God’s Perfect Will in the Purpose of Christ Part II Lesson 23 (Hebrews 7:1-10)

Key Verse:

Hebrews 7:3 (NKJV)

3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

I. Introduction to Melchizedek (v. 1-3)

A. Many people have conjectured of who Melchizedek was. Some believe that he was an angel, but this would be inconsistent with scripture because in chapter 5 it says:

Hebrews 5:1 (NASB) 1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;

B. Some believe that Melchizedek was Christ Himself in the Old Testament, and the reason they believe that is because of the mystery around him, having no father or mother, being as it says in verse 7:

Hebrews 7:1 (NASB) 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,

C. but in verse three really sums up in one verse who he was, then the next two chapters expand on who he was, his importance. He will expand on the temporal duties of the earthly priests, the temporary use of the tabernacle and the complete and finished work of Christ, verse three says:

Hebrews 7:3 (NASB) 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.

D. It says that he was made like the Son of God but does not acknowledge him as the Son of God. A rose is not like a rose, it is either a rose or it isn’t. being like something isn’t the same as being something. To be like something is only an image of something else. Just like roses, there are many types of roses. For instance, there are Floribunda roses and there are Polyantha roses. They are both roses but they are different types of roses. The Floribunda rose can’t become a Polyantha and vise versa. In the case of Melchizedek, you have a type of Christ but there is only one Christ, and that is the picture we have here of Melchizedek.

II. Melchizedek Greater Than the Earthly Priests

A. The writer of Hebrews then compares the earthly priest to Melchizedek and describes for us the importance of Melchizedek and the Melchizedek is higher than the earthly priests. the Levites were assigned by God for the the earthly priesthood duties to carry out the duties of the earthly tabernacle for the intercession for the people (Deuteronomy 18:1–8 (NKJV). However, the earthly duties of the Levites could never be the perfect sacrifice so they would have to repeat the duties once a year for the atonement of the people.

B. Considering the order of Melchizedek, the writer of Hebrews describes Melchizedek as higher than the earthly priests. Melchizedek is described as being higher than earthly priests and that even the earthly priests, through Abraham, payed a tithe to Him (Hebrews 7:4–10 (NKJV).

Read Hebrews 7:4-10

Hebrews 7:4–10 NKJV

Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

C. Jesus really confused the Pharisees when he was debating them about who He was in Matthew 22:41-44. Jesus asked them a question about “The Christ” speaking in third person and asked them “who’s Son is He?” They replied to Jesus and said that He is “The Son of David.” Then Jesus confused them even more bay asking them “How then does David in the Spirit call Him “Lord? and then Jesus refers them back to the Old Testament in Psalm 110:1. Jesus was asking them that if He was a descendent of David, how could David looking down through time call Him Lord? In Psalm 110:4 David changed the liniage from him, David, to Melchizedek and eternal priestly line.

E. Jesus was not called from the earthly priestly line of Aaron but He was called from the priestly line of Melchizedek who was God’s High Priest and not a substitute like the priest in the lineage of Aaron, the Levites the human priestly line.

Hebrews 7:11–13 NKJV

Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.

III. Melchizedek, the King of Salem

A. The history of Melchizedek is found in Genesis 14:17-24 so we read in verse 17

Genesis 14:17(NKJV)

And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

B. Let me give you the reference of what is going on in this chapter of Genesis. Abraham is coming back from his victory and slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him. Chedorlaomer and the kings with him went our conquering and to conquer. In that region during that time, there were smaller kingdoms and pockets of land that were ruled by chieftains that consisted of smaller clans and tribes. Chedorlaomer and his cohort kings in their endeavor to take over the region ended up conquering the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah, carried away all the splendor and the people including Abraham’s nephew Lot.

C. When Abraham got word of this, he armed some men and went and defeated Chedorlaomer and the other kings. So Abraham is coming back from this victory, the king of Sodom goes out to meet with Abraham and they meet in the valley of Shaveh. It was here that Melchizedek, the King of Salem brought bread and wine and was identified as the “King Most High.” That is the beginning and the end of all that you here of Melchizedek until 1000 years later as David made reference to him in Psalm 110:4, and then here, another 1000 years later as the Hebrews considers the priesthood of Melchizedek.

IV. National Lineage vs Universal Lineage

A. There are basically four Characteristics of Aaron’s priesthood and it was National.

It was Judaistic and served the Jews

They were subjected to the earthly kingdom

Aaron’s priesthood could not offer any permanent atonement

Aaron’s priesthood was hereditary through the Levites

B. This is very Important because Christ is the greater priest than anyone in the lineage of Aaron. The New covenant is better than the old Covenant because it has a permanent fix for humanities sin problem. This is the whole point to Paul’s preaching and the whole point here is Hebrews. God is is trying to get the Jews to realize this new covenant and turn from their old ways of Judaism to Christ for a permanent and final atonement for their sin. The old and continual sacrifice is no longer needed because of the blood atonement of Christ. Christ is superior and High Priest.

C. Melchizedek's Priesthood was Universal

i. The bible says that Melchizedek is the priest of the “Most High God.”

This is a universal name of God, El Elyon, and it means that it reaches everywhere and everything on earth and in heaven. This is the universal name of God. Melchizedek was not given the name of Jehovah, it doesn’t say that He was the high priest of Jehovah, but the name given to him but that related that is was for all men. Jesus is the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Its significant to know this because Jesus is the Messiah of the world whereas Melchizedek is related to humanity.

ii. Melchizedek was royalty.

He was a king and it says in verse two that he was the king or righteousness. The king of Salem means “King of Peace.”

iii. Melchizedek’s priesthood was one of peace and righteousness.

The translation of Melchizedek is King or Righteousness. He is also the King of Salem which is the King of peace. Melchizedek’s name is righteousness but His City is peace. All Priests attempt to be righteous, but we know in scripture that there is none righteous Romans 3:10. to be righteous means to be holy. Before anyone can be at peace with God, they must become holy. The world doesn’t know holiness and so the world is not a peace with God and God fights against unholiness. There is a fight between righteousness and unrighteousness. If a person is not made righteous in Christ to God then they are not at peace with God and fight against God. But if you are made holy in Christ you are made clean, righteous in Him and you are at peace with God.

After a sinner comes to Christ and invites Christ into their life what happens? Does that person have to go back to the alter again and invite Jesus into their life again? No. That person is covered by the righteousness of Christ and it covers him forever. If you sin, do you all of a sudden become God’s enemy again? No. Jesus Christ has secured your position in Him to God and you are at peace with God but you are at war in your flesh.

Melchizedek was obviously a righteous and peaceful king. But the text doesn’t deal with his characteristics, it only addresses Melchizedek as a type of Christ in the Old Testament .

iv. In the order of Melchizedek, Christ is personal to the believer

The priestly duty of the lineage of Aaron wasn’t personal. The human priestly duties do not physically enter into the body as it does with Christ. many people didn’t even know the priest personally, they knew them by name only. With Christ each person has a personal relationship with Christ unlike those Judaic priest in the Jewish community.

V. Conclusion

So it breaks down like this. Melchizedek is better than the human priestly line of Aaron, Jesus is the in the order of Melchizedek became the High Priest forever, so Christ is the better priesthood of them all. the priesthood of Christ is universal, totally righteous, peaceful, royal, and eternal. So we end with this, a passage we have already studied:

Hebrews 4:14–16 NKJV

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/1616/melchizedek-a-type-of-christ