A Better Priesthood
Book of Hebrews Chapter 7
Melchizedek is a character in the Bible we know truly little about.
The name Melchizedek (in the Old testament) has the meaning of "the righteous king".
Melchizedek, the same person, but spelled differently (in the New Testament) has the meaning "priest of the Most-High God".
He claimed to be the king of Salem when he went forth to meet Abraham.
Remember Abraham had gone forth to save Lot who had been kidnapped by King Chedorlaomer and his band of kings.
He met Abraham in the "valley of kings" and brought to him and his men "bread and wine" and blessed Abraham and his men and Abraham paid this royal priest a tenth of the spoils of that war.
Gen 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
Gen 14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
Gen 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
The Bible in the Book of Psalms, but especially this Book of Hebrews, tells us the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, would be a Priest after the order of this man Melchizedek.
Psa 110:1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Psa 110:2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Psa 110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
Psa 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Psa 110:5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
Psa 110:6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
Psa 110:7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Notice this Melchizedek would have a priesthood higher than that of the priesthood of Aaron!
Notice also, that this Melchizedek is recognized as higher than Abraham who was the "friend of God".
He brought bread and wine which reminds us of the Lord's Supper.
Melchizedek is not mentioned again in the in the Old Testament until about one thousand years later when David who would be king writes about the coming Messiah here in this Book of Psalms.
David understood by the Holy Spirit, that the Messiah would be both High Priest and King of Jerusalem, King of all kings.
After another thousand years we, have the writer of the Book of Hebrews again by the Holy Spirit referring to this Melchizedek.
For this to happen, then the Levitical priesthood would be abolished with the coming of the Messiah.
The Lord Jesus, the Messiah, whose work brings Him to be Prophet, Priest, and King and we desperately need Him in each of those functions because of the terrible ignorance that results from sin, we need someone to teach us, and it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the Author of our salvation!
This is where we pick up this great prophecy in Chapter 7 of the Book of Hebrews.
*****Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
We might ask ourselves, "what is so important with Jesus Christ being High Priest after the order of Melchizedek"?
The real importance of this passage is prophecy that will be fulfilled and is partially fulfilled right now.
Our Lord Jesus has not failed to accomplish what He has set out to do, He is just much more patient than we are!
2Pe_3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
If we look back to the 110th Psalm, we see King David writing a song celebrating the complete victory of the Messiah over the entire power of evil.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the true Messiah, will hold every office of God, including that of High Priest and King of kings and Lord of lords.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the right hand of God, the right hand of Power and will remain there until it is time to be our Redeemer.
Act 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Act 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
Act 2:34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Act 2:35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
Act 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
The Apostles clearly understood, and this is the message they have given to us, a message of "Victory".
The Apostle John wrote:
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
We must understand that the Lord Jesus will remain at the right hand of God until the purposes of God have been fulfilled in this age, the Church Age!
He is still our High Priest and our Advocate and our soon coming King!
We should utterly understand what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Churches!
The Lord Jesus will remain at the right hand of the Throne in Heaven only until His enemies have been made the footstool for His feet!
This is not a prophecy of the world turning toward the Church, this is a prophecy that says our Heavenly Father will make the enemies the footstool of our Lord Jesus.
When might we ask?
We know the Lord Jesus will not deal with His enemies during this time of "Grace" or it would not be Grace!
We also know there will be a time of great vengeance from the Lord!
But when Apostacy has reached its peak throughout the world.
When the political world has caused lawlessness and the manifestation of the man of sin.
2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Th 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
It amazes me that we have more government and yet we have more lawlessness, and it has always been this way!
Politicians never learn because it threatens their job and their means to get rich!
No doubt the King of kings will one day rule his world from Jerusalem!
Abraham recognized the importance of all these things!
*****Heb 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Heb 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
The Bible describes the typology of Melchizedek.
Abraham saw the King of Righteousness.
Abraham saw the King of Peace and they were in the same person.
So, in the Lord Jesus Christ, righteousness and peace will be joined together!
So, it will also be in all those who believe in Him!
It is a fact, that there can be no peace until there is a world of righteousness!
Psa 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Psa 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Abraham saw the Priest of the Most-High God who was also King!
The Bible does not say that Abraham was the only one who worshipped God during this era, but he certainly would have shown great joy in meeting someone else who did worship the Most-High God as did he.
We already know that Jehovah is never without those who love Him.
What did He teach Elijah?
1Ki 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
We also know that "Job" may have lived at near the same time of Abraham.
The importance of Abraham ties into the importance of Israel as a nation!
Notice that this Melchizedek showed up unexpectedly.
We are shown nothing about his life except that he worshipped the Most-God, and this is the most important thing that can be said about any of us who love the Lord Jesus.
There is nothing about his life, his birth, his death, or his descent and all these things can be said about Jehovah.
He just simply arrives just as Jehovah appeared to Abraham and Moses.
He brings bread and wine the ingredients of the Lord's Supper.
He blessed Abraham and then vanished just as quickly as He came.
Abraham considered this Melchizedek to be a great man.
*****Heb 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
Heb 7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
This Melchizedek was greater than Abraham because Abraham paid tithes to him.
Abraham realized his greatness and we should realize the greatness of our Savior and Our God who is the Most-High God!
Abraham understood how great where the blessings of this Priest who was also King of Peace.
What do we learn from these things?
1) We do not have to approach God through some priest or an earthly priesthood such as a Pope or any other such person.
2) We know there is a much greater priesthood than earthly priests.
3) To show us earthy religion and earthly priests are inadequate to represent man before God.
4) To show that God has provided a much better priesthood.
5) To teach us that there is now the perfect and an eternal priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ!
What does this mean to the believer?
*****Heb 7:23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
Heb 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is eternal because He is God!
Jesus Christ lives forever.
Jesus Christ has an endless life.
Jesus Christ is the perfect and eternal Priest who lives forever and willing to share His life with us!
Jesus Christ makes us acceptable to the Most-High God because He is the Most-High God!
It is because of all these things that Jesus Christ is able and also willing to save us if we have faith in His work and repent of our old lifestyle!
The Lord Jesus Christ offers to us a complete and a perfect salvation!
He has a perfect forgiveness!
He has the perfect power to accomplish these things!
The Lord Jesus Christ lives to make intercession for those who love Him!
In Jesus Christ we see the perfect "love of God", but also the perfect "justice" of God!
It is in the Lord Jesus Christ that we see God's willingness to provide a means of salvation for all those under the curse of Adam
The Lord Jesus Christ the perfect "God-Man" now stands before the throne of God having born the "Justice" and the "Judgment of God" for all those who failed because of sin, but still willing to believe and accept the truth of God!
The Lord Jesus has saved us to the uttermost!
He has saved us from sin, death, and condemnation!
Rom 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
He has saved us to live with God forever!
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He saves us to be the citizens of the New Heaven and the New Earth.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
You know, if we step back and look at our world today, we could say we are on the verge of this happening.
He saves us to rule and reign with Him throughout eternity.
1Co 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
1Co 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
Luk 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Luk 12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Luk 12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
Luk 22:28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
Luk 22:29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
You cannot be any of these things unless you come to God by the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is no other way nor other means to get to God's New Heaven!
******Heb 7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest who lived a perfect life!
There is no other who meets these qualifications in any religion!
When we think, we can get to Heaven by the work of some imperfect man we have ignored the Word of God that says this is impossible.
Only God makes salvation possible for sinful men and sinful women and sinful children!
Jesus Christ is Holy, set apart and separated to God!
He is separated from sin and from all evil, and from all immoral, wicked, and lawless behavior, the things we see prevalent in our world today.
Jesus Christ is harmless! Meaning not evil, free from guile, deception, envy, and malice against anyone, but the very things that we see in all our world today.
Jesus Christ is undefiled! He is unstained by sin as is the New Heaven. As will be the New Earth. As will be the New Jerusalem.
Jesus Christ is separate from sinners. He is different from sinners. Jesus Christ has never sinned.
Jesus Christ has never yielded to temptation!
Jesus Christ is "Higher than the Heavens!
Jesus Christ raised Himself from the dead never to die again!
Jesus Christ went back to Heaven in a bodily form.
Jesus Christ alone is exalted to the right hand of God as the Supreme Lord of all His creation!
1Pe 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
*****Heb 7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
It is only Jesus Christ who could offer the perfect sacrifice for our sin, which was Himself.
The High Priest of the Jews could only offer a sacrifice for the sins of the people once a year and then only after they had offered a sacrifice for their own sin.
The regular priests offered sins daily for those who came to confess their sin.
That one day the High Priests offered was the "Day of Atonement".
I can honestly tell you that my "Day of Atonement" was the day I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior because It is He who offered the perfect sacrifice for my sin!
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
*****Heb 7:28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Jesus Christ is the High Priest with a perfect appointment.
No mere man can say this or if they do, they are deceiving themselves and all those who follow them!
It is only the Lord Jesus Christ who can fulfill the Word of God because He is the Word of God in the flesh.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the One sent down from Heaven for the purpose of saving created man.
You see if you believe there is a God and there is just One, then you have better believe this God has a plan to save His greatest creation, the human, and this plan is centered around the Lord Jesus Christ.
God, Jehovah, sent His own Son to perfect us and to give us eternal life and the glorious privilege to live with Him throughout eternity!
Sounds impossible but it is Biblical Truth!
Amen
