#Hebrews 7:1-28

THE PRIESTHOOD CONSIDERED

Hebrews Seven

INTRODUCTION

The best, and worst, plans of people eventually end because of death. No matter how we try to avoid or delay the event of death, it comes. Some die ‘prematurely’ while others hang on for years.

The Wisdom Books of the Old Testament have much to say regarding life and the length of a person’s life. These verses are germane to understanding the strength and weakness of priesthoods.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.   Psalm 90:12

Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass         Job 14:5

The Jewish priesthood was changing, sometimes several times in one generation. The only certainty within the priesthood was they had to have a replacement ready though they did not know when the transition would take place.

This chapter shows the uniqueness and power of the new priesthood. Our priest will never die again. There will never be a change in leadership. He, and He alone, will lead us forever.

I. THE SUPERIOR PRIESTHOOD IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST        vs. 1-10

     A. The Relationship of Melchisedec to Abraham        vs. 1

NOTE: Genesis 14:17-20

     B. The Offices Of Melchisedec

          1. Melchisedec was a king     Genesis 14:18a

NOTE: Jerusalem had a king centuries before David

          2. Melchisedec was a priest  Genesis 14:18b

NOTE: God had a priest long before Aaron

     C. The Power Of The Office Of Melchisedec

          1. Melchisedec blessed Abraham   vs.1

NOTE: Deuteronomy 21:5

NOTE: The final act of Christ on earth       Luke 24:50

          2. Melchisedec was recognized as a priest of God by Abraham’s giving of the tithes  vs. 2

               a. The Levitical priests were supported by the tithe     Numbers 18:24

               b. God’s servants are likewise today supported by the tithe   I Corinthians 9:9-10

     D. Melchisedec Was A Shadow Of Christ

          1. Jesus is the ‘Righteous One’        I John 2:1

               a. Jesus came to fulfill all righteousness  Matthew 3:17

               b. In Jesus we are made “the righteousness of God”   II Corinthians 5:21

          2. King of Salem (‘Salem’ means ‘Peace’)

               a. Jesus came to pacify the wrath of God          Ephesians 2:3

               b. Jesus came to be a propitiation          Romans 3:25

               c. Jesus came to make peace through the blood of His cross Colossians 1:20

               d. Jesus is our peace – Romans 5:1

          3. Melchisedec’s abiding priesthood            vs. 3

               a. In the Aaronic priesthood genealogy was vital

NOTE: Ezra 2:61-62

               b. In The Melchisedec priesthood, natural descent was not regarded

                    1) It was free from the Levitical priesthood restrictions         Numbers 3:10

                    2) It was therefore an accurate type of Christ

                         a) Christ did not belong to the tribe of Levi

                         b) “Neither beginning of days nor end of life”

NOTE: The Jewish priest

          a. Began ‘their days’ as a priest at the age of 25    Numbers 8:24; I Chronicles 23:27-28

          b. Began their regular priesthood duties at the age of 30 years Numbers 4:3

          c. The priestly life ended at the age of 50   Numbers 8:25

NOTE: No such restrictions placed upon the Melchisedec priesthood

          c) ‘Made like’ – or, ‘a copy of’

NOTE: Melchisedec was a copy given in advance of Christ

               c. ‘Abideth a priest continually’

NOTE: His priestly life did not cease at the age of 50

          4. Melchisedec’s greatness considered       vs. 4

               a. The dignity and rank of Melchisedec: Abraham gave him tithes (‘the tenth part’    Genesis 28:22; Leviticus 27:30

               b. Abraham treated him as a superior

               c. The true meaning of greatness            Revelation 1:6

                    1) The favor of God

                    2) Our nearness to God

          5. Melchisedec’s priesthood superior          vs. 5-10

               a. The Levitical priest received tithes from the people vs. 5

NOTE: Numbers 18:21-24

               b. The Levitical priest came from Abraham        vs. 5

               c. They were inferior to Melchisedec who was under no law, but was a ‘king” as well as a priest

               d. Melchisedec’s superiority to Abraham            vs. 6

               e. Abraham was indebted to the royal priest of Salem verse 7

NOTE: ‘Salem’ is later called ‘Jerusalem’

          6. The giving of the tithes and its message vs. 8-10

               a. Abraham stood for all his descendants           vs. 4

NOTE: Levi through Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec

               b. In Melchisedec’s blessings is a type of Christ blessing His own    Luke 24:50

 II. THE INFERIOR PRIESTHOOD       vs. 11-22

     A. The Results Of The Inferior    vs. 11

          1. The Levitical priesthood was unable to bring in ‘perfection’

          2. ‘Perfection’

               a. It has more to do with relationship than an experience

               b. Hebrews 2:10 and 5:9 refers to Christ Himself

               c. The bringing of a thing to that completeness of condition designed

               d. the Levitical priesthood was “perfection”

          3. The office and work of a priesthood:

               a. It respects God

               b. It seeks to satisfy Divine justice

               c. It seeks God’s favor for those represented

     B. The Changing Of The Priesthood     vs. 12-15

          1. A changed priesthood demanded a changed law          vs. 12

               a. The Jews opposed this           Acts 6:14; 21:28

               b. Some Jews professed faith in Christ, but contended that the Law was still in force          Acts 21: 20

               c. The Law and the Gospel cannot mix  9:5-8

          2. Christ did not belong to the tribe of Levi Matthew 1

               a. The Levitical priesthood continued in the bounds of the tribe of Levi         Exodus 40:12-16

               b. God’s judgment fell upon those who violated this    II Chronicles 26:18-21

               c. The old order was set aside by God

               d. Christ, according to His humanity, belonged to the tribe of Judah   vs. 14

NOTE: Genesis 49:8-10

NOTE: II Samuel 7:12

NOTE:  Isaiah 11:1-5

NOTE:  Micah 5:2

NOTE:  Matthew 1

          3. Christ, the Priest of another order vs. 15

               a. Not just ‘another’ priest but of another ‘order’

               b. It was impossible for one of the tribe of Judah to assume the Levitical priesthood          Exodus 29:33; Leviticus 22:10; Numbers 16:40

               c. The arising  of Christ in His priestly office put an end to the Aaronic priesthood

     C. The Power Of The Superior vs. 16-17

1. The Levitical priesthood was ‘carnal’         vs. 16

               a. The sacrifices offered at their consecration were bodies of beasts

               b. Their ministration availed only to the ‘purifying of the flesh’   Hebrews 9:13

               c. Christ’s priesthood is eternal    Hebrews 7:25

          2. Christ’s priesthood is spiritual        vs. 17

               a. David prophesied of the coming Priest          Psalm 110:4

               b. He would be a priest forever after that order

     D. The Weakness Of The Inferior          vs. 18

          1. The Law was a covenant with Israel

          2. God spoke of a new ‘covenant’    Jeremiah 31

          3. The commandment disannulled by Christ Himself

               a. He fulfilled and accomplished it in Himself

               b. He instituted new ordinances

                    1) The Lord’s Supper  Matthew 26:26-29

                    2) Baptism        Matthew 28:19

          4. The Holy Spirit made it clear Gentile believers are not under obligation to the Mosaic Law Acts 15:24-28

     E. The Strength Of The Superior           vs. 19-22

          1. The better hope     vs. 19

NOTE: Romans 8:3-4

               a. The promise      Genesis 3:15; 13:3; 17:8

               b. Abraham rejoiced to see His day       John 8:57

               c. The prophets searched diligently concerning it          I Peter 1:11-12

               d. Simeon ‘waited for the consolation of Israel’   Luke 2:35

               e. Anna ’looked for redemption in Israel’ Luke 2:38

               f. The Christian’s blessed hope   Titus 2:18

          2. The better appointment    vs. 20-21

               a. Christ made a priest by an oath          vs. 20

               b. The Aaronic priesthood not instituted by an oath       vs. 21

NOTE: God the Father made it       Psalm 110:1

NOTE: It is the ‘open declaration of His eternal purpose and unchanging decree’    Psalm 2:7

NOTE: Christ’s priesthood after the order of Melchisedec

          a. Melchisedec was the only priest of his order

          b. Melchisedec had no predecessor

          c. Melchisedec had no successor

          3. A better testament or ‘covenant’   vs. 22

               a. The old covenant was good – it served its purpose

               b. The new covenant is better – and eternal

III. THE UNCHANGING PRIESTHOOD          vs. 23-28

     A. Death Interrupted The Aaronic Order           vs. 23

NOTE: Numbers 20:25-29

     B. Death Holds No Power This Order  vs. 25

          1. ‘Wherefore’

               a. Because of the oath      vs. 20

               b. Because ‘God will not repent’  vs. 21

               c. Because of the better covenant          vs. 22

               d. Because ‘He continues ever’   vs. 24

          2. ‘He is able’              Hebrews 2:28

          3. ‘to save them’ – Christ saves:

               a. His people from their sins        Matthew 1:21

               b. His people from the curse                    Galatians 3:13

               c. His people from the wrath to come     I Thessalonians 1:10

          4. ‘to the uttermost’

5. ‘They who come unto God by Him’

          6. ‘He ever lives to make intercession’         I Corinthians 15:17; John 14:19; John 17

     C. The Power Of This Order      vs. 26-28

          1. ‘Holy’ – What He was Godward  Luke 1:35

          2. ‘Harmless’ – What He is to His

          3. ‘Undefiled’ – He was the spotless One!

          4. ‘Separate from sinners’ – What He was in Himself!

          5. ‘Higher than the heavens’ – the place and state of our Great High Priest         Psalm 57:5; Ephesians 1:20-23

     C. The Pre-Eminence Of Our High Priest         vs. 27-28

          1. The Levitical priest were appointed by ‘the law’

          2. Christ supersedes them

               a. They were but ‘men;’ Christ, the Son of God

               b. They were ‘made’ by ‘the law;’ Christ by ‘the word of the oath’

               c. They had ‘infirmity;’ Christ none

               d. They served only the days of their generation; Christ ‘evermore’

CONCLUSION

There is a clear choice between two priesthoods. One is controlled by death. The other is eternal, sinless, able to do everything needed to approach God.