Hebrews

1. Hebrews Persevere in Jesus LESSON XIV

2. REVIEW • Let Us Persevere in Christ • Three main questions • Christ • Who is He? • Who is He not? • Us • What is our relation to Christ and God? • What should we do? • Persevere! • What does that look like?

3. REVIEW • God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. (Hebrews 1:1-4 NKJ)

4. REVIEW • Let Us Persevere in Christ • Three main questions from vv. 1:1-4 • Jesus Christ is: • Prophetic (how God spoke to us) • Appointed heir & created through • God made flesh (If you have seen Me...) • Sustainer of everything • The One Who purged our sins • and sits at God’s right hand • He is better than the Angels. • We • are those who receive God’s word • hear from the Son • are those whose sins He purged

5. REVIEW • Let Us Persevere in Christ • And We must • give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. (2:1) • consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus (3:1) • hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. (3:6) • NOT harden our hearts (3:7) • take heed to ourselves and each other (3:11) • exhort each other daily (3:12) • fear lest any of [us] seem to have come short of [the promise]. (4:1b) • be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. (4:11) • hold fast our confession. (4:14) • come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (4:16) • And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (6:11-12)

6. Remember our Jewish Authorities • We have noticed in Hebrews that Jesus is the Word of God, and is greater than: • The Angels • Moses • Aaron • Joshua • are messengers • is a prophet • is a priest • is a judge • What about Jesus?

7. For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace," 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. 11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? (Hebrews 7:1-11 NKJ)

8. Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek." 18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:11-19 NKJ)

9. Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. A Difficult Task • In trying to teach Hebrews how not to be Hebrew: • Here is the New Testament Ground-Zero • Paul wrestles with this every time he deals with Judaizers: • How do you maintain that God’s Law is His unchanging, eternal Word, AND show the need to change it in light of Jesus Christ? • This is the point that will make ALL the difference between a Jewish and a Christian reading of the Scriptures. • This is the epicenter of the book of Hebrews. • everything else until now has been building up to this point.

10. Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. A Difficult Task • Here it is in verse 12: • A Change in the Priesthood = a change in the Law. • The Law requires Aaronic priesthood. • God’s eternal law changes? • NO. Not in principle, just in method. • The Old Testament (the first covenant, the first Law) was required of man, to show that man could not fulfill it. • It creates a sense of need • It asks a question • It is the shadow, not the One casting it.

11. Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. A Difficult Task • Jesus, in making the New Covenant in His blood, • answers the need • answers the question • IS the One to Whom the shadow that is the Law eternally belongs. • How does a guy from Judah make the perfect sacrifice? • He’s a different kind (order) of priest. • the kind the Aaronic priesthood always pointed to, but could never achieve.

12. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies: "You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek." 18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. A Difficult Task • The Law is “fleshly” insofar as it is just a series of regulations and protocol for people to follow, and insofar as it is done by those who die. • But Jesus dies • as Sacrifice (and Highpriest) • in fulfillment of the Law, • never breaking the Law at any point. • He rises to endless life, and endless Priestly office. • This is what the Law was always intended to prefigure (in it’s every detail)

13. Changeless Changes • So here’s the answer to the question of changlessness and change in God’s word. • Melchizedek predates the Law • He comes in the time of the Promise (Paul’s distinction in Galatians) • to the father of faith Abraham, • He comes as a superior figure • the first one called “priest” • Genesis, as part of the Law of Moses contains this figure already (a bit of an escape clause) • The Law had been required of people in a nation. • Then David comes along 450 years after Moses and prophesies (Matt 12:36) about His Son and Lord who would be a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. • David predicts a change in priesthood

14. Along Comes Jesus • Then comes the Son of David Who is also David’s Lord. • He is greater than every priest before Him (including Melchizedek— Jesus is “Highpriest” of that order). • He is from Judah, not Levi. • He’s not a priest according to the flesh, Jesus doesn’t have a priestly mother, father, or geneology, • but according to God’s appointment (Ps. 110) • What about the Levites and Law? • In Christ, we no longer apply it directly to people (that’s the fleshly use). • All the laws (in all their details) show two things: • Sinful man cannot keep them • This is Who Christ is as holy and sinless.

15. 20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath21(for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: "The LORD has sworn And will not relent,`You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek ' "),22by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. 23Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing.24But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.28For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever. (Heb 7:20-28 NKJ)

16. The Oath • Jesus is made priest by an oath: • Remember the oath in the desert • they shall not enter into My rest. • Remember the oath to Abraham • Blessings I will bless you, multiplying I will multiply you. • NOW: “You are a priest forever.” • Remember • vv. 1-10 Melchizedek • vv. 11-19 (Levitical)Law does not perfect • In last account: • The earthly priesthood was temporary, a shadow of Christ’s person and work. • It was bracketed in by the full revelation of the Old Testament. • Melchizedek above Abraham and before the Law • David’s Prophesy of a priest forever in Melchizedek’s order After the Law (and before the Temple) —Now vv. 20-28 the author synthesizes the two

17. A Quick Realevance Check • Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, (Hebrews 8:1 NKJ) • This is our REALITY as Christians. • Remember, this is our certain, sure, immovable, eternal ANCHOR. • These are the guts or the circuitry of Justification by faith. • This exaplains WHY we want to be sanctified, • why we want to do good works • why we are able to do them at all • & why, when we do them, God is pleased.

18. Homework Read Chapter 8 three times. Check a couple different translations if you can