The Priesthood Of Christ Series

The Priesthood of Christ

Hebrews Chapter Seven

Introduction:

1. In chapter Six Paul expressed the importance to remain faithful.

a. The Peril of no Progress (vs. 1-8).

b. The Promise for Progress (vs. 9-12).

c. The Proof of Progress (vs. 13-20).

2. In this chapter Paul will show us why Christ is a better priest.

Meaning no disrespect to the religious convictions of others, I still can’t help wondering how we can explain away what to me is the greatest miracle of all and which is recorded in history. No one denies there was such a man, that he lived and that he was put to death by crucifixion. Where...is the miracle I spoke of? Well consider this and let your imagination translate the story into our own time -- possibly to your own home town. A young man whose father is a carpenter grows up working in his father’s shop. One day he puts down his tools and walks out of his father’s shop. He starts preaching on street corners and in the nearby countryside, walking from place to place, preaching all the while, even though he is not an ordained minister. He does this for three years. Then he is arrested, tried and convicted. There is no court of appeal, so he is executed at age 33 along with two common thieves. Those in charge of his execution roll dice to see who gets his clothing -- the only possessions he has. His family cannot afford a burial place for him so he is interred in a borrowed tomb. End of story? No, this uneducated, propertyless young man who...left no written word has, for 2000 years, had a greater effect on the world than all the rulers, kings, emperors; all the conquerors, generals and admirals, all the scholars, scientists and philosophers who have ever lived -- all of them put together. How do we explain that?...unless he really was who he said he was."

Ronald Reagan

I. The Order of Christ Priesthood. 1-16

a. Melchizedek was a type of Christ (1-4)

i. He was a King

ii. He was Priest

1. Not from a line of priest

2. He was like the son of man

3. His priesthood abides continually

a. This word “continually” occurs only in Hebrews (4 times) and indicates a duration which last through the circumstances indicated in a particular case (uninterruptedly).

b. Under the Mosaical Law the Priest entered the office at the age of 30 and served until his 50.

c. The High Priest also entered the office at thirty but they served until they died.

Numbers 4:3,23,43,47 KJV

(3) From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

(23) From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

(43) From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,

(47) From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation,

iii. He was great.

1. Under the Levitical system the priest family tree was of utmost importance.

2. Melchizedek was great not because of his pedigree but because God had blessed him.

3. Abraham gave the “tenth of the spoils.”

a. The ASB says “choicest spoils” and this was an ancient custom of after a battle collecting the spoils together, heaping them into a pile, and then before they were distributed, one would take a portion off the top and devote them to their God.

b. The ancients would take put their harvest in a heap and take the top portion right away and offer it to God.

c. This is where we get our phrase “top of the heap.”

b. Melchizedek’s Priesthood was superior to Levi’s (5-10)

i. The Levites owed there priesthood to Abraham.

ii. The Levites gave tithes through Abraham to Melchizedek.

iii. Melchizedek blessed Abraham, and subsequently blessed the Levitical Priest.

c. The Priesthood of Levi had to desist (11-16)

i. There needed to be a change in the Priesthood in order for there to be a new covenant.

ii. There needed to be a perfect priest to maintain the perfect covenant.

iii. This new priest would not be a Levite but would come from the tribe of Judah and so obtained a new name.

The story is told of a little girl whose parents never went to church. However, they insisted upon her attendance and what is more is that she had to be able to recite the preacher’s text for the day. One morning she rushed home excited: "Oh mama, my name is in the Bible." "That’s not likely," responded her parents. "But it is! The pastor read it this morning. ’This man receiveth sinners, and Edith with them."