March 15, 2009
Morning Service

Hebrews 7

 

Review:

1.      In chapter six we see these things:

• We saw the principles of the Doctrine of Christ.
• We hear the writer say that is impossible to renew one to repentance that has fallen from the Grace of God.
• Then he gives his readers a word of encouragement. Heb 6:9  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
• He tells them that God is not unjust as to forget their labors of good works.
• He encourages them to imitate those who through faith, and patience inherit the promises.
• Then the writer uses God’s dealings with Abraham to prove his points.
• Then he closes chapter six with this:  Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Heb 6:20  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Here the writer will make the point of Jesus being our great High Priest, and ever lives to intercede for His people.  This is a very good argument to the Hebrew people.  They know this story.  It also helps us to know Jesus as our Great High Priest making intercession for His people always.

 

Heb 7:1-28  For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;  (2)  To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;  (3)  Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 

• This story is told in the 14^th, and 15th chapters of Genesis.  ( Elaborate )
• Gen 14:17-20  And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.  (18)  And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.  (19)  And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:  (20)  And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
• We are not told directly who this Melchizedek is, however, the Hebrew writer describes Him as being like the Son of God.
• Melchizedek disappears as suddenly as he came. Almost a thousand years elapse before the next notice of Melchizedek (Psa_110:4.)    Read the 110^th Psalm.  7verses.
• The Hebrew writer will bring this Scripture out later in this chapter.

(4)  Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. 

• One of the things that makes this event very powerful is the fact that in the time of the Patriarchs, the Patriarch was the tribe leader, and priest.  So Abraham is recognizing this persons value over him.

(5)  And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: 

• The priests of the Levitical tribe were commanded to receive tithes from the people.  ( Deut. 14 )

(6)  But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 

• Now here, before the tribe of Levi is physically born, while still in the loins of Abraham, who will eventually receive the son, Isaac, the son of promise, pays tithes to one Melchizedek, who was not of the Levitical tribe.    

(7)  And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. 

• Melchizedek being better than Abraham.

(8)  And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. 

• Because He lives.  This is the motivating factor in all our walk with God.  Jesus ever lives.  He is alive and well, and will be forever more.  When Jesus said, “when you have done it unto one of the least of My brethren, you have done it unto Me.”  He is alive.  All the good works you do, you do unto Him, He ever lives, and knows about them.

(9)  And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, paid tithes in Abraham.  (10)  For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. 

• Now here comes the argument.

(11)  If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?  (12)  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 

• Now wait a minute.  We haven’t seen any changing of the law, yet.  But we will in a moment.

(13)  For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.  (14)  For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.  (15)  And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,  (16)  Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 

• Now he explains where he is getting his ideas.

(17)  For he ( meaning God Almighty ) testifieth, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 

• This is in the same Psalm ( 110 ) that David said, “The Lord said unto my Lord.”  This priest, after the order of Melchizedek, is none other than the Messiah, Whom we believe to be Jesus of Nazareth.

(18)  For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.  (19)  For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 

• A better hope.  THE PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD.  This motivates us to draw nigh to God.

(20)  And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:  (21)  (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord swore and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek:)  (22)  By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.  (23)  And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:  (24)  But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.  (25)  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 

• How’s that for building our faith?  Because He lives, we will live also.  AND HE IS ABLE TO SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST, BECAUSE HE EVERLIVES TO INTERCEDE FOR US. 
• He will never leave us, nor forsake us, He will always be there to make intercession for us to God.

(26)For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;  (27)  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.  (28)  For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated forevermore.

• The word of the oath, which was Psalms 110, was after the law of Moses, which spoke of David’s Lord (the Messiah) being made priest after the order of Melchizedek, that of lasting forever.

 

ARE YOU IN POSSESSION OF THIS BETTER HOPE THIS MORNING?  ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?  HAVE YOU COME TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST?  ARE YOU FELLOWSHIPPING WITH JESUS, AS HE SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER, IN THE OFFICE OF HIGH PRIEST, MAKING INTERCESSION FOR HIS PEOPLE?

 

TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS AS THEY DID IN THE PROVOCATION.

 

TODAY JESUS CAN BE YOUR SAVIOR, FRIEND, HIGH PRIEST, TOMORROW HE WILL BE YOUR JUDGE.