Sermon Tone Analysis

The Author is Showing Us a Shadow of Jesus in Melchizedek

The Goal of this Sermon is to Encourage Hebrew Christians to:

Stay Faithful to Jesus

Not Turn Back to Judaism

To Recognize the Superiority of Jesus to All that is Under the Old Covenant

The Point of Chapter 7 is that Jesus’ Priesthood is Superior to the Levitical Priesthood

And We See that Through the Type of Melchizedek

Melchizedek’s Priesthood was Greater Than the Levitical One…

At Least Figuratively/Symbolically

But Everything that was Figurative/Symbolic About Melchizedek…

Is a Reality in Jesus

King of Righteousness

King of Peace

Not of the Levitical Priestly Line

Is Eternal - Without Beginning or End

Priesthood is Perpetual/Never Ends

Greater Than Abraham

Priesthood is Greater than the Levitical Priesthood

Hebrews 7:11–19 (NLT)

So if the priesthood of Levi, on which the law was based, could have achieved the perfection God intended, why did God need to establish a different priesthood, with a priest in the order of Melchizedek instead of the order of Levi and Aaron?

And if the priesthood is changed, the law must also be changed to permit it.

For the priest we are talking about belongs to a different tribe, whose members have never served at the altar as priests.

What I mean is, our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never mentioned priests coming from that tribe.

This change has been made very clear since a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has appeared.

Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed.

And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless.

For the law never made anything perfect.

But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Before We Move to the Next Passage, I Want to Look at Verses 18-19…

Because Last Time We Had to Speed Through Them

Hebrews 7:18–19 (NASB95)

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (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.

On the One Hand and On the Other Hand was a Common Greek Way of Comparing 2 Things

When this Way of Comparison is Used…

The Emphasis is Always On “the Other Hand”

Hebrews 7:18–19 (NASB95)

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (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.

“Setting Aside” = To Cancel/Annul Something

The Old Law (Specifically the Law of the Levitical Priesthood) was Cancelled/Annulled

Why?

Hebrews 7:18–19 (NASB95)

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (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.

In What Way was the Law Weak and Useless?

Because, as We Saw in Verse 11, it was Incapable of Bringing About the Desired End

The Old Law and Levitical Priesthood Were Not Capable of:

Entering Behind the Veil into God’s Presence to Be a Perpetual Priesthood for the Humanity…

And Reconcile Us Back to a Close, Intimate, Everlasting Relationship with God

The Levitical Priesthood was Weak and Useless…

Because it Could Not Bring Us to that Desired End

The Old Law and Priesthood Were On the One Hand…

Now Let’s See What’s On the Other

Hebrews 7:18–19 (NASB95)

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (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.

The New High Priesthood Brings a Better Hope

What is the Better Hope?

It’s Already Been Referred to in Hebrews 6:19-20

Hebrews 6:19–20 (NASB95)

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

The Better Hope We Have Under Jesus’ High Priesthood…

Is the Hope of Having a Forerunner Who Has Entered into God’s Heavenly Presence…

To Provide Us a Way into His Presence as Well

The Levitical High Priest Would Enter Behind the Veil of the Tabernacle/Temple…

But He Could Only Do that Once a Year…

And Only He was Ever Allowed to Enter

The Desired End is that We All Get to Once Again Live in God’s Holy Presence

Only Jesus’ High Priesthood Makes This a Reality

Hebrews 7:18–19 (NASB95)

For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (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.

Because We Have this Hope of a Forerunner in God’s Presence for Us…

We Draw Near to God

This Hope is Our Source of Confidence to Draw Near to God

Knowing Jesus is There On My Behalf, Interceding for Me…

I Can Approach God with Confidence

This Hope Doesn’t Just Give Us the Confidence to Draw Near to God…

It is What Makes Drawing Near to God Possible

Without Jesus as Our High Priest and Intercessor in the Presence of God…

We Would Have No Way of Drawing Near to God

Jesus’ High Priesthood Gives Us the Way and the Confidence…

To Approach God and Have a Close, Intimate, Everlasting Relationship with Him

That was Impossible Under the Old System

Hebrews 7:20–28 (NLT)

This new system was established with a solemn oath.

Aaron’s descendants became priests without such an oath, but there was an oath regarding Jesus.

For God said to him, “The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow: ‘You are a priest forever.’

” Because of this oath, Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God.

There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office.

But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever.

Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him.

He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin.

He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.

Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day.

They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people.

But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins.

The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness.

But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever.

Hebrews 7:20–21 (NASB95)

And inasmuch as it was not without an oath (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’ ”);

The Hebrew Author Has Talked a Lot About Oaths Lately