In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel. His abode has been established in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion. There he broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah (Psalm 76:1-3 ESV)
The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:1-4 ESV)
For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. (Hebrews 7:1-3 ESV)
Types and shadows are the tool of covenant theology that the writer of Hebrews keeps hammering. Rather than dwell for long in the Psalter, I just want to point out that the order of Melchizedek runs through the whole Old Testament. It is the High Priesthood of that better Covenant that is made first with Abraham, and then finally by Christ, through Christ, for his elect, who are both natural and grafted in members of the Covenant family of Abraham.
I want to start by enumerating a few interesting tidbits. First, Melchizedek blesses Abraham; and by giving him a tithe, Abraham recognizes Melchizedek as the Great High Priest who intercedes for him with God. Second, one chapter later, Abraham has no need of an intercessor, because God talks directly to him. In a moment, we will examine why that is the case. Third, Melchizedek is called the king of peace. Fourth, Melchizedek is dropped into the story without antecedent or genealogy, and then seemingly disappears again. The writer of Hebrews implies that he continues a priest forever.
See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him. (Hebrews 7:4-10 ESV)
This is a key point the writer of Hebrews is making. Melchizedek is not of the same lineage as Levi. It is very tempting to assume that Melchizedek is some sort of preincarnate, dropping into the story to set Abraham on the correct path. But Salem was a real place, and it had a real king. No true incarnate diety would take authority of a kingdom of man. But as a type and shadow, this works very well. Melchizedek blesses Abraham. In the next chapter, Genesis 15:6, we are told that the basis of Abraham’s righteousness is his belief in the promise of God. What purpose then is this passage of Genesis 14 in the overall narrative? The writer of Hebrews tells us that by translation, Melchizedek is the king of righteousness. We’ll have to take his word for that, of course. So, in one man, we have king of righteousness, by name, and king of peace, by location in Salem. First, Abraham receives blessing from this Great High Priest, Melchizedek, the king of righteousness and the king of peace, and then Abraham offers Melchizedek a tithe, recognizing him as greater than himself, and then God declares Abraham righteous based upon his faith in the promise and blesses Abraham. Later in Genesis 22, Abraham will obediently offer his son as a sacrifice to God, but God refuses the sacrifice. Remember, it will be Abraham’s Seed, Who in His incarnation is also a natural branch of Abraham, Who is indeed sacrificed to God.
Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. (Hebrews 7:11-14 ESV)
While this whole line of argument seems obscure to us today, let’s break this down and try to view this from a redemptive historical picture. We must start with the audience again. The audience of Hebrews are predominantly Jewish Christians. As such, they have spent their whole lives in the religious context of Moses and Aaron and Levi as priests. Melchizedek not being of the family of Levi or Aaron is exactly the point. Aaron and Levi are associated with the Law as given through Moses. Melchizedek is not. Jesus is not from that branch of the family.
But there is a larger point and that is in the first phrase: Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek? Indeed. This is such an important question and we are so bogged down on who this Melchizedek guy is, we totally blow over this basic and fundamental question. The writer of Hebrews just told us that we are ready to move onto advanced Christianity, so we should not need to dwell on the basics. I agree with Paul on this point. We never outgrow the basics, because fallen man, left to himself will always turn back to himself for answers. So, the writer of Hebrews makes an assumption that we are meant to make as well. Perfection is NOT attainable through the Law; otherwise, this argument doesn’t make any sense. This is a huge point and cannot be overstated. The answer to the writer’s question is obviously that there would be no need for Jesus as incarnate deity if perfection were possible under the Law. This is the whole point of the Gospel. This is what Jesus keeps pounding into the Pharisees. This is what Paul finally understands. This is the central point of the distinction between Law and Gospel. The whole message of Hebrews hinges on this very point. If we were capable of perfection through the Levitical priesthood, what further need would we have for Jesus?
This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him,“You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:15-19 ESV)
This section, again, gives some to think of Melchizedek as some preincarnate. Clearly, this passage refers to Jesus. As such, it is obvious that He arises by the power of an indestructible life. But does that phrase also refer to Melchizedek? No. The line of argument is about genealogy. Just as Melchizedek was not of the same lineage as Abraham, neither is Jesus of the same lineage as Aaron or Levi. The indestructible life of Jesus does allow Him to continue as priest forever. But this is not the big point of this section either.
Focus on verses 18-19. A former commandment is set aside. What is set aside here? The Levitical priesthood interceded based upon the Law and the Covenant of Moses; therefore, the Mosaic covenant is no longer in force. It was not capable of making anything perfect. The Law is only capable of teaching us about our sin. That was the whole purpose of the Law. Now, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. Remember again the audience. Only the Great High Priest dared to draw near to God under the Levitical system. Now, with this new hope, this new covenant, this new Great High Priest of the order of Melchizedek, we can all draw near to God. This is truly amazing stuff, and it puts a dagger into the notion of Temple worship and the Mosaic Covenant.
And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:“The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’”This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. (Hebrews 7:20-22 ESV)
We have already seen that this quote is from Psalm 110. What is this oath to which the Psalmist refers? For just a moment, let us remember all of those Old Testament covenants that we discussed recently. Three were Law Covenants: creation, Noah and Moses. We know that Abraham is different. The missing covenant is that with David. Remember that David wrote many (roughly half) of the Psalter. This one in particular is a Davidic Psalm, and it refers to the Davidic Covenant. Let’s go, once again, to 2 Samuel 7:8-17 and read about the Davidic Covenant. Two key points are at once obvious. First, there are no blessings and curses. This is a straight royal grant. This covenant is of the same type as that with Abraham. Second, we come to 2 Samuel 7:12. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. The assumption is that God is talking about Solomon. It makes sense within a Jewish Old Testament manner of thinking. Notice the number of the noun offspring. We know from later in the sentence that this is one person. The writer of Hebrews is directly applying this verse to mean Jesus. It is the Kingdom of Heaven that will be established. It is Jesus who will be the Son of God. It is the throne of Jesus that will be established forever. This promise was about Jesus.
So, logically, if the writer of Hebrews is pointing to both the Covenant with Abraham as well as the Covenant with David in distinction to the three law covenants, Jesus is certainly the guarantor of a better covenant. Everything that Jesus mediates is a gift from God, not tied to a blessings and curses situation. Those three covenants have to be reconciled, but that is why we needed Jesus to come. He had to fulfill those covenants for us.
The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:23-25 ESV)
This section is plainly straightforward to us today, in our Trinitarian view of Christ. If we have some odd Arian type of theology, then this is more problematic. Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are the archetype of this theology in our century. But we need to be careful with so many of the liberal views that chip away at the Gospel and deity of Christ. To these wolves, we must shout the charge of blasphemy.
For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. (Hebrews 7:26-28 ESV)
We finish up chapter 7 with a brief discussion of the sacrifice of Jesus. I say brief because the writer of Hebrews was brief. I will not be nearly so succinct. From the first line, why is it fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens? The writer tells us. There are two reasons and we are elaborating on the first. He has no need to offer sacrifices for his own sins. He doesn’t have any sin. His sacrifice pays for our sin. Because he was made perfect, he only had to do it once. Goats and lambs and bulls and pigeons cannot cleanse us of our sins. They can only cover up our sins. This is the mercy seat language of the Old Testament. His sacrifice is so much better. It does more than just cover up. It reconciles us through Christ, to God the Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit. How is he made perfect? This works on two levels. He is God, so when He became incarnate, He was made perfect from the start. But also, He is made perfect in a progressive sense by living a perfect, sinless life while incarnate under the curse of Adam. This life creates the conditions of a perfect sacrifice. He is wholly human and wholly God and completely sinless as such. Perfection incarnate. He does what no man under the Law is capable of doing. He becomes that perfect sacrifice for us.
My friends, I am going to say this differently that what we heard last week. It’s in the text so watch closely. He did this once for all. That statement cannot be more plain and yet it cannot be more overlooked and abused. Those other priests must atone for their own sins daily (plus every year on the Day of Atonement,) because they are not perfect and the sacrifice that they offer is insufficient to the job. Therefore, in response to this paragraph from the notes, my answers would be different.
What has the blood of Christ done for you? Where do you need His blood in your life? Often we most need the blood of Christ at those times we're victorious. Victorious times can actually be dangerous times, although **** spoke for all of us in saying he could use the challenge of victorious times right now.
The blood of Christ, for me, purchased redemption, cleansing my sin, reconciling me to God, allowing me to approach His throne boldly and with confidence on the Last Day, knowing that I am not to be judged by my own merits, but rather by the perfect righteousness of Christ that was imputed to me as a gift of Grace through the power of the Holy Spirit. In my life, His blood has already freed me from the yoke of sin, so that my works are sanctified by that same Grace from the Holy Spirit. Because I have the knowledge of the Gospel and what the Blood of Christ has already done for me, once and for all, I can live accordingly in gratitude and obedience to His will. I am not ever going to be victorious in this life, in the way in which that question was asked. My victorious time will come on the Last Day, at Judgment, when I will hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant,” as if I had done something to earn them. My victory in this life is the certain knowledge of that victory that was paid for me by Christ’s blood for that victory on my behalf on the Last Day. And that, my friends, is plenty enough for me.
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