Jesus the Great High Priest — Hebrews 7

0:00 As you can see, the topic today is Jesus, the great high priest. So, we're going to start out just by reading the word of god and maybe many of you have read in the passage in the Bible many times in Hebrews about Melchizedek and wonder what in the world is this all about? And so I'm I'm going to attempt with the help of the Holy Spirit and to some preparation to clarify what what this means and how this applies to our lives. Alright? So, what we're going to do, I tell you what, we're going to do is why don't we start in Genesis then then we're going to to to Hebrews just so it'll make sense to you, alright?

0:38 So, so let's go to Genesis chapter fourteen first, then, we're going to read the Hebrews passage. So, go to Genesis 14 and verse 17. Verse 14 and verse 17. Give you a second to find it. Alright and let's let's read then.

1:03 Then after his return from the defeat of this king, I can't pronounce his name so I'm not going to attempt to and kings who are with him, there was those four kings, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley Of Sheva or something like that. That is the King's Valley which is around Jerusalem. Verse 18 and here comes our our person and Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. Now, he was a priest of god most high and he blessed him and said, blessed be Abraham of god most high, possessor of heaven and earth, and blessed be god, most high, who has delivered your enemies into your hand, and he gave him a tenth of all. Okay?

1:55 So, let's go now to Hebrews. Having said that, let's go to Hebrews chapter seven. We're to read the first three verses. There's a there's another mention of Melchizedek also in Psalm 110 verse four where where it says, the lord has sworn and he will not change his mind. You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

2:25 Psalm a 110 verse four. That's the the only two mentions of Melchizedek in the Old Testament. We know nothing else about him and then all of a sudden, he appears again in Hebrews five ten. We're not going to read that but right here in chapter seven. For this, Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high god, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him to whom also Abraham appointed a tenth part of all of the spoils was first of all by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace, without of, without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the son of God, he abides a priest perpetually.

3:21 Amen. So, after we read this text, did that help you any? Probably not, right? You're probably like, what? It's it's probably worse.

4:01 He he he is not the angel of the lord so he he was a little a real historical person. Alright? Now, secondly, he was a priest of the most high god. We know that but we looked at it in in Genesis that he says that this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high god came and and blessed Abraham. So, that we know that he was a a real king of Salem which was the name before turned to Jerusalem, alright?

4:34 In the time of Abraham and he was also a priest. So, he is the only person in the Old Testament who held the office or the position of king and priest at the same time. You don't see that anywhere else in scripture. In fact, when Uzziah who was a king try to do a priestly function, what happened to him? Who remembers?

4:54 He he contracted leprosy. That's right. Because of the priest told him, it's not you you can't be a king and a priest. If you come into the temple, you're going to be cursed and he was. But this guy was different and that he was a king and he was a priest and he did indeed bless Abraham when Abraham had conquered the four kings, he came back and and he met Abraham and said, wow, blessed be the lord who who gave you this victory.

5:23 Alright? So, who who is this Melchizedek? So, we know he was a real person that was a king and a priest. Alright. Next, you have to understand this truth about it.

5:34 He was a type of Christ. He was a type of Christ. He was not Christ, pre incarnate. He wasn't some some angel or or different things that you can hear. Look at some commentaries.

5:49 He he was indeed a type of Christ. He was a picture of Christ. So, Christ takes this man and and his position as a king and the priest and says, I'm going to use this man as a type of the the greater king and priest to come and so, this is who this person is. Now, having said that, notice the text then, how interesting verse, we're in Hebrews verse one, for this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high god, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings. Now, a little bit of historical background, Abraham was a very wealthy man.

6:32 He had a lot of slaves and servants. He finds out that they had four kings that come and conquered five kings and taken the other people including Lot, his nephew, and they took all the money and all the goods and they ran off with him. So, Abraham goes, gets all of his servants, he attacks those four kings and defeats him and he comes back with all of the spoils. Spoils means for for those of you who don't understand that that probably an older word, spoil means that when you conquer an enemy, you take their gold, their sheep, all of their goods. It's like, wow, look at this and so you all of a sudden have a lot of riches, okay?

7:13 Now, notice how interesting that it says, where this man who met Abraham, verse one, as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him to whom also Abraham appointed a tenth part of all of the spoils. First of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness and then also king of Salem which is king of peace. Alright. Now, so let's go on to the the next thing we know about his title and name. Alright, Melchizedek means or if you will, he was a king who ruled his kingship in righteousness.

7:51 Also, he's referred to in Hebrews here as a king of peace. So, so in other words, when when people who who knew Melchizedek back in the time of Abraham would would think about Melchizedek and look at his kingdom, they would say, wow, there's a king who who rules in righteousness. So, his people were blessed, who were under his his leadership because he was a righteous king. Wow, when do you see that? And not only that but not only is he their king but he's also their priest.

8:23 Well, you don't see that either anywhere else and and so so this man had a great position. He he he had a great rule that he ruled his people with righteousness and he was a peaceful king and he was also their priest. Alright. Now, notice also Hebrews seven and verse three, without a father, without a mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life but make like the son of god. So, so we didn't have father and mother beginning.

8:55 What is this? Some kind of ghost? No. See, the holy spirit purposely left out his genealogy. In other words, information about his father and mother.

9:05 He purposely left out all the details about who he was so that he can become a type of Christ. That's why the Holy Spirit did it, right? Now, type is a picture of a a an illustration of where Christ is going to be when he came. But Melchizedek and and I'm gonna make it clear again. It is not Christ, was not Christ.

9:26 He was a type of, a picture of and so it's interesting how the Holy Spirit then even says, the reason I give you information about him in Genesis is because I wanted to use him as a type, as an illustration, and so consequently, I didn't give any information about him so that he could become a better type of Christ. That make sense? If it doesn't, go see somebody about it. Read your Bible some more. I don't know.

9:53 Alright. So, so that that that's that's what that's what this is, okay? So, this was a very unique man, very unique man. Uh-oh, indeed. So, here's what MacArthur says about this guy's priesthood because what the Bible wants to do in a minute is compare Melchizedek, his priesthood with the the Levitical priesthood.

10:37 And so, it wasn't universal. It was just the nation of Israel. Many of the Levitical priests as you know were not righteous. Right? Some of them were killed for burning bad fire, right?

10:52 It wasn't good. Many of many of them were not peaceful and it wasn't personal. They they would bring an offering to them. They would just take it and do it and all that but it wasn't personal. Only the only the high priest once a year could do certain things and and certainly wasn't permanent and that the Levitical priest would die, okay?

11:12 So, he was very unique. The this man. Okay. Now, so so was Christ priesthood. When when Christ is a priest, he's a priest to anyone in the universe who comes to him for the salvation of their soul and so he's a universal priest believers all over the world fall under his priesthood and we can all say he's righteous.

11:34 So, so so not only is he is he our our king and the universal king but but he's a universal priest and he's a righteous king. He's my king and he's a king that gives me peace. He's a peaceful king and he's very personal because he's my personal savior and he's permanent. He's eternally the king and the priest. Alright.

11:56 So, so that's what the the Bible is trying to show us here. Alright. Now, well, before I go to this comparison, I wanna I want you to notice verse four. Now, observe how great this man that is Melchizedek was to Abraham, the patriarch, that he gave a tenth of his choices spoils. So, I want you to picture this with me.

12:22 Abraham goes to war and and he defeats the enemy and he's coming back with his men with all of this gold all this cattle, the sheep, the these outfits, and so he basically is loaded. He's got a ton of stuff. So, he comes and he and he runs into Melchizedek. Melchizedek blesses him and and as a as a result of of Abraham recognizing how great this man was, that he was a king, that he was also a priest, his position. So, you notice how the text is.

12:54 Notice how great this man was, Melchizedek and what do you do as a result of the greatness of this man? He says, I'm going to give you some of the spoils but here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to give you the absolute best and so as he looked at all the cattle and all the gold, he says, okay, what do we have here? Wow, look at this gold piece. This is beautiful.

13:18 Look at this sword. Look at that sheep. Look at that cattle. Wow. Look how beautiful that.

13:23 So, he picked out the very best and he says, because of the greatness of your position and because you represent the most high god as a priest, I give you this voluntarily. Nobody told him to do it. But just in recognition of the greatness of Melchizedek, he offers the choice, the best, the very best, and brings it to him and offers it to him. Now, the point of the scripture here is this, that if Abraham, who himself was a man of greatness, recognized that Melchizedek was a king and a priest and had a great position, the priest of the most high god, was able to then give the very best of everything that he had won in a battle to to the lord to Melchizedek, then, what about us with the lord Jesus? Because Melchizedek was great but he's no comparison to Jesus.

14:18 He's just a type of. And so the implication is when I approach my great king and my great priest, I I give him the very best. The very best of my worship, the very best of my offerings, the very best of of my me. In other words, I I bring to him and I said, lord Jesus, you are so great as my king, king of kings, and lord of lords, amen? And and you are such a great priest, The universal, righteous, peaceful, personal, permanent priest that I give you my absolute best.

14:53 I don't give you leftovers and nobody obligates me to do it. I do it because I recognize how great you are. And that's the point of the of of verse four. See, observe how great this man was, Melchizedek. That that he gave the tenth of the choices.

15:11 No, there's the very best of his spoils and what about us then? When we see the lord Jesus, the very best brothers, the very best. The best. And so then, what what the text goes on to do then is he's going to do a comparison because he was telling the the Hebrew people, why would you wanna go back to the to the Levitical priesthood when it was full of errors? It was it was full of defects and so this is what we're gonna do now.

16:02 If you were born into the tribe of Simeon, you couldn't be a priest. If you were born of the tribe of Ephraim or whoever it would be, you couldn't be a priest. Only if you're born of the Levitical tribe, then you could be a priest, alright? So, what what he's gonna say and so that's why it's called the Levitical priesthood or you can also, it could also be referred to as the the the Moses and his brother Aaron and the ironic ironic of priesthood if that sounds right, okay? So, but I'm gonna cut it the the Levitical priesthood versus the Melchizedek priesthood.

16:39 So, what even though he's gonna do a comparison. He goes, okay, first of all, I want you to understand that Melchizedek is a type of Christ and this man was so great that even the great Abraham, your hero, bowed to him and gave him the the choices, the best. And and we do the same to Christ and so, notice then in the comparison and the left is is the the Abraham gave the choices for us to Melchizedek and because of Melchizedek's greater imposition, he was able then to bless Abraham. He was able to bless Abraham and and and it's the same because Jesus is oh by the way, Jesus is a Melchizedek priest. That's the point.

17:27 He comes from that kind of a priesthood and it'll it'll clarify a little bit more as we read, okay? So, let's start reading them. Verse five, and those indeed of the sons of Levi, who received the priest office have a commandment in the law to collect the tent from the people, that is from their brethren, although they are descendants of Abraham, But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. And so I already explained some of that. I I don't want to be redundant.

18:04 Okay. Verse seven. But without any dispute, the lesser is blessed by the greater. Without any dispute, in other words, Melchizedek's position was greater than Abraham and the Levites came from Abraham and Abraham acknowledged that that Melchizedek was greater and so, what he's trying to point to is that Christ comes from Melchizedek's priesthood and he's so much greater and we need to acknowledge that. So much greater than the Levitical priesthood and the fact that Abraham could be blessed by Melchizedek.

18:36 Melchizedek didn't bless, I mean, sorry, Abraham didn't bless Melchizedek. Melchizedek blessed Abraham and Abraham gave a tenth, alright? The choices. Now, the the the that's what he chose to do. Nobody made him.

18:51 Okay, so then, as he's comparing this, he says, verse nine and so to speak through Abraham, even Levi who received tithes, paid tithes. For he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. Now, if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood, so there you go, for on the basis of it, the people received the law, What further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek and not be designated according to the order of Aaron and so what he's saying is at verse 11 through 17 is that the Levitical priesthood was not perfect. The priests were born into it and there was really no requirement. Let me read a little bit more.

20:20 That is Jesus who comes from the order of Melchizedek has an indestructible life. Verse 17, for it is witnessed of him and he's quoting Psalm 110, thou art a priest forever, thou Jesus, our priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. Alright? So, what is basically saying it was that that the reason that Jesus didn't come from the Levitical priesthood is because it wasn't perfect. It wasn't perfect.

20:48 Something better needed to come. And so if you look at the Melchizedek side, Jesus was a better priest based on his character and his indestructible life. So, why would you wanna go back to religion where we're where mere men are not perfect and can do nothing for you when you have a better priest, Jesus, according to other Melchizedek, who who is a who is a man of total character and his life is indestructible. Who would you rather be your priest? So then he goes on in in verse eight eighteen.

21:25 For, on the one hand, there was a setting aside of the former commandment because of the weakness. Notice, and uselessness. Wow. So, in other words, the the Levitical priest with all of the animals that were killed, with all the requirements, with all the blood that was shed, all the offerings of people did, none of it did any good because no one could be made perfect through that. And so there had to be something better.

21:56 And after a while, it just became mundane and just religious and just going through motions to the point where Jesus said in Isaiah and so did god the father, I can't handle this. Religiosity. I I can't handle this. This ritual stuff it it has become nothing to you but just rituals and you're living a a sinful lifestyle and yet you're doing these sacrifice and it means nothing to you and and it and it doesn't mean anything to me either. And so it was weak and it was useless.

22:27 It made nothing perfect but but notice though the difference in verse 19, for for the law made nothing perfect and on the other hand, there is a bringing in of a better hope through which we draw near to god. And and so the old system, the Levitical system could never draw anyone near to god. It couldn't make you perfect. And so there had to be something better. There has to be something better than religion.

22:58 Than rituals. There have to be something better and that better was a priest that came in the likeness of Melchizedek. He was a Melchizedek priest and his priesthood was so much better. Why? Because he was able to draw men near to god and that's what men are looking for.

23:16 That's what we're looking for. How can I get near to god? How can I be close to god? What can draw me close to him? I'm a I'm a Cheshedekian priest named Jesus.

23:31 That too. Verse 20, and in as much as it was with not without an oath for they indeed became priests without an oath but he with an oath though the one who said to him, I'm sorry, through the one who said to him, the lord has sworn and will not change his mind, thou art a priest forever. Okay. So, basically, here's what he's saying, alright? That there was no requirements in the the part that was not perfect.

24:03 The priest were born into it. So, in other words, if you were a Levite, born a Levite, you're automatically a priest. There was no checking of your character. Let me say, are you a man of character? Do you love god?

24:17 Did are are you respectful? Are are you worthy of being called a priest? Nope. All you had to do be born a Levite and you guess what? You're a priest.

24:26 So, you can have a guy who is an absolute jerk, be a priest. There was a pervert that that was just not worthy of that position but he was born into it And the Bible said, there has to be something better. There has to be something better. How about if someone is holy and perfect, someone that I swore is gonna preach forever that qualifies, that pleases me. How about if I give you that kind of a priest?

25:37 So, look at your little note right here. In other words, the the the Levitical priest, they died but not only that but if you go to to the book of Leviticus, you'll see that that they can only serve twenty five years. So, by the age of 50, they were done. That was it. They couldn't serve anymore.

25:56 Alright? But Jesus, his priesthood continues on, continues on. So, he's basically saying, look at that. If if you were to do your math, you remember when you used to do that greater than? Remember all that?

26:10 Everybody go through all that stuff? I'm like, okay, this is greater than that. That's greater than that. You would have the little thingy, right? That drove me nuts, you know?

26:19 Alright, this is greater. This is this is exactly what what this is. Melchizedek is greater. His priesthood that is. And Melchizedek was a type of Christ.

26:30 So, Christ is from the priesthood of Melchizedek. So, if somebody asks you, what kind of a priest do you have? Oh, from he's a Melchizedekian priest. What? Oh, and let me show you in the Bible, you know, and so there you go.

26:43 Alright. Now, verse 24, but he, Jesus, on the other hand, because he abides forever, holds his priesthood, what? Permanently, permanently. I never have to worry about, hey, what happens if Jesus all of a sudden is not around for me? He's always there for you.

27:03 He's permanent. He's permanent. Okay? Now, notice then how how Jesus draws draws us near to god than the Levitical priesthood. So, if there's two key verses so far that you need to be aware of is this, verse four, because of the greatness of who this king, our king, and kings and lord of lords and our priest, Jesus, is we give the best to him.

27:33 The choice is the best. And the second point that we we see here is that Jesus is able to draw us near to god. Right? Why and how? See, that's the whole point of this text.

27:50 That we give the best to this king priest, Jesus, who's in the order of Melchizedek, the type of and he draws us near to god. Why? Why? Because look at this. He's able to save us forever.

28:04 He was able to save us forever. What does forever mean? It means forever. It means eternal, never ending. So, that when you come to Jesus for the salvation of your soul, for the forgiveness of your sins, he doesn't say, I'm gonna save you until you screw up.

28:22 I'm going to save you but you better not let me down. See, that's not what he says. That when you come to the priest, this Melchizedekian priest Jesus and when he saves you, he saves you forever. Amen? It it's not some short term.

28:38 So, once in Christ, always in Christ. You cannot lose your salvation. Whoever says that does not understand the work of Jesus on the cross and his priesthood. Because it doesn't depend on you, it depends on the the priest who went to the cross for you and we'll see this unfold some more. Alright, he also says, he lives, he always lives to intercede for you.

28:59 In other words, this Jesus who saves you forever is right now presently in heaven doing what? Praying for you. Always. That's why he's living in heaven. That's one of the reasons to to pray for you and watch you as you're on earth and he's saying, help him.

29:19 Father, help him holy spirit. Let let this is kinda like the whole trinity working in our lives and and Jesus is interceding for us so that we can have his victory. So, nothing to do with losing your salvation. He saves you forever and he's always interceding for you. Wow.

30:13 He's able to save you forever. He's always living in heaven right now to intercede for us. He is holy. That that is he was always holy. He was eternally holy, always holy towards god, not only from the beginning but when he became a man and he lived on Earth, he was always holy towards god and he pleased god in every way.

30:33 So, look at his character. Not only that but he was innocent. Innocent has to do with men, right? You can come to me and say, Ray, I know you're not innocent. You've done a lot of things in the past and I would say, you know what?

30:46 You're right. But no one can ever come to Jesus while he was living on Earth and say, you're not innocent. I saw you looking at something you weren't supposed to look at. I saw you doing something you weren't supposed to say. I I saw you have an attitude.

31:02 No, you you can never accuse men could never accuse Jesus of not being innocent. And also he was undefiled. What does that mean? That for thirty three years, he was without moral or spiritual blemish. Blemish.

31:21 Ain't that amazing? To be able to live that long and be undefiled? To be able to live that long and be innocent? To be able to be eternally holy? Notice the next expression, he was separated from sinners.

31:37 In other, but you you look at the the gospels, you see that that he mingled with sinners. In fact, the the religious people like, why is he hanging around the the sinners? Because that's what I came for but even though he mingled with him, he was separated from them and that he never did their sin. He just came to save them. In order to save him, he had to draw near to them and say, look, I love you and accept you and I'm going to save you from your sin but I I I'm going to mingle with you but I'm not going to be a sinner like you.

32:05 So, was consistently separated from sinners in that regard. The next thing the Bible says is, because of everything he did, Philippians chapter two, because of this great person and his character, because of the fact that he was holy and innocent and undefiled and separated from sinners, here's the way god has him right now. When he raised him from the dead and he went up to heaven, he's exalted above the heavens. So, you look at the heavens, you're like, man, they're so vast and so great but compared to Jesus, they're nothing. He's exalted above him.

32:43 So that the the the author, the the the writer guided by the holy spirit is focuses in focusing us in on the person of Jesus Christ and his priesthood. And so he's exalted above the heavens and not only that, it's almost like here's the icing on the cake. Here's the icing on the cake. He offered up himself. Look at look at it in verse 27.

33:09 Who does not need daily like those high priest? Who's those? The Levitical priest who were not perfect, they were born in sin, and they were sinful, who did not need daily like those high priest to offer up sacrifices. First, first, hang on, I lost my spot. Okay.

33:26 First for his own sin and then for the sins of the people because he did once for all when he offered up himself. So, what he says is this, look, the Levitical priest, they had to first of all offer a sacrifice for their own sin because they were imperfect But Jesus when he went to the cross, when he offer up himself, he he had it had nothing to do with sin. It was a sinless one dying for sinners and so he became sin on our behalf to clean. He offered himself up for us. So so he's saying to the Hebrew people, why in the world would you want a Levitical priest?

34:06 Why would you want a Levitical priest who who was full of errors, who couldn't make you perfect, that that couldn't draw you near to god, that he had to offer up first off for his own sin. Why would you want that? Because remember the the whole point of the book of Hebrews is to draw the people back to the lord Jesus. I don't know about you but I'll take this package right here. I'll take this Levitical, I'm sorry, this Melchizedekian priest, my king priest, I'll take em.

34:40 So, here's what the Bible says about the Jesus, the great high priest. He had to be like his brethren in all things. Did I meet that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest. In things pertaining to god to make propitiation for the sins of the people, for since he himself was tempted in that which he has suffered, he is able to come to the aid to those who are tempted. So, my high priest is merciful and he's faithful and he's able to come to my aid.

35:10 That's the kind of priest that the Bible offers. Not only that, verse seven and twenty five, since also he's able to say forever, how long? How long? Forever. Say it to you never.

35:22 Hey, he saves you forever. When you come to Jesus, it's not save me until I screw up. It's like, when you save me, you save me for all eternity. He's able to save forever. Those who draw near to god through Jesus.

35:36 Since he always lives to make intercession for them. So, chapter seven is about Jesus. The great high priest who comes, who's in the order of Melchizedek. Alright. So, for a conclusion, let me ask you a couple of questions.

35:56 Number one, have you acknowledged how great a high priest Jesus is? Have you acknowledged that in in your life? And then here comes the second question then. Have you given the best? If you have acknowledged that, have you given the best of your worship, of yourself, and of your offerings to him?

36:22 When Abraham saw Melchizedek, a mere man who ate a great, had a great position as king priest. He's like, man, what gives this guy the best? And when we consider Jesus the king, the priest, king of kings, and lord of lords, the eternal priest. I can't but give him the best of my worship, of myself, of my offerings. Finally, is Jesus Christ your personal priest?

36:55 Because that's what he wants to be if he's not. And if you wanna know more about how he can become your priest, it would be my honor to talk to you about it. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for Jesus. The great Melchizedekian priest.

37:16 The eternal priest. The holy, innocent, undefiled, perfect priest who offered up himself. And father, forgive us if we have not given the best to him. If Abraham gave the best to a mere man, how are we gonna give anything but the best to the great high priest? To you be the honor and the glory forever and ever.

37:47 Amen. Amen.