Hebrews 7
Letter to the Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Today we are going to begin our study of the better priesthood of Christ. The writer of Hebrews will start by explaining the better order: the order of Melchizedek.
Chapters 7 explains a better priesthood, Chapter 8, a better covenant, chapter 9, a better sanctuary and chapter 10, a better sacrifice.
Today we will look at Chapter 7 in which our writer presents three arguments for the superiority of the priesthood of Christ is superior to the priesthood of Aaron. The first if the Historical argument: Melchizedek and Abraham.
The Order of Melchizedek
The Order of Melchizedek
Let us read Hebrews 7:1-10
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. 4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. 6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
We read Genesis 14:17-24 two weeks ago when we studied Hebrews 5. You might want to open your bibles there now for reference. The writer of Hebrews begins this section with a reprisal of what occured and expands upon several key points.
Melchizedek was both Priest and King. (v1)
In the Old Testament, the offices were separate. If one attempted to invade the space of the other, they were judged by God.
Melchizedek, however, held both roles - legitimately! He was a priest of the Most High God (Genesis 14:18, 22 )
He was also the King of Salem - King of Peace!
His name was translated as King of Righteousness.
Righteousness and Peace are often used together in Scripture
17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, And the service of righteousness, quietness and confidence forever.
10 Lovingkindness and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
7 In his days may the righteous flourish, And abundance of peace till the moon is no more.
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
True peace can only be experienced on the basis of Righteousness.
He received tithes from Abraham.
Tithe means one tenth. Under the law, the Jews - the descendants of Abraham - were to give 1/10th of their crops, herds and flocks to God. ( Lev 27:30-32 ) They were to be given to the tribe of Levi. If the distance was to far, it was converted to money.
It was an ancient practice, being established long before Moses.
Melchizedek was a man
He had to have a mother and father. But there is no record of his genealogy in the Old Testament. It was important for Priests to show they were descendants of Levi.
He was not an angel and not an appearance of Christ in the Old Testament. He was a real man, a true priest and a valid King.
As far as the record showed, he was not born and did not die - He is a ‘type’ for Jesus Christ.
Neither Aaron nor any of his descendants could claim to be without genealogy and have an endless ministry.
He had the authority to receive tithes and to bless Abraham.
His greatness is shown by the patriarch giving him tithes from the spoils of his battle to free Lot.
Also by Abraham receiving his blessing.
These facts affirmed the greatness of Melchizedek
Christ and Aaron
Christ and Aaron
Let’s continue in Hebrews 7
11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. 15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is attested of Him, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” 18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. 20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever’ ”); 22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Our writer continues his argument by stating that the order of Melchizedek has replaced the order of Aaron. Why?
Because both the Levitical priesthood and the Law were imperfect! Perfection is a keyword in our letter. It means “completed” or “fulfilled”.
The Old Testament priest could not complete the work of God in the hearts of the people. Animal sacrifices were not permanent and could not present the penitent as righteous before God.
The law of Moses made np provision for a priest from the tribe of Judah. Since Christ is of that tribe, there had to be a change in the Law!
The entire system had been completed in Christ and the believer set free from the Law.
1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.
1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. 3 So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.
But this does not mean that we are free to sin… the indwelling of the Spirit enables us to yield to Him.
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Being imperfect, Levitical the priesthood could not last forever,
Jesus Christ was made a priest by declaration of God and is a priest forever, by the basis of His death and resurrection. No Levite ever rose from the dead.
And since He rose from the dead, He can never be replaced as High Priest, When He abolished the Law, he abolished the Levitical Priesthood. But none can abolish the priesthood of Christ! He is a priest forever!
4 The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”
Notice the opening of this verse: “The Lord swore and will not change His mind”. The matter is settled. It cannot be changed. God is Change-less.
As the one mediator between God and Man, Jesus Christ is God’s assurance that His covenant will be fulfilled completely.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
Hebrews 7:25 states
25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Levitical priests, being men, died. They could not make intercession forever. But Jesus Christ can - and does - intercede for us continuously.
Intercession involves our Lord’s representation of His people at the Throne of God. As believers we are able to draw close to God in prayer and to offer spiritual sacrifices to Him.
Peter writes:
5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Let us continue in Hebrews 7
Christ and the Believer
Christ and the Believer
26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.
Because the levitical priest were imperfect, they could not meet the true needs of the people.
But Christ, being perfect, could meet our needs perfectly. He was made man for us so that through His death and Resurrection, we might be made perfect through Him.
This is the High Priest we need - one who offered one sacrifice, once for all, that satisfied the requirements of the Law forever.
A man cannot satisfy the requirements of the Law. Only God can.
The levitical priest were flawed men that offered a flawed sacrifice that could never fully meet those requirements. Why should we remain under the law?
Our true hope and our true salvation lies only in the eternal Priest and King, Jesus Christ.
Today is the feast of Pentecost. It commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus ascended into Heaven, He promised us that He would send the Counselor who would strengthen us. He told Nicodemus:
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
When we become believers, we are born again - and born of the Spirit.
Let us pray.