Hebrews 7:11-28

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Hebrews 7:11-28

Introduction

Image: We will probably not be tempted to retreat to the Levitical priesthood when persecution or societal pressure increases. Our temptation will most likely be to seek culturally acceptable representatives to manage our reputation and comfort. We will run to other priests:

Political Priests: I am on this team. I belong to this party. These people are the right people and we agree about everything.

Popularity Priests: I love all the things that all the other people love. I’m okay! All the other people know I am just like them and they like me.

Purchasing Priests: I shop at the right places, support the right companies, and buy the right things. These companies care about me.

Professional Priests: I work hard and I am a good employee. People value me.

Need: When we are navigating perseverance in this culture, we will discover that these other priests won’t mediate anything for us. If you transgress your political party at all, they will eat you. If you think the mob likes you because you like what they like, wait until you dislike something they like. If you think for-profit organizations care about anything other than making money, you are out of your mind. No matter how good you are at your job, you are replaceable. These priests can’t pay for your sins, nor will they offer forgiveness, nor will they provide refuge and strength in suffering. We need a better representative; a better priest.

Topic: Jesus Mediates Our Perseverance as a Superior Priest.

Reference: Hebrews 7:11-28

Organization: The Need for a New Priesthood (7:11-19); The Greatness of the New Priest (7:20-28).

Exposition

The Need for a New Priesthood (Hebrews 7:11-19)

Reference: The Levitical priesthood was lacking.

Imperfection (11-12) See Hebrews 9:13-14; New Priesthood = New Law (Matt. 5:17-18)

Hebrews 9:13–14 ESV

13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Matthew 5:17–18 ESV

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Judah’s Descendant (13-14): See Matthew 1; Luke 3; Judah did not produce priests. For that to occur, the very law would have to change. God can do that. He made it (Heb. 4:14).

Hebrews 4:14 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Indestructible Life (15-17): Christ’s Priesthood is Different...

No Levitical Ancestry (15-16)

No Death to Discontinue His Service (16-17)

A Better Hope (18-19)

Weakness + Uselessness = Hopelessness! The law couldn’t take away sin. Romans 3:20

Romans 3:20 ESV

20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Christ, in fulfillment of the law offered actual hope! See Hebrews 4: 14-16; 6:19-20 [Look Up]

Relevance: The Levitical priesthood was lacking. Our modern pseudo-priests are lacking too. Our modern pseudo-priests are weak and useless. They can’t pay for our sins or change our hearts. At best, they can make us feel better momentarily. But when the moment is gone, we are left alone with no representative.

The Greatness of the New Priest (Hebrews 7:20-28)

Reference: Christ’s Priesthood is Superior

Because of God’s Oath (20-22) See Jeremiah 31:33; Galatians 3:19-20; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6-10; 9:15; 12:24 . Laws can be amended. An oath lasts forever.

Because of His Eternality (23-25)

Problem (23): Temporal priests

Permanence (24): Christ is an eternal priest

Purpose (25):

Complete Salvation

Constant Intercession (Romans 8:31-34; Hebrews 9:24)

Romans 8:31–34 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Because of His Superior Sacrifice (26-27)

Holy: Pure

Innocent: Without fault, guiltless

Unstained: Undefiled, untainted

Separated from Sinners: not associated with; exultation of Christ to a heavenly world

Exalted Above the Heavens: position of glory

Once For All (27)

Because of His Perfection (28): men appointed to the office of priest were sinful and weak, but Christ is the perfect high priest.

Relevance: Christ’s priesthood is infinitely superior to the Levitical priesthood, so why would you want to return to an inferior, ineffective, hopeless system? All of our systems are equally as hopeless. Why would we run to inferior, ineffective, hopeless systems? Christ is our only hope!

Exhortation

Resist the Temptation to Abandon Christ for Inferior Representatives:

Political Priests can’t pay for your sins or fix your brokenness, and they won’t receive you if you transgress the party line.

Popularity Priests can’t pay for your sins or fix your brokenness, and they won’t receive you if you do something “unpopular.”

Purchasing Priests can’t pay for your sins or fix your brokenness, and they won’t receive you if you need help.

Professional Priests can’t pay for your sins or fix your brokenness, and they won’t receive you if they can get someone at half your salary.

Personal Identity Priests; Personal Relationship Priests

Cultural Christianity’s Priests can’t pay for your sins or fix your brokenness, and they won’t receive you if you have real questions, real pain, real need. Cultural Christianity can’t represent you well because it doesn’t represent Christianity well. Cultural Christianity is a safe, spiritually vapid hobby. The second anything becomes controversial, or begins to look spiritually rigorous, cultural Christians head for the door.

Jesus is the only priest who will mediate your perseverance. Jesus is the only priest constantly interceding for you before the ear of the one true and living God. The other saviors will fail you.

Read Scripture to know and follow Jesus.

Pray Scripture to rid your mind of the messages of faulty priests and idols.

Come to church and encourage one another to resist temptation and represent Jesus!

Preach: Luther: “Why do you preach the same gospel every week? Because every week you forget.”

SING!

Conclusion: On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.