The New Priesthood of Jesus: Hebrews 7:1-8:6
Big Picture
From this point forward, Hebrews is going to deal with the Living Christ who is right now at God’s right hand.
Melchizedek, King of Salem
Heb 7::1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.
For this… (7:1) – goes back to 6:20.
7:1 Salem = shalom = peace ( Jerusalem)
Melchizedek = king of righteousness. also a type of Christ. In gen. m. is called “King of Salem” and “Priest of the Most High God”. His two appearances in the OT are almost forgettable (but not to the Spirit of the Lord).
we today are living in Christ’s priesthood.
7:3 The Lord Jesus has no beginning or end, he is the beginning and end. Melchizedek isn’t mentioned in any of the geneologies. A type or picture of Christ in the OT. (notice also him and Abraham celebrate communion (bread & wine) together. He came at just the time Abraham neeeded someone to encourage and strengthen him.
Heb 7:4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. 5 And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. 6 But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. 7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. 9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
7:4 – Abraham payed tithe to Melchizedek. He recognized M. was “above him” (McGee) and was a priest of God most High. This was in the days before Levi was even born, there were no levites to pay tithes to. But in Abraham, the decendent of Levi paying tithes to M. it might indicate M. was superior to Aaron’s family.
7:7 Abraham was blessed by M. (who was better than he). When we bow and worship Christ, we are recognizing he is better than us.
God’s blessings come with substantial fruits (God has so much authority that when he speaks…)
Bank on God’s promises. God’s not a liar, he’ll bring the promise to fruition if your faith is present. -> don’t give up and let go right before God gives you the blessing he promised.
7:8 “receives them” is not in the original greek/Hebrew
Why does Abraham tithe to him? He was the priest.
v.7:8 although we pay tithes to a mortal man, its really to the immortal God
Abraham = father of faith
men that die = levitical priests, but he = mechizedek.
11 Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. 13 For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
7:12 Mosaic law and Aaronic priesthood go together. We are no longer under this law.
Why would God call another priesthood if the first were already perfected?
15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is attested of Him,“You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.” 18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
7:17 – key verse of chapter, Christ is a priest forever of order of M.
approx v. 17… Ps. 110:4 of David
7:18 – Mosaic system never gave what men must have, perfection. It wore out and went out of style.
7:19 (McGee??)
| Law | vs Power |
| Priesthood of Aaron | Priesthood of Melchizedek |
| Restrains | Enables |
| Commandment (external) | life (internal) |
| Carnal (flesh) | Endless (eternal life) |
| Changing | Unchanging |
| Weakness and unprofitableness | Nigh to God |
| Nothing perfect | Better Hope |
20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, “The Lord has sworn And will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever’”); 22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
7:22 testamament = covenant. a better covenant given.
23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
7:23-28 – Person of Chrrist = Perpetual and Perfect Priest
Aaronic priesthood always ended by death.
7:25 = key verse. we also have a wherefore again.
He always lives – Christ is living, not dead
7:25 if you want your family to get saved, intercede for them. (sometimes sorrow brings intersession)
7:26 – harmless = fee of malice, crafiness or cleverness. He’s not getting you freed from sin b/c he’s a “clever lawyer”
26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.
undefiled = free from moral impurity.
separate from sinners. He could mix and mingle with them and they didn’t feel uncomfortable in his presense. But he was not one of them. He was seperate from them.
7:27 If you want to be like Jesus, offer yourself up as a living sacrifice.
This verse tells us the value of Chrit’s sacrifice (there is nothing greater he could have offered up)
Christ the High Priest (in the Heavenly Sanctuary)
8:1 Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. 4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.
8:1 We have access to God’s throne.
8:1 main point (or sum in KJV) = the chief or focal point.
What is interesting about the high priest being seated? There were no chairs in the tabernacle. The priest was always up and about on the run doing work serving. Jesus, in contrast, sitting. He is sitting because he “has finished our redemption” McGee
8:2 The earthly tabernacle had its articles and furniture which were ornate and crafted by a skilled craftsman, but it was all man-made, a contrast to the tabernacle in heaven where Jesus ministers from, which He Himself made.
8:3 This verse (and the following) is one that is oft cited as evidence that the temple was still alive and whole in Jerusalem and that the priests were continuing to carry about in their duties in the temple.
8:3b = therefore…for. structure!
“A copy and a shadow…” (8:5) The earthly tabernacle was patterned after the heavenly one.
Tabernacle (8:5) means tent, refers specifically to a specific tent the Israelites were instructed to build in Exodus as a portable place of worship.
A more excellent ministry (8:6): The tabernacle they’d seen in the wilderness was only a shadow of the reality which is in heaven.
“…a better covenant…” (8:6) – A covenant is an agreement between two parties, which unlike a contract is binding on both parties even if the other party doesn’t follow through on their requirements. God had made a covenant with Israel through Moses, the law. The law showed how they came short of the glory of God (nobody was coming to God saying “I’ve kept all your commandments always”, they came making sacrifices because they’d broken God’s law). Before the law they’d just came to God through faith like Abraham did. Today we call this “better covenant” the new testament.
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