November 11, 2012
Morning Service

Heb. 7.

 

Review:                      WARNING, AND SAVING GOD’S PEOPLE:

1.     In chapter six God has given another warning of falling away from the Christian faith.  After telling them the principles, or first things, in the teachings of Christ, He says this;

• Heb 6:4-12 KJVR  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,  (5)  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,  (6)  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.  (7)  For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:  (8)  But that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. 
• Jesus gave us the parable of the wheat and the tares.  Very similar to this teaching.
• After the warning of falling away, and being cast into the fire, He tells them this;
• (9)  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation,
• What are the things that accompany salvation?
• though we thus speak.  (10)  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  (11)  And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:  (12)  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

2.     The writer has already warned of departing from our walk with God in chapter 3, when He said;

Heb 3:12-19 KJVR  Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.  (13)  But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.  (14)  For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;  (15)  While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.  ( or 40 years in the wilderness ).  (16)  For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.  (17)  But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?  (18)  And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?  (19)  So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

They had sinned in various ways - by rebellion, murmuring, unbelief. As God was angry with them for their sins, we have the same reason to apprehend that he will be angry with us if we sin; and we should, therefore, be on our guard against that unbelief which would lead us to depart from him.

 

The writer will continue to warn, and argue the idea, that serving Christ, which means to us, the Christian faith, is the will of God.

 

Also in chapter 5, we were told of the differences between the Aaronic priesthood, and the priesthood of Melchizedek.  This was said of Jesus, our High Priest; 

Heb 5:5-6 KJVR  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.  (6)  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

 

You see, all of these O.T. Scriptures are referring to, the Messiah that was to come, and we accept Jesus of Nazareth as this prophesied coming Messiah, the Son of God, our High Priest, and Savior.  And these people have too.  They are Hebrew Christians.

 

Now in chapter 7 the writer returns to Melchizedek, notice:

 

 

A description of Melchizedek.

Heb 7:1-28 KJVR  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 account is given, and is very brief, in Gen. 14:18-20. 
• The name occurs in the Bible only in Gen. 14, Psa_110:4, and in this Epistle. Nothing else is certainly known of him.
• Salem, is considered to be Jerusalem.
• This is the first example of giving a tenth ( or tithe ) to the service of God.  Melchizedek being the priest.  This was some time before the Levitical laws were given.

 

(4)  Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.  (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:  (6)  But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.  (7)  And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.  (8)  And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.  (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. 

• You see what point the writer is making;  Abraham would have a son named Isaac, and Isaac would have a son named Jacob, his name would be changed to Israel, and he would have twelve sons of which Levi would be one of them, so the writer can say that Levi paid tithes while in the loins of Abraham.
• Under the laws of Judaism all paid tithes to the tribe of Levi, because they were the ones who took care of the things of God, the tabernacle, the sacrifices, the spiritual offerings to God, etc.

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

AS THOMAS SAID, “MY LORD AND MY GOD.”