High Priest In The Order Of Melchizedek Hebrews 7:1-19 Message by Michael J. Barnard March 19, 2017 Teaching Aim: To explore the mysterious individual in the Old Testament known as Melchizedek. To understand Melchizedek was a real person and a type of Christ. To recognize Melchizedek was greater than Abraham and one of the most important people in the Bible because of his unique relationship to Jesus Christ. To realize the Mechizedekan priesthood is greater and more permanent than the Levitical priesthood. To be grateful that Jesus Christ is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek, interceding on our behalf in heaven! DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD S WORD (BIBLE STUDY) Part I: Who was this mysterious man named Melchizedek? (Heb. 7:1-3) 1. Its important to note the topic of Melchizedek comes immediately following the writer of Hebrews teachings on eternal security. (See Heb. 6) Is there a connection between eternal security for the true believer in Christ and Melchizedek? If so, what is it? 2. What four truths can we learn about Melchizedek from verse 1? Some people believe Melchizedek was a manifestation of the preincarnate Christ. With the evidence found in verses 1 & 15, is this likely or unlikely? Why? 3. Melchizedek is found only twice in the Old Testament, in Gen. 14:18-24 and Psa. 110:4. Most scholars believe that Melchizedek was a type of Christ. What is a biblical type? 4. What do we learn about the greatness of Abraham from Gen. 14:1-17? How powerful and wealthy was he? Who do the Jews consider to be the father of the Jewish people? Along with Moses, who do many of the Jews consider to be the greatest of the Old Testament Hebrews? 1
5. Names in the Bible often describe something about the person bearing the name. According to verse 2, what is the twofold meaning of the name Melchizedek? (See Commentaries) What can we learn about the reign of Melchizedek from his name? Who else in Scripture is identified by these two titles? What modern Jewish city was formerly known as Salem? What is the meaning of the word Salem? When will Jerusalem finally be a city of peace? (See Rev. 21:1-27) 6. Why do you think verse 3 has raised some eyebrows? Does this mean that the historical Melchizedek we see in verse 1 had no parents and never died? In what sense was Melchizedek without descent? (See Commentaries) Do you think this omission happened by chance or was it done on purpose? Genesis is a book of genealogies, why do you think the genealogy of Melchizedek s was withheld from Scripture? Part II: The superiority of Melchizedek over the father of the Hebrew people - Abraham (Heb. 7:4-10) 1. If asked to make a list of the 5 most important people in the Old Testament, whom would you include? Was Melchizedek included in that list? According to verses 4 & 7, who was greater, Abraham or Melchizedek? 2. What did Abraham do for Melchizedek upon his return from slaughtering the 4 northern kings (vs. 4)? Was tithing practiced in the ancient world before the Law of God was given to the Israelites? (See Commentaries) What made this tithe so unusual? 3. To whom did the Law of God assign the tithes of the Israelites (vs. 5)? What was the twofold purpose of the Jewish tithe? Abraham was the great-grandfather of Levi. According to verse 5, who was in the loins of Abraham? 4. In verse 6 we discover that Abraham did not receive tithes from Melchizedek. Why was this surprising (vs. 6b)? (See Gen. 12:1-3) Why did Abraham give a tithe to Melchizedek instead of vice versa (vs. 7)? Would this be surprising news to the Jewish people? Why? 2
5. What contrast is made between the Levites and Melchizedek in verse 8? Have you known a pastor who was a great man of God, but after he retired the ministry began to fall apart? Why is finding godly leadership so critical to the success of any ministry? According to verse 8, what makes the ministry of Melchizedek better than that of the Levites? 6. How is the temporal nature of the Levitical priesthood similar to the temporal nature of our ministries today? Why should Jesus being a priest according to the order of Melchizedek be a comfort to every born-again Christian today? 7. According to verses 9 and 10, who else, in a certain sense, tithed to Melchizedek through Abraham? Why was this message important to Hebrew Christians considering giving up Christianity and returning to Judaism? Part III: The superiority of the Melchizedekan priesthood over the Levitical priesthood (Heb. 7:11-19) 1. What is meant in verse 11 by the word perfection? (See 2 Cor. 5:17-19; Heb. 4:16) Did the Old Testament law and the Levitical priesthood bring anyone to perfection? (See Rom. 3:19-20; Gal. 3:24-25) What is needed to reach perfection? (See Eph. 2:8-9; John 3:16) 2. What event took place allowing a change in the law (vs. 12)? (See Matt. 5:17) How can we know that a change took place which opened the way for Jesus to be a priest (vv. 13 & 14)? (See Deut. 18:1-2; 2 Chr. 26:16-23) What can we learn about the birthplace of Messiah from Mic. 5:2? What surprising information did King David prophesy about the Messiah in Psa. 110:1-4? 3
3. Earlier in our study, it was mentioned that some people believe Melchizedek to be a preincarnate manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ. This belief is unlikely for several reasons. What truths can we learn about Melchizedek from combining verses 1 & 15? According to verse 15, whom did Jesus come in the likeness of? Why would the Bible say this if the historical man named Melchizedek was actually the preincarnate Christ? 4. Today many Jews are using modern DNA technology to find those individuals who qualify to be priests. As Christians, our DNA today is found in Jesus Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Most Christians today are not of Jewish descent, yet Peter reveals to us in 1 Pet. 2:9 that we are priests. How should being a priest affect the way we live our lives today? 5. What did the writer of Hebrews use as the basis for Jesus being a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek (vs. 16)? What does the endless life of Christ mean to you today? Now that the Christian is no longer under the law but under grace, are we free to go out and sin all we want? (See Rom. 6:10-11) What are we free to do? 6. According to Psalm 110:1-4, who testified that Jesus is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek? How reliable is His testimony? 7. As mentioned before, the Law of God saves no one (vs. 19a). (See Rom. 3:19-20) According to Gal. 3:24-25, what is the purpose of the Old Testament law? 8. What better hope does the Christian have today that the Jewish person living under the Old Covenant never had? (See 1 Cor. 15:3-4; 1 Pet. 3:18; Acts 16:31; Eph. 2:8-9) How can we as Christians draw near to God today? (See 1 John 1:9; Jam. 4:7-10) 4
9. Why should the Old Testament character Melchizedek be important to you? What is the meaning of the word sanctification? (See Dictionary) How is your sanctification today related to the priesthood of Jesus Christ in the order of Melchizedek? (See 1 John 1:9; 1 Cor. 1:30-31) MINER S CORNER ~ Manna to live by! Melchizedek was a real historical figure who was both the king of Salem (modern Jerusalem), and the priest of the Most High God! Melchizedek s reign was one of characterized by righteousness and peace! The fact that Melchizedek s genealogy is not recorded in the Bible doesn t mean that he didn t have one; he was a type of Christ and the omission was part of the picture! Melchizedek was greater than any Old Testament Jew including Abraham, but was a mere foreshadow of the ministry that Jesus would have as Prophet, Priest and King! The Mechizedekan priesthood is greater and more permanent than the Levitical priesthood! The High Priestly ministry of Jesus Christ is everlasting; as a result of the cross, the resurrection and the ascension, He is a priest forever according to the order of Mechizedek! Because the priestly ministry of Jesus is eternal, He is always there for us in time of need! 5