Summer 2013

 Two unchangeable (immutable) things  God’s word  God’s irrevocable oath  Provides “strong encouragement”  For those who have fled to Christ for refuge  To “hold fast” to the hope set before us  A “sure and steadfast anchor”  A hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain”  Where Jesus has gone

 Pressed them for further spiritual progress  Set before them the fatal consequences if they do not progress  Encouraged them to keep on the path of salvation  Their need to hold to their hope, anchored in Christ  They would have no hope if not for the priestly work of Jesus in the Holy of Holies  Christ’s priesthood was like Melchizedek’s

 Jesus is a true high priest (2:17)  Faithful to God  Merciful to man  Melchizedekian order excels the Aaronic order  Covenant  Sanctuary  Sacrifice

 Priestly service and holy places were well-known in the ancient world  Symbols and types/anti-types link the Old and New Testaments  Chapters 7-10 focus on Christ and what He has done for us: Christ, as high priest, has offered Himself—one great, final offering for our sins  5:10—“a high priest after the order of Melchizedek”  6:20—“a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek”

 In Hebrews 7, Melchizedek’s name appears 5 times, but the emphasis is on Christ  The foreverness of Christ’s priesthood  “forever” (3, 17, 21, 24)  “permanently” (24)  “for all time” (25)  “always lives” (25)  “perfect forever” (28)

 Melchizedek and Abraham (7:1-10)  Melchizedek … met Abraham (1)  Melchizedek met him [Abraham] (10)  Melchizedek mentioned only twice in O.T.  Psalm 110  Genesis 14:18-20  Melchizedek is a priest who continues forever  Christ is a priest forever

 Melchizedek  King of Salem  Name means “king of righteousness”  Without father or mother or genealogy  Without beginning of days or end of life  Resembles the “Son of God”  Remains a “priest forever”

 Melchizedek  Was a priest, so is Christ  Was a king, so is Christ  Is righteousness and peace, so is Christ  Psalm 72:7; Isaiah 9:6-7; Romans 5:1  A priest without genealogy, so is Christ  A priest, but not on the basis of family history  His priesthood is timeless, so is Christ’s

 Melchizedek is superior (better) than Abraham  Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek  Melchizedek blessed Abraham  Melchizedek is immortal  Levi paid tithes to Melchizedek

 The inadequacy of the Old Priesthood (11-19)  “perfect”, “perfection”  Christ (2:10, 5:9)  The Law could not “perfect” God’s people  No real sacrifice for sins (9:9; 10:4)  If the priesthood had to change, the Law had to change (12)  The law concerning priesthood  Jesus was from the tribe of Judah

 The former commandment is set aside  Weak  Useless  “set aside”  Cancel, disannul, out-of-date, over, finished, wiped away  The eternal priesthood of Christ  A better hope  By which we can draw near to God

 The supremacy of the New Priesthood (20-28)  Christ has become high priest with an oath  Jesus is a “guarantor of a better covenant”  First time “covenant” is mentioned  Jesus personally guarantees the terms of the covenant  Levitical priests were “many in number”  83 high priests from Aaron to A.D. 70, according to Josephus  Christ holds the priesthood permanently  Christ saves for all times (to the uttermost)  Those who draw near to God  He always lives to make intercession for them

 Jesus lived a sinless life, now He lives a glorious life “separated from sinners”  He is the perfect priest AND the perfect sacrifice  He offered the one perfect sacrifice “once for all”  Contrast:  The law and the word of the oath  Men and a Son  The Aaronic high priests in their “weakness” and the Son as an eternally perfected high priest

 Melchizedek  The oldest recorded priesthood  Suited for kings, not based on flesh and blood  The Levitical priests  Many, sacrifices had to be offered over and over  Their sacrifices kept the people at a distance  Jesus  Can guarantee the new covenant because of his indestructible life  He is not weak, but holy, blameless, unstained

Summer 2013