Our Forever-High Priest: Hebrews 7 Pastor Abe Stratton Sunday Morning, March 12 Believe and Rest in your Forever-High Priest Introduction New is always better. Who can argue with a new phone, new shoes, a new hairstyle, a new TV, a new mattress, a new relationship? New is always better, right? If you ve lived any length of time on this planet, you realize that new isn t always better because the new becomes routine, outdated, worn out, tiring old. But then in our human foolishness, we tend to say, New is better, and we go after the next shiny new thing. New is not always better. In fact, new can just be the sign that we have is inherently temporal; it all wears out. But in our passage this morning, we ll see that maybe new is better; maybe there is something which doesn t fade and wear out like everything else we ve experienced. If you were not with us last week, we spent time in Genesis 14 looking at God s work to protect and reward Abram s faith through dangers and through enticements. But we also met a mysterious man named Melchizedek, a man who seemed to come out of nowhere and disappear just as quickly. In today s passage, we ll learn more about the mystery-man, Melchizedek. Read Hebrews 7. (page 1004) Context The author of this letter was writing to Jewish Christians those who had grown up in the Jewish sacrificial and ceremonial systems, but who had believed in the man, Jesus, as their Messiah. The author has been telling his audience that Jesus is greater Jesus is greater than the angels; Jesus is greater than Moses the Jew s esteemed prophet; Jesus is greater than the earthly priests they had known. While the Jewish sacrificial system with its slaughtered animals and rituals is foreign to us, God has given us this Word today, and He is reminding us to believe and rest in our Forever-High Priest. Believe and rest in your Forever-High Priest. I. The Argument A. Why is Melchizedek important? Melchizedek was greater (7:1-10). Greater than whom? Hold on; let s do a little review first. 1. Melchizedek was an eternal priest-king (7:1-3). a. He was king of righteousness and king of peace. Name melek (king) + zaddiq (righteousness) City Salem or shalom b. He was the representative for God Most High the supreme Creator and Ruler. He spoke for God to Abraham and received things from Abraham to God. c. He was eternal, in a sense. Because no family line, birth, or death is listed in a book filled with them, he is considered to be a priest who just continues. The author s point was not to create some legend or phantom (e.g. Big Foot or Loch Ness Monster). Lots of theories have been proposed about him, but Scripture seems to indicate that this is a real man in real space and time. He probably lived and died just like any other; however, the author of Hebrews is saying that the reason the 1
author of Genesis didn t give us much information was because Melchizedek is a type or the foreshadowing of someone greater who would come later. 2. Melchizedek was greater than Abraham and his descendants (7:4-10). a. He was greater than Abraham (7:4, 7). Abraham was a patriarch, one of the founding fathers no, the founding father of the Israelite nation. He had also received promises from God, so he is an immensely privileged and important figure in the Scriptures. Yet in Genesis 14, Abraham meets a man who he knows is a superior. This man, Melchizedek, blesses Abraham on behalf of God, and Abraham s response was to give him a tenth of everything as an offering to God. Melchizedek s blessing of Abraham showed that Melchizedek was superior, and Abraham s offering to Melchizedek showed that Melchizedek was superior. b. He was greater than the Levitical priests. Verse 5 Picture of Abraham s Family Levi was Abraham s great-grandson, and it was from him that the tribe of priests came. Aaron, the first great priest of Israel, came from the tribe of Levi, and every priest after Aaron came from that tribe. These priests were told in the Law they received that they should take tithes from the rest of the Israelite tribes. They were given authority to receive offerings from the Reubenites and Gadites even though they were relatives of theirs. Verse 6 But Melchizedek did not descend from Abraham or Levi, so he had not been given the authority by the Law to take offerings from people. Where did he get the authority to take an offering from Abraham? Verse 7-8 Melchizedek was superior to Abraham as a representative of God Most High, but he also was a lasting priest. The Levitical priests were given the authority to take offerings even though they were mortal just like the ones who were giving the offerings. Their tenure as priests ended when they died. But this man was greater because he was a lasting priest. Verses 9-10 Abraham s great-grandson, Levi, obviously wasn t born yet, so he was still being represented by his great-grandad. Abraham was the representative for all who came after him. So in saying that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham means that he is definitely greater than Abraham s descendants those men who were priests and took tithes from other people. Melchizedek took tithes from the tithe-takers. B. Why do we need another priesthood? Melchizedek s priest was greater (7:11-19). 1. The goal of the priesthood was perfection (7:11). The goal of priests was to provide a bridge between God and man a way for men to have access to the presence of God and to be drawn near to Him. But it sounds like the author is saying here that the Levitical priesthood didn t bring perfection. Illustration: If an app doesn t have any issues, you don t need the next version. There was a need for a new priesthood because the priests under the Levitical couldn t do the very thing they were supposed to do. 2. The Law is tied to the priesthood (7:12). 2
If the priesthood is defective and can t draw people near to God, then the Law connected with those men can t make people perfect either. In fact, the Law which came with the Levitical priesthood actually showed men how far away they were from God. The commands of Law, designed to show what kind of people could be in God s presence, actually showed how sinful people were. They revealed how vast the chasm was between God and man. The Law actually was more discouraging than encouraging because it didn t draw people near; it seemed to shove them away from God. Illustration: (1) You may not think you look that bad until you walk by the mirror and notice the broccoli in your teeth or the zit on your face. (2) You may think the tooth may just be sensitive until the dentist shows you the X-ray with the decay, and you understand that the problem is deeper than you thought. (3) You may not feel that bad, but when the doctor shows you the scan with the spots all over your lungs, you realize that radical action is necessary. Gospel Reference: No amount of outward compulsion will make you better. No amount of rules will help to change your life. No amount of moral or religious efforts on your part can draw you near to God. You need something much bigger. You need Someone much greater. 3. A different priest has appeared. a. He is not from Levi (7:13-14). Picture of Abraham s Family This new priest is from the wrong family! He s an outsider. He is from Judah. What was Judah known for? Not priests, but kings. David and his descendants were from the tribe of Judah. So this priest is a Priest-King, just like Melchizedek. He is a King of Righteousness and of Peace a King who lives perfectly and righteously by fulfilling God s Law, but also a King who brings peace to those who can t fulfill God s Law. Justice and peace have kissed each other in this Priest (Ps. 85:10). b. He is not a priest based on the Levitical Law (7:15-16). This isn t the way we ve always done things! He s after the order of Melchizedek. What does that mean? Remember that Melchizedek was characterized by continuing as a priest unceasingly. No recorded birth or death meant that he carried on his priesthood. This new Person who appears is a priest like that a priest who continues forever, a priest with an indestructible life. Here s a key issue: this Priest is a Forever-Priest. He can t be destroyed; His life will never end; so His ministry as priest will never cease. 4. A different Law has been implemented (7:18-19). a. The former commandment was weak and useless it didn t make anyone perfect. The Law could not draw people into God s presence; in fact, it actually showed them how far they were away from Him. b. A better hope has been introduced it draws us near to God. There is a new Law, a new Covenant, a better hope which enables people who are sinful and hopelessly separated from a holy God to be brought into His presence. Transition: The author of Hebrews doesn t deal with that better hope right here. Instead he turns to the better Priest who has made this New Covenant possible. II. The Conclusions A. Jesus is a Forever-High Priest because God swore an unbreakable oath (7:20-22). 1. Levitical priests were made such by their descent. 2. Jesus was made a priest by the oath of God himself. 3
This is a quotation from Psalm 110, one of the most-quoted OT passages in the NT. Here the author of Hebrews refers back to this Psalm and says that Jehovah, the self-existent One, the God who merely is by His great power, has sworn an oath. The LORD has sworn Why would God make an oath? Isn t His word true enough and strong enough in itself? Yes, but He is making an oath in order to show people (who tend to doubt) more convincingly of what is true (Heb. 6:17). He s doing it for our sakes, not because He has to. And will not change His mind As if the oath wasn t enough, here s an assurance that God will never go back on His promise. His oath is unbreakable and irrevocable. If God broke His oath, He would cease to be God, and all that we know would come undone. You are a priest forever. In Psalm 110, Jehovah is talking to the Lord the eternal Son, the second Person of the Godhead, the Word who became flesh and lived on our planet. This Forever-Priest is none other than the God-man, Jesus. Why does it matter that Jesus is a Forever-Priest? Result: Jesus guarantees that we are and will be drawn near to God. The oath that God swore declares that Jesus is the guarantee of the New Covenant, the better hope. Remember we said that the old Law couldn t bring perfection; it couldn t draw people near to God; in fact, it alienated them from God because it showed them how sinful they truly were. But this Jesus is the One who opened a way to God and guarantees that it will always be open to those who come through Him. Whereas the old Law stiff-armed people away from God, as it were, Jesus opens His arms and beckons people to come. Whereas the old Law set a curtain or a barrier in between God and His people, Jesus ripped down that curtain and provided a doorway right into the presence of God himself. Now the sinners who were cast out from God s presence since Adam s fall in the Garden of Eden are now embraced and welcomed home through Jesus. This is a better Priest, a Forever-Priest, who has drawn us near to God! B. Jesus is a Forever-High Priest because He lives eternally (7:23-25). 1. Levitical priests were limited in office because of death. There were a lot of them because they kept dying. The book of Genesis is full of phrases like, and he died. This is illustrated throughout human history. It is the heart-rending echo through the generations of mankind. Illustration: No matter how wonderful a Dad is, at some point he is gone. No matter how loving a mother is, eventually we lose her. Not matter how faithful a pastor is, eventually he is replaced. Down through the generations priests came and went, came and went. 2. Jesus holds His priesthood permanently. There is only 1, and He s not going anywhere. Because He lives into eternity, He holds the priesthood unbreakably. There is no transmission of it to someone else. It is His and only His forever! Result: Jesus saves completely all those who come to God through Him. Because He continues forever, He can save to the uttermost. John Owen says that this can mean several things (1) Jesus saves us completely to every facet of our being. He leaves no area of our lives untouched by His sanctifying and perfecting 4
work. (2) Jesus saves us forever. There will never be a moment in the vast reaches of eternity that He forsakes us or loses His grip upon us. He will hold us fast. Illustration: Someone asked me once, Humanity was created perfect in the Garden of Eden, and they fell. In heaven we will be perfect, but what will keep us from falling then? Couldn t we start this cycle of sin and devastation all over again? Is there any way of knowing that we won t mess it all up again? Yes! The answer is that we have a Forever-High Priest! He has promised that He will save completely all those who come to God through Him. He has opened the way, and He says that all who come through Him will be saved completely and forever. Do you want assurance that this is true? Jesus priestly work of saving is here described as interceding. What a personal touch this is! Jesus is praying for all those who come to God through Him. He stands before the Father and continues to make an appeal on our behalf; He continues to affirm that we can be there because He has opened the way for us. Jesus is praying for all those who come to God through Him. We tend to think of Him ruling and reigning in heaven, sovereignly guiding the affairs of the world and of our lives. But we do not often remember that He is praying for us, affirming His love for us, preserving us, and caring for us. Application: Dear widowed sister, do you remember that Jesus is even now praying for you ensuring that you will be carried safe to the end of your grief? Dear depressed brother, do you remember that Jesus is even now praying for you ensuring that your weaknesses and failures will not overcome His saving plan for you? Dear addicted one, do you realize that Jesus is praying for you ensuring that no power of hell or pull of your flesh can break His hold upon your life? Those He saves are His delight, Christ will hold me fast; Precious in His holy sight, He will hold me fast. He ll not let my soul be lost; His promises shall last; Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fast. We must remember that Jesus unceasing, moment-by-moment interceding work for us is just as essential to our salvation as His past life and death and resurrection. We need this Forever-Priest to stand before God and make an appeal on our behalf, because without Him we have no right to enter the presence of God. But this is a better Priest, a Forever-Priest, who saves us completely through His prayers for us. C. Jesus is a Forever-High Priest because He is sinless (7:26-28). 1. Levitical priests were sinful just like the people they were serving. They had to offer regular sacrifices for their own sins as well as the sins of the people. This is what made the Law weak and useless: it appointed men in their weakness (i.e. sinful and finite and soon-to-die men) to be mediators between God and men. Those men could not make others right in God s sight, for they could not even make themselves right in God s sight. There is no way that sinful people can draw other sinful people to God. 2. Jesus is sinless unlike the people He is saving. See how He is described: holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. The author of Hebrews is piling up the adjectives to show how spotless and pure this Jesus was, and it would seem that as a result, He would be too removed from sinful people like us. 5
But the opposite is true. He was sinless so that He could come to sinners and offer a sacrifice for sinners. Result: He offered a once-for-all sacrifice for sin. Whereas the other priests had to offer sacrifices over and over again, Jesus, who never sinned, only had to offer 1 sacrifice 1 time. It was a sacrifice unlike any other. It wasn t for His sin because He was sinless. It wasn t merely for 1 person in the human race. It was a sacrifice for countless multitudes. Here is the awful and wondrous mystery of this Priest: He not only offered the sacrifice, but He himself was the sacrifice. He offered up himself. For my life He bled and died, Christ will hold me fast; Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast. Conclusion New is better in this case because New is Forever. This new Priest will never be replaced; He ll never get worn out. He is a sinless and perfect Priest who lives forever and who saves to the uttermost those who come into the presence of God through Him because He always lives to pray for them. You who do not have a relationship with this Priest, won t you come to Him today? Won t you believe that He died in your place? Won t you come into the presence of God through Him today the presence which you were made to live in? Believer, you need to remember these truths. Life allures us with all sorts of new things which seem to be better. Life crushes us with all sorts of things which seem to suck our hope and joy away. So we need to believe and rest in our Forever-High Priest. 6