Men's Breakfast Devo

Melchizedek

Who do you look up to?

That person is someone who has done something great, maybe not in the world, or maybe yes in the world. But that person has done something that has let you look up to them.

For the nation of Israel there is a few characters that stands high in their regards. Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, David.

However in the book of Hebrews there is one above these, one that was more perfect. Melchizedek.

Lets turn to Hebrews 7:1-10

Hebrews 7:1–10 NIV

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

What made Melchizedek perfect?

Was he perfect?

What was his flaw? In the limited knowledge we have about him?

Jesus like Melchizedek

Yes Melchizedek was not perfect he suffered the same fate that you and I suffer, that we inherit sin from the beginning, from Adam. Romans 5:12

Romans 5:12 NIV

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

Can someone read Hebrews 7:11-17

Hebrews 7:11–17 NIV

If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Who was the priests in Israel? What tribe was Melchizdek? What tribe was Jesus?

Why was it important that Jesus did not come from the tribe of Levites?

How does Jesus being the successor of Melchizdek and from the tribe of Judah change your view on Mission?

Christs Death

How does Jesus compare to Melchizdek

Lets read Hebrews 8:1-7

Hebrews 8:1–7 NIV

Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being. Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises. For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.

Does Jesus fit the role of the earthly high priest?

What is the signifigance of Jesus as our high priest?

Jesus is our mediator, we cannot get to the father as we are still sin filled people, we still have the inheirted peice of our lifes.

However Jesus tell us he will be the one who bridges the gap between us and the father.

John 14:15–21 NIV

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

In this season we are aware of how important Jesus and his sacrafice is, but I think if we look at it through this lense we see just the value in the man that we sent to the Cross.