Hebrews 5 & 7 - Melchizedek
Hebrews: Jesus is Greater • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
The purpose of Hebrews - Recap Part 1
Chapter 4 - Entering God’s rest
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Example: As a pastor if I were exempt from difficulties and the temptation of sin, I would no longer be able to understand or identify with the people that I minister to.
Tonight - Melchizedek?! Sound exciting?
Tonight - Melchizedek?! Sound exciting?
1 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” 6 And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” 7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Temporarily skip chapter 6 - Chapter 5 author introduces us to Melchizedek - They should already understand him = He points to Jesus - understanding this is a test of their spiritual maturity. Chapter 6 is the author going off on a rant!
Mel was an OT priest … this doesn’t apply to me … or our current system of worship … what does the priestly system and temple worship have to do with me?
The people thought they needed something or someone to represent them before God. They new there was a disconnect between them and Almighty God - they needed a go-between.
When mankind sinned - naked and ashamed … we were left to deal with this same feeling.
There first impulse was to cover themselves … still mankind’s quest ever since… to find something to take away our shame. Something that will take the shame away and give us righteousness in God’s eyes and earn His approval.
The Bible tells us that the reason we seek this validation is that there’s an inner sense - separation from God.
The bottom line is that this discussion about Melchizedek applies to you and me!
(1) Who Melchizedek was
(2) What he teaches us about Jesus … what it means for us.
1. Who Melchizedek Was
1. Who Melchizedek Was
Only mentioned 2x’s in the Bible other than Hebrews:
17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
He was a king and also a priest of the Most High God.
(1) Don’t know where he came from
(2) Who his descendants where
(3) How he came to know God
(4) Who anointed him as God’s priest
After this reference - Mel disappears and not brought up again for 1,000 years, when David makes a prophecy in Psalm 110 about the Messiah who would be a priest FOREVER after the order of Melchizedek. (Quoted in Hebrews 5:6)
That’s all there is in the Bible about Mel!!
2. What Melchizedek Teaches us About Jesus
2. What Melchizedek Teaches us About Jesus
(1) The stories in the Old Testament point to Jesus. The story about Mel is such a small reference, yet the writer of Hebrews identifies it as placed in the Bible to teach us some things about Jesus.
Jonah was a picture of Jesus … cast out to sea because of God’s wrath … in the belly of a big fish 3 days … God brought him back … brought salvation to Nineveh.
(2) Jesus was a King and a Priest
Mel was both a king and a priest … Nobody else in the OT
2 different offices never combined, and wouldn’t want to combine. (Policeman & Pastor or Referees & Fans)
The King was the lawgiver / Judge
The Priest was a friend, counselor, sympathize with the people.
The King represented God to the people and the Priest represented the people to God.
The King represented God to the people and the Priest represented the people to God.
Never combined in OT .... no person could do both … Mel was one exception … Jesus was next and last!
14 What I mean is, our Lord came from the tribe of Judah, and Moses never mentioned priests coming from that tribe.
Jesus not from tribe of Levi, where all other OT priests where from - Judah, the Kingly tribe.
So how Jesus fulfill priestly duties and empathize with our weaknesses? THE CROSS!
The cross was where the absolute justice of God met the fullness of His mercy.
The cross was where the absolute justice of God met the fullness of His mercy.
Another great OT story that points to the Justice of God meeting encountering mercy - Judah
Genesis … Judah the oldest of 12 sons of Jacob … Joseph the favorite … brothers hated him … sell him (lied to daddy)
Joseph ends up Prime Minister in Egypt … Famine … remaining sons of Jacob go to buy grain … Joseph (don’t recognize) wants to see if changed heart … plants cup in Ben’s sack … Sentences Ben to death … Judah = “no, let me die!”
We were sentenced to death - Jesus said “no, let me die!”
The debt we owed to God our King was paid in full by God the Son … He could relate to us justice and mercy!
25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
(3) Jesus can save anyone, anywhere
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.
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.
The problem with other priests is that they were all Jewish … meant could only represent Jews.
Mel has no recorded genealogy … he can represent anyone = same as Jesus!
3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
Another problem … was that they had their own sins to deal with and they died. (only serve 25-50 years old)
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office;
Jesus didn’t have either of those problems!
25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
(4) Jesus deserves our first and our best.
4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater.
After Abraham had won the battle, he looked for someone on God’s behalf to whom to tithe. So he tithed to Mel. He was thanking this future picture of Jesus, the King and High Priest, for the victory!
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