Hebrews 7

Randy

Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted 7 months ago • Presented 7 months ago

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The sermon explores the pivotal themes in Hebrews 7, contrasting the eternal and superior priesthood of Jesus Christ with the inadequacies of the Levitical priesthood, urging believers to place unwavering trust in Christ as the ultimate High Priest for salvation and daily living.

Notes

Transcript

Context

Hebrews 7 is part of the larger epistle to the Hebrews, a letter written to Jewish Christians facing persecution and struggling with the implications of their newfound faith in Christ, particularly as it relates to the Jewish traditions and rituals they've left behind. The author aims to establish the superiority of Jesus Christ over the Old Testament law, prophets, angels, and high priests. Hebrews 7 sits at a pivotal point in the epistle, where the author specifically focuses on the priesthood of Jesus, contrasting it with the Levitical priesthood to show that Jesus is the ultimate and eternal High Priest.

Main Idea

The main idea of Hebrews 7 is to demonstrate the eternal and superior priesthood of Jesus Christ in comparison to the Levitical priesthood. The chapter argues that Christ's priesthood, in the order of Melchizedek, is superior because it is eternal, unchangeable, and able to save completely those who come to God through Him. The chapter presents this contrast to affirm the necessity and effectiveness of Christ's priesthood in the believer's life.

Outline

The Priesthood of Melchizedek (Verses 1-3)

This portion begins by introducing Melchizedek, King of Salem, as both a king and a priest, highlighting the mystery of his character—without genealogy and an endless life. He is presented as a type or foreshadowing of the eternal priesthood of Christ.

Levi’s Inferiority to Melchizedek (Verses 4-10)

Here, the author delves into the inadequacies of the Levitical priesthood. Despite the prestige and authority of the Levitical priests, they are shown to be subordinate to Melchizedek because Abraham, their forefather, paid tithes to him.

The New Priesthood (Verses 11-19)

The text argues that if the Levitical priesthood were sufficient, there would be no need for another priesthood "in the order of Melchizedek." It also identifies the change in priesthood as necessitating a change in the law.

The Guarantee of a Better Covenant (Verses 20-22)

The eternal nature of Christ's priesthood is emphasized, rooted in God's sworn oath, which was not the case for the Levitical priests.

The Eternal High Priest (Verses 23-28)

This section confirms the eternal and unchangeable nature of Christ’s priesthood. Unlike the Levitical priests, who were many and died, Christ lives forever and is the ultimate high priest, holy and blameless, able to save completely those who come to God through Him.

Each of these points contributes to the overarching message of the chapter: Christ as our superior and eternal High Priest.

Proposition You should trust Christ's priesthood. The proposition is derived from the central argument of Hebrews 7 that Jesus Christ is the eternal and superior High Priest. The text implores us to recognize the limitations of the Levitical system and to embrace the finality and sufficiency of Christ’s priesthood. Therefore, the believer's action should be to place unwavering trust in the priesthood of Jesus Christ for eternal salvation and for daily living.

Illustrations

Abraham and Melchizedek

When Abraham encountered Melchizedek, he recognized the greatness of Melchizedek's priesthood and paid tithes to him. Abraham's act of giving tithes signifies a trust in a priesthood that was superior to his own lineage, which would become the Levitical priesthood. Similarly, we ought to recognize and trust the superior priesthood of Jesus Christ.

David and the Order of Melchizedek

In Psalm 110, David speaks of a priest who will come "in the order of Melchizedek." Though a great king himself, David points to a greater priestly king, thereby signifying something better than his own reign. He could have claimed priestly functions, yet he acknowledged something greater to come, a foreshadowing for us to trust in Christ's ultimate priesthood.

Peter's Confession of Christ

In Matthew 16, when Jesus asks His disciples who they think He is, Peter confesses, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." This confession is an act of trust in Jesus' unique role, not just as a Messiah but as the eternal High Priest who alone could bring men to God. It wasn't just an acknowledgment of His identity but a trust in His eternal priesthood.

Each of these characters illustrates the act of trusting in a superior priestly order, pointing us to place our trust in Jesus Christ's eternal and superior priesthood.

Reasons: You should trust Christ's priesthood

1. Because Christ Offers Eternal Priesthood (Verses 3, 16, 24-25)

My brothers and sisters, consider the eternal nature of Christ's priesthood. It sets it apart from the Levitical priesthood, which was only temporary and limited by human mortality. Since Christ lives forever, He has the power to save us completely. Now, when we talk about something being "eternal" in the Greek, we use the word "aiōnios," which denotes "without end." This captures the unending nature of Christ's priesthood. You'll find that in the Old Testament, the Greek term "aiōnios" describes God’s eternal nature. Look at Melchizedek, a shadow of Christ's eternal priesthood. He's described as "without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life." What a powerful reflection of Christ's eternal role as our High Priest!

2. Because Christ Offers Superior Priesthood (Verses 7, 11, 15, 26-28)

And let's not forget, the priesthood of Christ is far superior to that of the Levites. The chapter keeps pointing us back to this truth. Christ is portrayed as sinless and blameless, fully capable of bringing us into God's presence. The term "superior" or "better" in Greek is "kreittōn," signifying something that excels or surpasses another in quality. Even in the Old Testament, the word "kreittōn" is used to describe offerings that are pleasing to God. Think of Abraham giving tithes to Melchizedek. Even Abraham recognized a superior priesthood and gave it the honor it deserved.

3. Because Christ Offers Unchanging Priesthood (Verses 23-24, 28)

Lastly, let's ponder the unchangeable nature of Christ's priesthood. Unlike the Levitical priests, who were many in number and subject to death, Christ holds His priesthood permanently. This makes Him the source of eternal salvation. The term "unchangeable" in Greek is "aparabatos," meaning "not passing away" or "untransferable." Although this exact term may not appear in the Old Testament, similar concepts are there, describing God’s unchanging nature. Take David, for instance. He talked about a priest "in the order of Melchizedek," hinting at a priesthood that will neither change nor be superseded. So each of these truths is a compelling reason for why you should trust Christ's priesthood. It's eternal, it's superior, and it's unchangeable. Amen.

Pointing to Christ

Hebrews 7 reveals the supremacy of Christ's priesthood in such a manner that compels us to see Him as the true and final High Priest. The New Testament continually underlines this theme. Take, for example, the reference to Melchizedek in Hebrews 5:6 and 5:10, where Christ is explicitly stated to be "a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 5:6). Similarly, Hebrews 6:20 confirms that Jesus has "entered on our behalf" as a forerunner, becoming "a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

The apostle Paul also affirms the complete sufficiency of Christ's sacrificial work in Romans 8:34, pointing out that it is Christ who died and was raised, and is at the right hand of God interceding for us. It's as if the themes of Hebrews 7 are reverberating through the rest of the New Testament.

In 1 Timothy 2:5, Paul reiterates the unique role of Christ as the one mediator between God and men. This corresponds with Hebrews 7:25, where it is said that Jesus "is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them."

The book of Revelation also contributes to this theme. In Revelation 1:5-6, John the Apostle praises Christ as the one "who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father." We're seeing the Melchizedekian themes, of being both King and Priest, fulfilled beautifully in Christ.

So, the New Testament brilliantly expands on the themes of Hebrews 7, showing us how Christ fulfills the expectations and hopes attached to the priesthood. Christ, as our High Priest, not only meets but exceeds the qualifications and roles of the priests in the Old Covenant. It is in the face of Jesus Christ that we see the full glory of God, displayed in His unique and eternal priesthood. Amen.

Gospel Invitation

Beloved, the themes we've explored in Hebrews 7 aren't merely theological constructs, but life-transforming truths. If the old priesthood was but a shadow, a model of the heavenly realities, then in Christ we find the substance, the fulfillment, and the epitome of what a priest should be. He is our Great High Priest, superior to Aaron, and greater than Melchizedek. In Him, we find the complete and eternal salvation that can never be offered by the law or by any human effort.

You see, the law revealed our sin but could never remove it. We all have fallen short of the glory of God. We all stand guilty before a holy God, deserving nothing but eternal punishment. This is the penalty of sin. But Christ, the eternal High Priest, offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice on the cross, shedding His precious blood for you and me. By faith in His finished work, we're not only delivered from the penalty of sin but declared righteous, justified before a holy God.

But it doesn't stop there. In your daily life, you still struggle with sin. The old nature battles against the new nature given by God. In these moments, remember that Christ, our High Priest, intercedes for us. His work not only paid the penalty of sin but gives us power over sin today. This is sanctification, the process by which we're made holy, day by day, choice by choice.

Looking forward, let's not forget the future glory that awaits us—freedom from the very presence of sin. One day, this struggle will be over. We will be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. So, I plead with you, if you've never put your faith in Christ, do so today. He is the perfect High Priest who fully saves and forever intercedes. Turn to Him and find eternal life, abundant life, and a glorious future. Amen.

Bibliography

"Expository Sermon on Hebrews 7: Context, Main Ideas, Outline, Proposition, Illustrations, Reasons, Pointing to Christ, and Gospel Invitation." ChatGPT, 2023.