Paul's Epistles – Hebrews – Part 12: Jesus like Melchizedek

Paul's Epistles – Hebrews – Part 12:

Jesus like Melchizedek

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org | Online Audio Files

SERMON INTRODUCTION

The “official” writer of this epistle is unknown. However, I obviously believe it is Paul since I have included it in the “Paul’s Epistles” Sermon Series.

I believe there is enough evidence from early scholars to agree this was more than likely Paul’s work.

We have already seen in Hebrews so far;

·        Jesus is greater than angels

·        And that we are to pay the most careful attention to Jesus and His way so we do not stray

·        And how Jesus (New Covenant) is greater than Moses (Old Covenant)

·        Paul’s warning about unbelief

·        A Sabbath Rest for the People of God

·        Jesus the Great High Priest

·        Jesus the Perfect High Priest

·        Therefore, It is Time to Grow Up

·        The Certainty of God’s Promise

·        Melchizedek the Priest

TODAY’S SERMON

“Jesus like Melchizedek”

  

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Hebrews 7:11-28

 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?¹² For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. ¹³ He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. ¹⁵ And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, ¹⁶ one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is declared:

“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.”

¹⁸ The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless ¹⁹ (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

²⁰ And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, ²¹ but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

“The Lord has sworn
    and will not change his mind:
    ‘You are a priest forever.’”

²² Because of this oath, Jesus has become the sponsor of a better covenant.

²³ Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office;²⁴ but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. ²⁵ Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

²⁶ Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. ²⁷ Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. ²⁸ For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

The overall message of this epistle to the church is;

“The Cure for Lacking Boldness or Courage in your Christian Faith and Backsliding is a Right beginning for the Glory and Work of Christ”

I. PERFECTION IN CHRIST ALONE

a. Perfection could NOT be obtained by man

                                                                 i. Not through Levitical priesthood

                                                              ii. Not through the Law of Moses given to the People

b. There was a need for a perfect priest

                                                                 i. Levitical order and the Law taught the people of the perfect priest who was to come, not to make them perfect as some thought.

                                                              ii. This is why none were perfect from the order of Aaron

c. When the priesthood changed so must the Law

                                                                 i. The Lord came from the tribe of Judah, not Levi

                                                              ii. Moses said nothing about priests from Judah

                                                           iii. But Melchizedek is a priesthood, not on the basis of regulation of history (Law & Tribe of Levi), but an order based on the power of His indestructible life

1. “You are a priest forever”

2. Jesus is the only one who is perfect, the only one with an indestructible life, because He is life.

3. He is the Priest Forever, in the order of Melchizedek, the High Priest above the human order established in regulation and Law, in the line of Aaron, the Tribe of Levi.

II.      WITH THE NEW PRIEST COMES THE NEW LAW

a. The former regulation is set aside

                                                                 i. Because it is weak and useless (for the Law made nothing perfect)

                                                              ii. The Law was never intended to make anything perfect, nor give everlasting life.

                                                           iii. Only the One in whom Life IS can give life, and that is Jesus Christ.

b. A better Hope was introduced

                                                                 i. Jesus Christ, High Priest above Aaron, by which WE draw near to God

c. Other priests became priests without an oath

                                                                 i. They simply had to be born into the Tribe of Levi

                                                              ii. But Jesus/Melchizedek Order became High Priest Forever by an oath when God said to Him;

1. The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, you are a Priest Forever

III.   BECAUSE OF THIS OATH JESUS HAS BECOME THE SPONSOR OF A BETTER COVENANT

a. There have been many other priests

                                                                 i. From the Tribe of Levi, Order of Aaron

                                                              ii. BUT death prevented them from continuing their office

b. However, Jesus lives forever

                                                                 i. He has an eternal Priesthood

c. Therefore He is able to save completely

                                                                 i. Those who come to God through Him because He always lives to intercede for them

CONCLUSION – such a high priest truly meets our needs

One who is holy

blameless

pure

set apart from sinners

exalted above the heavens

Unlike other High Priests (order of Levi) He (Jesus) does not need to offer sacrifice day after day, first for His sin, then for the sins of the people.

He (Jesus) sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself!

For the Law (of Moses, Old Testament) appoints as High Priest men in all their weakness (Tribe of Levi), but the oath, which came after the Law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Next week we will look at the rest of Hebrews 7

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