C195 The New Priesthood

INTRODUCTION

A. Introducing Melchizedek

B. Is this from God or logically concluded?

C. Problem with this passage: We wish we knew more

BODY

I. Explanation of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7.1-3)

A. Point: to explain connection between Christ and Melchizedek

1. We are introduced to Melchizedek in Genesis 14.17-20

Genesis 14:17–20 NASB95

Then after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” He gave him a tenth of all.

2. Connection introduced in Hebrews 5.6

3. Referenced in Psalm 110.4

Psalm 110 NASB95

A Psalm of David. The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.” Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power; In holy array, from the womb of the dawn, Your youth are to You as the dew. The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country. He will drink from the brook by the wayside; Therefore He will lift up His head.

B. See the 7 Attributes

1. Royal Nature-King

What stands out about his kingship and kingdom?

He is king of Salem (later, we find out this means “peace”

Some suggest this is the earliest location of Jerusalem (note the word)

Not necessarily the point that this is Jerusalem, although that is a cool and interesting fact if it were true.

2. Spiritual Nature-Priest

What stands out about his priesthood?

He was a priest (not a high priest, though)

How was he a priest?

Who knows? How did Abraham know about God?

What were his responsibilities as a priest?

What made him stand out as a priest?

The text is silent

3. Blessed Abraham

What was the purpose or reason for the blessing?

It was a thanking of God/acknowledging of God for the work He had done in/through Abram.

Abram was victorious in rescuing Lot and gaining much spoil (whereas the other kings were unsuccessful).

What is significant of the blessing (later pointed out by the Hebrews author)?

The lesser is blessed by the greater. This establishes the “pecking order.”

With this order, it establishes the superiority of Melchizedek above anything from Abraham (the founder of the faith).

4. Received Tithe

Tithe = tenth

What is significant with a tithe? Who gains it?

It was paid by those who received benefit/blessing from the priests TOWARD the priests.

This was Abraham demonstrating Melchizedek WAS a priest (only priests received the tenth).

5. King of Righteousness

From where does this conclusion come?

The name:

Melek [H4428] (king) and tsedeq [H6664] (righteousness)

Therefore, his name means “king of righteousness”

6. King of Peace

Where does this conclusion come from?

From the home town of Melchizedek.

Salem is the same Hebrew word for peace: Shalom.

7. Eternal Nature-Genealogy-less

Where does this come from?

Does this mean Melchizedek was supernatural and without genealogy?

Not necessarily.

Theories:

Melchizedek was a man, used as an example by the Hebrews author. He was recognized by Abraham as superior to Abraham (remember, this was still early in Abraham’s relationship, as recorded in scripture, with God). This would mean the ideas developed by the Hebrews author come from just the text, and inferences drawn from the text.

Melchizedek was an incarnation of God. There is nothing in the Genesis account to reveal this (Abraham doesn’t worship this man and the text does not point to anything divine or supernatural, as with the other times Abraham interacts with angels.)

C. How this is important to Christ

1. What has Christ already been proven to be?

A king AND a priest.

Melchizedek fits within these.

2. What is proven about Christ as seen in Melchizedek?

He is royal and a priest.

He is superior to Abraham (as this priesthood and priest is superior to Abraham), and thus all that which proceeds from Abraham.

He is King of Righteousness.

He is King of Peace.

He is Eternal in nature.

3. This connects to the main point (and proven in the next text): Christ’s superiority

Christ is connected to this priesthood.

This priesthood is superior.

Therefore, Christ is superior.

II. Superiority of Melchizedekian Priesthood (Hebrews 7.4-10)

A.

B.

III. Christ as the Melchizedekian Priest (Hebrews 7.11-28)

A. A Change in Priesthood (He 7.11-22)

B. A More Effective Priesthood (He 7.22-28)

CONCLUSION

A. Point: Superiority of Christ and His Priesthood

1. Why would this be important?

2. How is this proven?

B. Question: From God (divine inspiration) or from logical deduction (anyone could have seen it)?