Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Scripture

Outline

Hebrews 1-2 - Jesus is Greater Than the Angels

Hebrews 1:1-4 - God has Spoken

Hebrews 1:5-14 - The Son is Superior to the Angels

Hebrews 2:1-4 - A Warning

Hebrews 2:5-9 - Lowliness to Crowning Glory

Hebrews 2:10-18 - Jesus has Delivered His Brothers

Hebrews 3:1-4:13 - Jesus is a Greater Rest

Hebrews 3:1-6 - Jesus is Worthy of More Glory Than Moses

Hebrews 3:7-19 - Disobedience After the Exodus

Hebrews 4:1-13 - A Sabbath Rest for God’s People

Hebrews 4:14-7:28 - Jesus is Greater than Melchizedek

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus is the Great High Priest

Hebrews 5:1-10 - Jesus is the High Priest After the Order of Melchizedek

Hebrews 5:11-6:20 - Warning and Exhortation

Hebrews 5:11-14 - Failure to Mature

Hebrews 6:1-8 - Pursue Maturity

Hebrews 6:9-12 - Loving Motivation

Hebrews 6:13-20 - The Promise of God’s Word and God’s Oath

Hebrews 7:1-10 - The Greatness of Melchizedek

Hebrews 7:11-19 - Jesus’ Priesthood is Needed

Hebrews 7:20-28 - Jesus Guarantees a Better Covenant

Hebrews 7:20-22 - A Priest From an Oath

Hebrews 7:23-25 - A Permanent Priesthood

Hebrews 7:26-28 - The Sinless Priest

Purpose of Book

Christ, who has accomplished salvation through His atoning sacrifice, is greater than all things; therefore, persevere in true faith and encourage others to do likewise

Main Point

Jesus, the pure high priest, continues in His priesthood forever because of the Lord’s solemn oath

Hebrews 7:20-22 - A Priest From an Oath

***Inclusio is formed in this chapter by “Son” in vss. 3 & 28***

***Chapter is broken into three sections - 1-10, 11-19, & 20-28***

***Smaller inclusio is formed in vss.

1-10 by “met”***

***Smaller inclusio is formed in vss.

11-19 by “perfect” & “law”***

***Smaller inclusio is formed in vss.

20-28 by “oath”***

And it was not without an oath.

Without an oath

Committing oneself to the stipulations and penalties of an oath

For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath,

Without an oath

Committing oneself to the stipulations and penalties of an oath

But this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

This one

Jesus

With an oath

Committing oneself to the stipulations and penalties of an oath

The one who said to him

“The Lord has sworn, and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’.”

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

A bit of foreshadowing as the author will write about a better covenant in Hebrews 8

Guarantor

1. guarantor — a person of sufficient means who offers his belongings, freedom, or often his life as an assurance that another person will meet certain specifications or requirements; especially in a financial context of debt repayment.

Not only is Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, he guarantees the blessings reaching those who are God’s

Better

Superior to another

Covenant

An agreement better God and man

The oath sworn by the Lord to Christ qualifies Jesus as the guarantor of the better covenant

Hebrews 7:23-25 - A Permanent Priesthood

The former priests were many in number,

Because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,

Prevented by death

Josephus mentions there were 83 high priests from Aaron to the destruction of the temple in 70AD

But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.

He continues forever - Psalm 110:4 reference

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him,

Uttermost

Completely

Through him

There is only one way to draw near to God - through Christ

Since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Intercession

Appeal

Christ as the eternal high priest belongs to more than our past, our future, BUT ALSO NOW!

Hebrews 7:26-28 - The Sinless Priest

***Conclusion of his argument and also setting up Hebrews 8:1-10:18***

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest,

Holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

Holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners - He is PURE

Holy

Morally and ritually pure

Innocent

Free from evil or guilt

Unstained

Free from blemish, pure

Separated from sinners

Exalted above the heavens

He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily,

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.

Once for all

One occasion and never repeated again

Offered up himself

He is the sacrifice and the high priest which will be further developed in Hebrews 9