Hebrews 7

Jesus The Eternal High Priest

MAIN IDEA: In Jesus God provided struggling sinners better access to him than Old Testament believers ever had.

Hebrews 7 ESV

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. 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. 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. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 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. 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? 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. 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. 17 For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” 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. 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.’ ” 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. 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. 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.

I’ll admit, some scriptures are significantly easier to discuss than others. This particular section took some work and still I have questions.

Throughout Hebrews we’ve had warnings, we’ve had encouragements, we’ve read of corrections and challenges. We’ve seen the name of Melchizedek several times, but now, the author of Hebrews goes into much more detail about why he’s been mentioned. However, it’s still a little hard for me to understand. We know very little about Melchizedek. He’s mentioned in Genesis several times, once in Psalms 110:4, and then in Hebrews.

The first part (vv 1-10) focuses on the significance of Melchizedek’s priesthood and the encounter between Abraham and Melchizedek in Genesis 14: 1-16; 18-20.

IDEA 1

Believers have a priest who gives us constant access to God.

The silence of Scripture about his birth, death, and genealogy was a type which resembled the eternal priesthood of Christ.

Melchizedek was simply a mortal man who in many ways resembled and prefigured the Son of God.

The record about Melchizedek was arranged so that it demonstrated some truths which applied more fully to Jesus than to Melchizedek. Melchizedek was a figure of Christ, but Christ was the reality.

In his humanity Jesus Christ had a human mother and a human genealogy and birth. As the Son of God, he remains the same eternally, and his years will never end (Heb. 1:12).

The silence of Scripture about the succession to Melchizedek suggested that he had a permanent priesthood. In the timelessness of his priesthood, Melchizedek resembled the Son of God. In the case of Christ, his nature guaranteed his perpetuity. The fulfillment in Jesus was more glorious than the type in Melchizedek.

IDEA 2

The greatness of Melchizedek provided a symbol of our great access to God.

Proof of His Greatness (vv. 4-10)

Melchizedek did not trace his lineage from Levi. He was not a brother to the Levites. He stood out as a lonely figure of grandeur. He did not receive tithes from his brothers, but from Abraham. Abraham’s willing surrender of a tenth of his spoils to Melchizedek further revealed the majesty of this mysterious priest.

Jewish readers would perceive that the lesser person is blessed by the greater.

In these seven verses (4-10) are listed four evidences of the greatness of the priesthood of Melchizedek:

1. Abraham gave him tithes.

2. Melchizedek blessed Abraham.

3. Melchizedek had an eternal priesthood.

4. Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek through Abraham.

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The second part (vv 11-28) focuses on the specific promise of Psalm 110:4, about the Messiah being a priest like Melchizedek, and applies it to the Lord Jesus.

IDEA 3

vv. 11-14 The Old Testament methods of providing for God’s people did not produce holiness in them.

7:12-14 We see the outlining of the change of the priesthood.

A change of the priesthood describes more than the transfer of the office from one person to another. An entirely new kind of priesthood was appearing, disclosing a fundamental difference between the priesthood of Melchizedek and that of Aaron and the Levites.

The priesthood of Aaron and the Levites developed under the Mosaic Law. If the Levitical priesthood were temporary, then the Law supporting it must also be temporary. The designation of the Messiah as a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek implied that the new priestly order had replaced the old order of Aaron.

David and Solomon came from the royal tribe of Judah and offered sacrifices (2 Sam. 6:12–13; 1 Kgs. 3:4), but their offering was occasional and not their regular function. Only the tribe of Levi provided priests for serving at the altars during the Old Testament period. This sets the stage for declaring that Jesus became the High Priest of an entirely new order of priesthood despite his genealogical failure to descend from a priestly tribe.

7:14. Revelation 5:5 designates Jesus as a descendant of the tribe of Judah. The narrative in Matthew 2:6 assumes the same fact. The descent of Jesus from Judah was an acknowledged part of tradition. The genealogies in Matthew and Luke provide support for this.

Psalm 110:4 addresses the Messiah (see Matt. 22:41–46). The words of this psalm refer to Jesus. The psalm declares Jesus to be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. The writer of Hebrews saw that the Levitical priesthood had been replaced by another order. Nothing that Moses had said in the Pentateuch had prepared for this change of events which produced amazement at the uniqueness of the divine plan.

The greatness of Jesus’ priesthood appeared in that First, Jesus was an eternal High Priest (7:8, 16, 24). Because Jesus was eternal, he always lived to pray for his people. Second, Jesus’ high priestly ministry was effective not merely for earthly ordinances but also for heavenly realities. Jesus entered into heaven itself and carried on his work for us in God’s presence (Heb. 9:24).

An eternal High Priest who can bring us to God! That is what we need. In Jesus that is what we have.

IDEA 4

vv. 15-28 God’s divine oath and Jesus’ permanent priestly ministry and character provide a superior priesthood for believers today.

7:15. The failure of the old has established the necessity of a new priesthood. Verse 15 is based on two assumptions. First, the priesthood of Christ is accepted without dispute. Despite his origins from the tribe of Judah, Jesus had a right to the priestly office, a right transcending tribal qualifications.

Second, it is assumed that in Melchizedek we have evidence for an earlier priestly order accommodating the ministry of Christ. The priesthood of Melchizedek foreshadowed the priestly ministry of Christ in a way that Aaron’s successors never did. Psalm 110 provides clear evidence that God had planned for another priestly order which had no connection with the laws of Moses. The spiritual ineffectiveness and temporary nature of the Levitical priesthood made the initiation of another priestly order a necessity.

Death removed the descendants of Aaron from serving. Jesus continued forever because he was alive eternally. The Aaronic priesthood was temporary and ineffective, but the priesthood of Jesus was permanent and effective.

Jesus did experience death, but his resurrection presented him as indestructible. Jesus is able to continue his priestly ministry because of his resurrection and ascension into God’s presence. Death could not restrain Jesus, nor did it destroy his priesthood. Jesus discharged his ministry for his people with a life which knew no destruction.

Jesus’ character, his sacrifice, and the power of his resurrection pledge the strength of the new covenant. This is the first appearance of the term covenant in Hebrews. We’ll see this word covenant again in the coming chapters. The covenant was an arrangement by which God’s purpose to save human beings became a reality. This new covenant depended on the saving work of Christ to accomplish its purpose.

So, The idea is not that Jesus first became perfect and then became High Priest. Jesus’ nature was perfect from the beginning. He came to earth as a perfect High Priest. His earthly life was an exhibition of the moral perfection he always possessed. It is true that his suffering developed in him an ability to understand our needs and to become an even more effective Savior (Heb. 2:10). His eternal perfection allowed him to meet the needs of sinful, wandering human beings.

MAIN IDEA REVIEW: In Jesus God provided struggling sinners better access to him than Old Testament believers ever had.

Principles

• In Jesus God has given us a great and powerful representative in his presence.

• The ministry of Old Testament priests did not produce godly people.

• Jesus’ ministry for us is effective because it is permanent.

• Jesus’ ministry for us is effective because Jesus has spotless character.

Applications

• Offer praise and thanksgiving to God for the greatness of the ministry which Christ has for you.

• Find hope in the fact that Christ is able to save you completely (Heb. 7:25).

• Cast the burden of your failures on Christ because his sacrifice has paid for all your sins.

• Make no excuses for your own failures but claim strength and forgiveness from Christ to move forward in obedience.

Conclusion:

The Lord Jesus is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them (Heb. 7:25).

Purity, permanence, and predominance are three features that make Jesus a perfect representative for stumbling sinners. We need someone of spotless character and superior position to represent us before God with stability. These are the traits which we have in Jesus. This is the kind of high priest God gives us in Jesus. This is the kind of representative who can bring us into God’s presence. This is the type of high priest who can produce other holy people. Thank God. We have this in Jesus.

Father, thank you again for Jesus, our perfect priest. Jesus, I confess my sins before you. I am imperfect. I need forgiveness. I depend on your prayers before the Father and on your death on the cross to atone for my sins. Now unholy as I am, I can draw near my holy God because you are my holy intercessor. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

Lea, Thomas D. Hebrews, James. Vol. 10. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999. Print. Holman New Testament Commentary.