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."
II. The Eternality of Christ Priesthood. 17-23
a. Christ is a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (17)
i. The Levitical Priest would die, but Christ will continue forever.
ii. His duties as a priest will cease to exist not upon his death but when he turns his kingdom over to the father in heaven (I Cor. 15).
b. Christ abolished the law (18-21)
i. The Old Law was weak and useless.
ii. The Old Law made “nothing perfect.”
1. The word “perfect” is the same word used in verse 11 and has reference to the same idea of making men acceptable to God so they may “draw nigh unto him.”
2. Gods design for man was to dwell in perfect fellowship with him as he did before sin entered through one man.
3. The Law could not restore man to this condition.
a. Romans 8:3 is a parallel passage to this one.
Romans 8:3 KJV
(3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
b. The Law could not fix mans problem with sin, so God had to.
c. There are many passages that show the inadequacy of the Mosaic Law.
iii. A better hope in “which we draw nigh unto God.”
1. Until mans sins a forgiven, he cannot “draw nigh unto God.”
2. Now that Jesus is our Great High Priest, and the forgiveness of sin is available, it is possible for Old and New Testament believers to get much closer to God than what they could before.
3. We understand that when the souls of the Old Testament redeemed died, they entered paradise.
a. It is possible the after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, their location changed and they drew “nigh unto God”, that is they are closer than they were before, and in fact are now among those on the sea of glass underneath the alter of Heaven as “spirits of righteous men made perfect.”
Revelation 15:1-4 KJV
(1) And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
(2) And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
(3) And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
(4) Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Revelation 6:9-11 KJV
(9) And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:
(10) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
(11) And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
Hebrews 12:23 KJV
(23) To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
c. Christ made a better covenant (22-23).
i. It was a better covenant because its priest and king did not cease because of the limitation of death.
ii. Christ overcame death and now rules as king, and makes intercession as priest.
III. The Intercessions of Christ Priesthood. 24-28
a. Christ Priesthood is unchangeable (24)
i. Christ priesthood is not bound to earthly limitations.
ii. His priesthood can never change because it is upheld by god upon his oath.
1. Because God cannot lie, his priesthood will not change.
F. B. Meyer wrote about two Germans who wanted to climb the Matterhorn. They hired three guides and began their ascent at the steepest and most slippery part. The men roped themselves together in this order: guide, traveler, guide, traveler, guide. They had gone only a little way up the side when the last man lost his footing. He was held up temporarily by the other four, because each had a toehold in the niches they had cut in the ice. But then the next man slipped, and he pulled down the two above him. The only one to stand firm was the first guide, who had driven a spike deep into the ice. Because he held his ground, all the men beneath him regained their footing. F. B. Meyer concluded his story by drawing a spiritual application. He said, “I am like one of those men who slipped, but thank God, I am bound in a living partnership to Christ. And because He stands, I will never perish.” (Our Daily Bread)
b. Christ Priesthood exist to make intercession (25-27)
i. We must go through Christ in order to be in the presence of God.
ii. He became a high priest to us.
1. He is Holy.
2. He is Harmless.
3. He is Undefiled.
a. This speaks of “ceremonial cleanness, such as resulted when the high priests purified themselves, put on clean garments, and observed certain physical taboos, in order to be suitably prepared to officiated on the Day of Atonement.” (Reese P 121)
b. “Seven days before the Day of Atonement, the high priest left his house and took up residence in the Temple, that, thus separated from men and things unclean, he might, when the day arrived, be free from all defilement.” (Reese, P 121, note 81)
4. He is Separate from sinners.
a. I think this is the answer to the baptism of Jesus.
5. He has been made higher than the heavens.
a. When Jesus was baptized he was exalted above every other High priest, because of the Word of Jehovah.
Matthew 3:15-17 KJV
(15) And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
(16) And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
(17) And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
iii. His sacrifice is finished.
A minister, going through a mental institution, was stopped by a woman, who asked: "Mr. Minister, what work of man will there be in Heaven?" "None, my dear lady," he said, thinking to answer as quickly as possible and get away. "Oh, yes, there will! Can’t you tell me?" "No, I cannot; but will you tell me?" said the minister. "Oh, sir," she replied, "it will be the prints of the nails of the hands and feet of the Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. That is the only work of man that there will be in Heaven."
c. Christ Priesthood is perfect (28)
i. God consecrated Jesus.
ii. The Levites had to be consecrated through the sacrifice of animals.
iii. Jesus was consecrated once forever more.
Conclusion:
1. We certainly have a great high priest.
2. Paul will continue with this reasoning in Chapter eight.
