Dr Tom Hover
June 4, 2023
Hebrews 7:1-28
Jesus Is Always Greater
JESUS IS ALWAYS GREATER
Hebrews 7:1-28
The writer to the Hebrews now explains a theme that he introduced back in Hebrews 2:17: Jesus as our High Priest. Hebrews 2:17 Jesus Called a Priest after The Order of Melchizedek! Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 5:9–10
I. JESUS IS THE GREATER PRIESTHOOD.
1. JESUS IS GREATER THAN THE MELCHISEDIC PRIESTHOOD
a. Melchizedek Was Great. Hebrews 7:1-4
b. Melchizedek Is a Priest of The Most High God. Hebrews 7:1
c. Melchizedek Name means = King of Righteousness. Hebrews 7:2
d. Melchizedek Was King of Salem. Salem means = Peace - He was the King of a place called Peace. Hebrews 7:2
e. Melchizedek Is a Type or Shadow of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 7:3 “Like unto The Son of God”, “abideth a priest continually” Made like the Son of God: Melchizedek was made like the Son of God. It really isn’t that Jesus has Melchizedek’s kind of priesthood. Instead, Melchizedek has Jesus’ kind of priesthood. Made like in Hebrews 7:3 translates the ancient Greek word aphomoiomenos, a word used nowhere else in the New Testament. “It is a suggestive word, used in the active of ‘a facsimile copy or model’ and in the passive of ‘being made similar to’.” (Guthrie)
f. Melchizedek Is Called Great! Hebrews 7:4 “Now consider how great this man was,” “We see but little of him, yet we see nothing little in him.”
g. Melchizedek Is Greater Than Abraham (Spiritual Leadership) Hebrews 7:5-10
h. Melchizedek’ Greatness Is Over Levitical Priesthood
2. JESUS IS GREATER THAN MELCHISEDIC
Melchizedek’s name means “king of righteousness”. Hebrews 7:2
Jesus is The Only Righteous One - The Only King of Righteousness. Acts 3:14
Melchizedek was King of Salem. Genesis 14:18 Jesus is the real King of Jerusalem and really the world. Matthew 27:37 Melchizedek was a king of a city called Peace (Salem). Hebrews 7:12 Jesus Is The “Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:6 Melchizedek served as priest before Aaron became the high Priest of God. Hebrews 7:11 Jesus Served as High Priest after Aaron and has become the one only High Priest for all time. Hebrews 7:15-17,23-24
Melchizedek was called a priest of the most high God. Hebrews 7:1
Jesus is the most high God and was called an Priest after the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek offered blessings to Abraham in the form of bread and wine.
Genesis 14:18-19 Jesus Offered blessings to all believers in the form of Bread and Wine, His Body and Blood. Matthew 26:26-28 Melchizedek blesses Abraham on God’s behalf. Genesis 14:19-20 Jesus as God in flesh blesses all of Abraham’s spiritual children on behalf of Himself. Galatians 3:29, Ephesians 1:3
- JESUS STARTS A NEW AND GREATER PRIESTHOOD.
JESUS FULFILLS THE NEED FOR A NEW PRIESTHOOD.
1. The Levitical Priesthood Never Made Anything Perfect. Hebrews 7:11
2. The changing priesthood and the change of the place of Moses’ Law.
Hebrews 7:12
3. Jesus could not be a priest according to the Mosaic Law because He is from the wrong tribe.
4. God’s declaration that the Messiah belongs to another order of priesthood.
Hebrews 7:15-17, Psalm 110:4
5. Why the law is set aside as the way of establishing our relationship and access to God. Hebrews 7:18-19, Gal. 3:19–26
III. JESUS IS THE GREATER HIGH PRIEST.
1. Jesus Is Greater Because, Jesus Was Made the High Priest by The Direct Oath of God. Hebrews 7:20-21
2. Jesus Is Greater Because, Jesus Is Our Guarantee of a Better Covenant.???Hebrews 7:22
3.Jesus Is Greater Because Jesus Has Unchanging Priesthood Which Means a Lasting Salvation. Hebrews 7:23-25
a.) Greater in Continuousness Hebrews 7:25
First, the conversion in the capability. “Wherefore He is able also to save them” (Hebrews 7:25). Second the completeness in the capability. “Save them to the uttermost seeing he ever liveth” (Hebrews 7:25). Third the condition in the capability. “Come unto God by him” (Hebrews 7:25). John 14:6 Fourth the constancy in the capability. “He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Romans 8:33–34 An example of Jesus’ intercession for His people: Luke 22:31–33.
4. Jesus Is Greater Qualified to Be a High Priest Then Any Priest From the order of the Law of Moses. Hebrews 7:26
a.) Jesus Greater in Compatibility Hebrews 7:26
b.) Jesus Greater in Character Hebrews 7:26
1. Uncorrupted. “Holy” (Hebrews 7:26)
2. Unblameable. “Harmless” (Hebrews 7:26).
3. Unblemished. “Undefiled” (Hebrews 7:26).
4. Uncontaminated. “Separate from sinners.” (Hebrews 7:26).
5. Unrivaled. “Made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26)
c.) Jesus Greater in Commitment Hebrews 7:27
d.) Jesus Greater in Consecration Hebrews 7:28
Conclusion: Meaning of Order of Melchizedek–Contrary to the order of Aaron, Jesus came as high priest in the order of Melchizedek. As high priest, Jesus interceded for us. And he brought us forgiveness and salvation through his own flesh and blood, not with the blood of animals. The bread and wine become the symbols which represent that Jesus is the spiritual Melchizedek. And participation in the bread and wine can bring to us the wonderful picture of blessings of forgiveness of sins and eternal life we have in Jesus Christ our Lord!
