August 5, 2020
For the next 13 days we will be spending time together walking through the book of Hebrews! Hebrews is written to Jewish Christians who were undergoing persecution for their faith and considering running back to Judaism. The author of Hebrews takes an in-depth look at the practices and regulations of the Old Testament as articulated in the Torah and argues for how Jesus is both superior to each of them and supreme over all of them! The author also warns his audience of the grave danger facing them should they choose to now reject Jesus and return to their former way of life. These warnings can and should make us feel uncomfortable as we read through the book together; allow the Spirit to do what He wants to do in your heart through them! Overall, the message of Hebrews is that Jesus, the Son of God as well as our Savior and Messiah, is infinitely superior to anything or anyone else we could give our lives to, and He is worthy of all our devotion and worship. Jesus is greater!
Here the author picks up where he left off in 5:10, returning to his description of Jesus’ high priesthood. Through contrasting the high priesthood of Jesus to that which was outlined in the Mosaic Covenant, he demonstrates the superiority of Christ to the Levitical priesthood and all it represented!
Several times throughout the letter now, the author has quoted Psalm 110:4, stating that God appointed Christ as a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. If you don’t know who Melchizedek is, go read Genesis 14:18-20 for the only other mention of him in the entire Old Testament. The author of Hebrews here explains some things about Melchizedek and sets him up as a “type” of Christ, a forerunner of the type of high priest that Christ would one day be for us!
In contrasting the high priesthood of Jesus with that of the Old Covenant, the author points out several big differences: the Levitical priests were made so by descent, but Jesus has been made high priest by an unchangeable and eternal oath; the Levitical priests were mortal and died, but Jesus lives to make intercession for us forever; the Levitical priests were sinful and had to constantly make sacrifices for the people’s sin and for their own, but Jesus is holy and perfect and offered Himself once and for all for others!
Because of these things, we can rest assured that Jesus is greater than the priesthood of the Old Covenant; indeed, He is “the guarantor of a better covenant” (v.22), because where the Old Covenant Law was unable to make us perfect, Jesus is our better hope, allowing us to draw near to God and making us perfect in and through Himself!
“He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him” (v.25). Let’s celebrate His greatness and the comprehensive nature of His salvation today!
Hebrews 7
The Priestly Order of Melchizedek
7 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Jesus Compared to Melchizedek
11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? 12 For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. 13 For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”
18 For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever.’”
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. 28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Family Discussion Question:
- How does the high priesthood of Jesus on our behalf motivate us not only to obey Him, but to worship Him?
Jesus is God. He is before the law, He is the fulfillment of the Lord’s oath, and He knows no sin. He does not need to repent in order to sacrifice. He is the sacrifice of all sacrifices. His action at the cross is the only salvation that we need. He paid it all for us. He paid it all for me.
God is love! ❤
Father of all, creator of all. I acknowledge your sovereignty over all. You opened my eyes to see your works. Father, the words of your Holy Book give light onto my path. Your words confound the arrogant. Please father don’t forsake them. Open their eyes that they might see you and come to know you as their God and Savior. Oh, how your son, Jesus, must come before you night and day asking for each by name. Today, Father, save another … and then another. Crying out to you in the name of Jesus. Amen
The Good News: He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
Praise God!!!
Great news for us
I will draw near to Him daily.
Thank You, Father, thank You Lord Jesus, that You save to the uttermost! Thank You that we can continually come to You, our great and perfect high priest .
AMEN and HALLELUJAh!!! I am so happy that I was pardon from my sins. I know my Lord and Savior will listen to me when I come to him. He is the Priest and Lord most high. I am blessed and I am saved. Thank you Lord!!!
Good word today, as usual. The Word of God will stand forever!
Thank you father for Jesus’ “once for all” sacrifice that sets me free to worship and serve you. I am free because I am forgiven!
Melchizedek is like several other individuals in OT characters who only appear in the Bible one time but how they knew God we have know clue but they helped perverse Israel so that Jesus would comes as predicted in the scripture as our savior and only priest.
Thank you God for your son Jesus! I strive everyday to be more and more like Jesus and to do will!
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are the high priest over all. I will obey You and worship You forever. The only sacrifices that we should make are those which put Your wishes and desires before ours. You have died once for all of our sins so we have been justified. We are just waiting to he sanctified when we come to our eternal home with You. Thank You for that reality that we can look forward to. In Jesus most holy name. Amen.