110:4 “4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek.”

The law (that concludes all flesh as sinners) concludes the Levites having infirmities.

“hath sworn” (v28 “but the word of the oath”) shows us that Jesus was made a priest and consecrated in His role.

Conclusion

Illustration: Sometimes the subject comes up about how good things were many years ago, and in some ways they were. However, if you go far enough back, you will lack certain medication conveniences, convenient transportation options, climate control conveniences, etc. If you and I are honest, none of us would go backward to trade the new for the old.

God was making a similar but more profound point: Why would you want to trade the grace of God for any other alternative?