Our Great High Priest, and by the way - who is Melchizedek?
Notes
Transcript
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.
3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.
4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Who is Melchizedek?
Who is Melchizedek?
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.)
19 And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
This is the first we will hear of him and the name he left for himself due to the way he followed the Lord and lead his people.
After Abram returned from defeating Chedorlaomer and the kings who fought with them, the king of Sodom and Melchizedek came out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh. It was also known as the King’s Valley.
He is the only person in scripture who will hold the earthly title of priest and king. He was held in such regard that Abram paid him a tenth of all he had.
His blessing which he gave to Abram meant something. Melchizedek wasn’t someone who was just spouting words to impress Abram nor the king of Sodom.
We hear about Melchizedek again in Psalm 110 where the writer is talking about a king to come. This could also be a prophetic statement of Jesus when His kingdom will be established. In verse 4 of this psalm it says
4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
In the order of Melchizedek would refer to the king and priest.
It is important for us to know who he is and what he was. He will be mentioned a few other times through Hebrews.
So, now that we have this background, let’s dive into our main scripture today and pray.
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.
3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.
4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
The High Priest of old
The High Priest of old
There were priests before the tabernacle was constructed in Exodus. However, Aaron and his sons and his line would be the ones who would serve the people in the tabernacle God instructed Israel to build after they left Egypt.
In Exodus 28, we get the instructions on how the garments were to be made and what material they were to be made from. In Exodus 29, they were then instructed on how to consecrate to priests for their service to God.
Only the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. This was an area where sacrifices were made. Laid on the altar and burnt to atone for the sins of man.
1 For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.
3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.
4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
The high priests were called by God. Before they could deal with the sins of the people, they had to deal with their own sins. They had to offer their sacrifice to God on their own behalf before they could come before our righteous God and offer the sacrifice for the people of Isreal.
These high priests who were appointed by God from men would suffer the same sinful nature as those whom they were serving. Don’t you think as they were performing the sacrifices for their own sin it would’ve kept them humble and not place themselves above those they served.
However, we know when Jesus comes to earth, the temple is filled with priests, sadducees and pharisees who see themselves so far above those they served. They looked down on the poor sinners who lived outside the tabernacle.
The High Priest under the New Covenant
The High Priest under the New Covenant
In John 4, Jesus is talking with the woman at the well. There are many things they both discuss, but one of them was where she needed to go to offer acceptable worship to God. Jesus tells her of the New Covenant which was coming.
19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”
21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.
22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.
24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Jesus is telling her the day is coming when you will no longer have to go to a specific place to worship the Lord, but you will be able to worship Him wherever you are. The true worshipper will be able to praise God and give glory to Him wherever they are at.
When this New Covenant was put into place with the one and only sacrifice that will ever be needed for mankind again, a new High Priest was appointed. He didn’t appoint himself, but just as Aaron was appointed Christ was appointed our High Priest by God.
5 So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
10 being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus is our new High Priest
Jesus is our new High Priest
We don’t need to think of our high priest as one who hasn’t gone through the very same things we have.
While He was here on earth, he lived a life which was filled with the same temptations and urges we all have. He dealt with the same decisions we did as far as whether to commit a sin or not. He was one of us and walked among the people of His time.
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
But, He chose to follow the will of His Father. He chose to follow the path God had laid out for Him.
Because of this, in the scripture we read earlier, He was perfect and provides salvation for all who believe in Him and accept the gift of salvation.
And those who have accepted the gift of salvation can then....
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We can approach the throne of grace where our Father God sits. We can approach Him with confidence, knowing the price has been paid for our sins, once and for all.
At our Father’s throne is where we will find true mercy and grace. He is there to help us in our time of need.
Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, our Great High Priest stands there with us before the throne.
What will happen when you approach this throne?
What will happen when you approach this throne?