Our Great High Priest

Introduction

Well, we’ve finished Thanksgiving, so now our attention is turned to Christmas. At the risk of distracting you this morning, Christmas Day is only 25 days from today!

I want to challenge you to try something a little bit different this year. I want to challenge you to join with your family and read a chapter of the book of Luke beginning today. There are 24 chapters in Luke so you’ll finish the book of Luke on Christmas Eve.

You know, Jesus came to earth as a baby. The creator of the world was laid on a rock that had been dug out to feed animals.

Jesus came and lived a life free from sin. He preformed miracles throughout his 33 years on this earth. He amazed the crowds, stirred up the religious leaders, and turned the social system upside down.

Because Jesus followed God the Father’s plan He was crucified on a cross. Jesus’ body was placed in a borrowed tomb which was sealed and guarded. And three days later Jesus rose from the dead.

Now here’s the reason I remind you of these facts this morning. It is this baby in the manger that now is our High Priest.

This morning we are continuing our study in the book of Hebrews. So if you have your Bibles, turn with me to Hebrews chapter 7.

Several weeks ago when we were in , the priest named Melchizedek was mentioned. During that time we looked at the story of Abraham in .

Now here in the author once again visits the idea that Jesus is the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:1–10 NIV84

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, their brothers—even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

Hebrews 7:1-10

Here again is the story:

Melchizedek

First, we look at his name. Melchizedek means:

King of righteousness

King of Salem (Jerusalem)

King of peace

Next, we look at the fact that Abraham was blessed by this king when Abraham returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe—or a tenth of the plunder.

Requirement of the Law

The author reminds his readers that the Mosaic Law required that the priests collect a tenth from the people—their brothers.

However, Melchizedek was not from the tribe of Levi (because the tribe did not yet exist).

To show Melchizedek’s greatness the author tells people that the one who blesses another is generally greater than the one being blessed. Now remember, Melchizedek blessed Abraham.

Finally, the author suggests that the Levi who was charged with collecting a tenth from the people actually paid the tenth to Melchizedek because Levi is a descendent of Abraham.

Hebrews 7:11–17 NIV84

If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 7:11-

The Problem

The big problem is that perfection could not be attained through the Levitical priesthood or through the Mosaic Law.

So if perfection (salvation) couldn’t be obtained through the Law or Levitical priesthood, then something else was needed. God had another plan, a new priesthood. Three observations about this new priesthood.

The Priestly line was changed. Priest are no longer from the tribe of Levi.

No one from the tribe of Judah had ever served as a priest.

With the change in priesthood there was a change in the law as well.

Several More observations about this priesthood.

This new priest was not simple a priest because of his ancestry.

Instead, He is a priest based on the power of an indestructible life.

So the new priest is out of the order of Melchizedek ().

Hebrews 7:18–22 NIV84

The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’ ” Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Hebrews 7:18-

Hebrews 7:18–21 NIV84

The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’ ”

Hebrews 7:18-

So the old law—the Mosaic Law—was set aside because it did bring perfection. It was weak and useless. So God introduced a better hope. Through this new hope we draw near to God!

So the old law—the Mosaic Law—was set aside because it did bring perfection.

The Levitical law, was unable to make people close to God—think about that statement. No one was able to keep the entire law, so the law was unable to make people feel close to God.

This new priest came with an oath. The old priests became priest because of ancestry. This time God made an oath which made Jesus the High Priest.

For a second time in this chapter, the author quotes from (c.f. verse 17).

Hebrews 7:22–28 NIV84

Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Hebrews 7:22-28

Jesus Our High Priest

There are several things that we need to notice about our High Priest.

Jesus becomes the guarantee of a better (new) covenant.

The priests of the old covenant all died, so they could not be permanent.

Jesus saves completely! He saves all of those who come to God through Him.

Jesus lives to intercede for us!

Jesus meets our needs:

Because He is holy—dedicated to God.

Because He is blameless—innocent, without fault, or free from evil.

Because He is pure—free from stain, undefiled, faultless.

Because He is set apart from sinners.

Because He is exalted above the heavens.

Unlike other priests he does not need to repeatedly offer sacrifices.

He was sacrificed for their sins—once for all!

So the law appointed high priests who were weak men, but the oath of God (which came after the law) appointed God’s Son, Jesus—perfect forever!

Conclusion

This High Priest that we’ve been talking about is Jesus, the Son of God who was sent to this earth, born of a virgin, from the ancestry of Judah. A man who lived a sinless life, amazed the crowds with His teachings and miracles, stirred up the religious leaders with His teachings, so He was crucified, buried in a borrowed tomb, and three days later this Jesus rose from the dead. and now He’s seated at the right hand of God where He intercedes on our behalf.

He is our High Priest forever. And unlike the Mosaic Law, Jesus brings us into the presence of God the Father.

As we celebrate Christmas this year, celebrating a baby born in a stable; let us also remember that this baby is now our High Priest—Jesus the Christ, the Messiah; seated at the right hand of God.