Jesus is Better - Hebrews Week 8
The Old points to
the New.
Sacrificial system,
priesthood, and laws of the Old Testament
all symbols/shadows
of what Christ would do in the New Testament.
There was an Old Covenant and now there is a New Covenant.
It’s all about Jesus.
The Old Testament is full of foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Is there a certain character or study in the Old Testament that you think shows us Jesus very clearly?
(Ex: David fighting
Goliath is a foreshadowing of Christ fighting our great enemies. The serpent
lifted up in Numbers so that people can be saved is a foreshadowing of Jesus
being lifted up on the cross.)
The Point: A Better
Priest
Hebrews 7:1-28
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.
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 (Wheaton,
IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Heb 7:1-28.
Study Notes
WEEK 8 NOTES:
Hebrews 7:1-28
The author of
Hebrews is desperately trying to show Christians just how great Jesus truly is.
The author seems to believe that if Christians see just how beautiful Christ is
then they’ll do absolutely everything they can to stay close to Him and avoid
drifting away from Him.
In Hebrews 7, the
author puts forward a “type” or an Old Testament foreshadowing of Christ to
help people understand who Jesus is.
Let’s break this
down just a bit. The Old Testament uses something called “typology” to
foreshadow the coming of Christ. This literary tool makes use of “types” to
preview the coming “anti-type.” In other words, the Old Testament uses certain
characters and circumstances to foreshadow the coming Christ.
This is why Jesus
was so critical of the Pharisees who studied the Old Testament but did not
recognize Him as the Savior when He came to earth. These religious scholars had
been studying the Old Testament scriptures looking at the various “types” of Christs
to come. Yet, when Christ showed up, they did not recognize Him. Thus, Jesus
said to them in John 5:39. “You search the Scriptures because you think that in
them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,”
In Hebrews 7, the
author references Melchizedek, from Genesis 14, who was the King of Salem and
the High Priest of God, as a type of Christ. The question is, “What is God
trying to teach us about Jesus by pointing us to Melchizedek?”
The answer will
become obvious as we study Hebrews 7, but let’s make it clear here at the
beginning. Jesus being the true and better Melchizedek means Christians have a
better High Priest, a better Savior, than anything the sacrificial system could
ever offer.
A High
Priest from God
The first reason
the author compares Christ to Melchizedek is to show Jesus came as a Priest
sent from God. In the Old Testament sacrificial system the High Priest had to be from
the tribe of Levi, a direct descendent of Aaron. If that is the case, Jesus
isn’t qualified to be our High Priest. He came from the tribe of Judah.
However, Melchizedek was a priest based on God calling him, even before Aaron
was born. In tying Melchizedek to Jesus, the author is showing us Jesus is from
an order of priests that finds its heritage not in Aaron, but in the commission
of Heaven. We have a High Priest sent from Heaven.
A High
Priest Greater than Aaron
The second reason
the author compares Christ to Melchizedek is to show Christ came as a priest
who was greater than Aaron. In Genesis 14, Abraham pays tithes to Melchizedek
and in return Melchizedek blesses Abraham. The author of Hebrews points out
that the greater person can give blessing to the lesser. The point is that
Melchizedek was greater than Abraham was. This means the priesthood of
Melchizedek is greater than the priesthood of Aaron which descended from Moses.
In other words, if Jesus is from the Priesthood of Melchizedek, then Jesus is a
greater priest than Aaron ever was. He can bless and forgive and love to a
degree Aaron was never capable of. He can save and Aaron never could.
A High
Priest Who Will Never Die
The third reason
the author compares Christ to Melchizedek is to show that Christ came as a
priest who will never die. Melchizedek is presented in scripture as a man who
came out of nowhere, almost an eternal figure. We aren’t told of his beginning,
and we aren’t told of his end. That points us to Jesus, the Son of God, who had
no beginning and no end. For this reason, Jesus has a priesthood that never
ends. This stands in stark contrast to the Aaronic Priesthood that was
constantly changing due to the death of a priest. Jesus is a better priest
because He is an eternal priest.
Melchizedek is a
shadowy figure in scripture. The author of Hebrews brings him up to pull us out
of the shadows of the Old Testament and into the substance of the New
Testament. Melchizedek is mentioned in order that we might know we have a
priest who is sent from God, who can save us, and He will never die. This
priest has a name. His name is not Melchizedek, it is Jesus Christ.
QUESTIONS
FOR DISCUSSION
Why was it important
for the early Christians, and for us, to know that in Christ we have a more
superior priest than anything offered in the old covenant?
What qualities make
Christ a more superior priest than anyone in the old covenant?
Think back on the
Old Testament and give a few reasons why the Old Covenant priests were
incapable of bringing salvation?
Why is it important
we deal with even hard texts like this one to see a full picture of Jesus?
END
This cartoon came up Sunday morning and had to share...
Alright, quick review...
Hebrews
7:1-28
(Theological)
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.
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 (Wheaton,
IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Heb 7:1-28.
Conclusion
