Priest of the Oath
Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted
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· 12 viewsProof of the need for a new high priest different than the order of Aaron
Notes
Transcript
New priesthood - vs.11-14
New priesthood - vs.11-14
Law cannot make man perfect, so the priesthood based on law cannot make man perfect (complete before God) - Gal 3:21
Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.
When the priesthood changes, the law which authorizes the priesthood must also be changed
The priesthood originating from the law of Moses authorized priests from the tribe of Levi; but Jesus comes from a different tribe (Judah) from which no one served at the altar (offered sacrifices)
Since Moses said nothing about descendants of Judah serving as priests, Jesus cannot be a priest by the authority of the law of Moses; this is a classic argument based on silence (absence of authority)
Superior priesthood - vs.15-25
Superior priesthood - vs.15-25
Superior because of how He becomes the high priest: not by law, but by indestructible life (forever)
Superior because of setting aside a law that was weak and ineffectual to make perfect, to be replaced by a better hope to bring man near to God
Superior because this priesthood is based on an oath of God
Superior because this priesthood is one, who lives forever, and serves as intercessor forever (Josephus names 83 high priests beginning with Aaron, who had already sinned before he was appointed as high priest - Exod 32 & Lev 8)
Priest of the Oath - vs.26-28
Priest of the Oath - vs.26-28
It is fitting (this has been the primary argument of our author all through the book - 2:10) that we have this High Priest
Holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens (all different ways of saying the same thing)
Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh, ate with sinners, welcome sinners, yet was always separate from them; the Levitical high priests would have nothing to do with sinners, except to condemn them, yet were worse than the sinners, because they thought they were better - Luke 15:1-2; Matt 23
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Does not need to offer sacrifices on a daily repetitive basis, as He offered one permanent sacrifice of Himself
Law appoints “weak” men as priests; the oath appoints the Son, who is made perfect forever
Oath comes after the law, so the law could not supplant the oath; yet it is based on a promise that predates the law, so the law could not supplant the covenant of promise either - Heb 6:13-15; Gal 3:15-18
For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.
To give a human example, brothers: even with a man-made covenant, no one annuls it or adds to it once it has been ratified. Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void. For if the inheritance comes by the law, it no longer comes by promise; but God gave it to Abraham by a promise.
Questions for next week:
Questions for next week:
1- What is the sanctuary, the true tabernacle?
2- Why are patterns important?
3- What is different about the new covenant God promised?
4- What does the promise of a new covenant mean for the old covenant?