Sermon Title: Melchizedek.
Scripture Text: Hebrews 5:1-10
Now hear the reading of Gods Word:
Hebrews 5:1-10 NLT
5 Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins. 2 And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses. 3 That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs.
4 And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was. 5 That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him,
“You are my Son.
Today I have become your Father.”
6 And in another passage God said to him,
“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
7 While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. 8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. 9 In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. 10 And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Sermon:
The earthly High Priest was picked in different ways as we move through the Bible right up to the times of Jesus. The High Priest was in charge naturally but just like today things could be manipulated.
The Urim and Thummim were cast for many things. It was kinda like rolling dice. However they were picked, they were supposed to be Godly men and rule that way. The Priest that offered sacrifices for the people had to do the rites and rituals in a Godly manner also. Today and in a lot of Scriptures the High Priest was looked on with respect. The High Priest was a man with sin in his life like all humans. So he had to get forgiveness for his sins before he could other people.
Jesus learned obedience from the things he suffered. God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
So the question comes up: who is Melchizedek. First off he served the Most High God. Most think he was Shem the son of Noah. It can get confusing but he wasn’t the pre-incarnate Jesus.
Melchizedek was both Priest and Ruler of the city of Salem (that we call Jerusalem). Abraham paid tithes to him and gave offerings. Melchizedek was before God gave the Laws to Moses and before Aaron was picked to be the High Priest. When Melchizedek was Priest and Ruler he served the Most High God. What we call religion was much more simple but had the same service and love to God.
So here is the big question. Why was Jesus in the order of Melchizedek and not the Order of Aaron (Moses Brother) the Ten Commandment times?
God said about Jesus in verse 10 And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Here are three reasons why Jesus was designated to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
(1) Jesus was of the tribe of Judah. That alone disqualified Him to be in the Order of Aaron. Only a Levite can be a Priest in the Order of Aaron.
(2) Melchizedek Order was to be forever and was before the Order of Aaron that had to follow all the rules and commandments of God. So the order of Melchizedek never ended.
(3) By being in the Order of Melchizedek Jesus goes back to the very beginning, passing over the Order of Aaron.
What does this mean to us today? It means that if we believe in Jesus the Christ so much that our souls are saved. Then we are of the order of Melchizedek.
The rules and commandments of Aaron should be written in our heart not on stone tablets.
The Order of Melchizedek does just that: God is written on our heart.
