A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Hebrews

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Hebrews 7

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek • Who is this mysterious Melchizedek?

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek • Who is this mysterious Melchizedek? • He was seen as an important but puzzling character from the ancient past • Little is actually known about him • In fact, everything we know about him is found in three short sections of Scripture: Genesis 14, Psalm 110, and Hebrews 7

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Illustration of Rembrandt • In the 17 th century, the Dutch artist Rembrandt painted two portraits of a famous Roman heroine named Lucretia • One portrait was painted in 1664 • Two years later, he painted the second portrait of Lucretia in a different pose

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Illustration of Rembrandt • For over 300 years, the two paintings were never seen together • Different private collectors owned one or the other of the two paintings • They were two paintings of the same person, painted by the same master

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Illustration of Rembrandt • No one was aware of their connection … until 1991 • At last, the two paintings were displayed side by side where they could be compared

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek In a similar way, the portraits of Melchizedek and Jesus Christ have never been compared until the 7 th chapter of Hebrews

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Hebrews 7 paints a portrait of Melchizedek placed side-by-side with that of Jesus Christ

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Context • Hebrews 7 contains the most information about Melchizedek in the entire Bible • Melchizedek first shows up in our Bible in Genesis, only 14 chapters into the Bible • Genesis 12 contains God’s call of Abram and God’s promise to make Abram into a great nation and bless him. (Genesis 12: 2)

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Context • Genesis 13 includes the story of Abram and his nephew Lot agreeing to separate and occupy different territories • In the beginning of Genesis 14, there is the report of a war among several kings • Caught up in the spoils of war, Lot was carried off by the victors…an apparent victim of circumstances

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Context • In the middle of Genesis 14, Abram learns of his nephew’s predicament, takes a contingent of 318 soldiers, routes Lot’s captors and liberates Lot, his possessions, and all the people with him • It is after Abram’s return from victory that this story unfolds with Melchizedek

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Context • Even though it is contained in just three verses, it was a significant encounter for Abram, primarily because Abram acknowledged God’s blessings in his life: • He chose the blessings of the priest over the spoils of war offered by the other kings • He credited God for the victory won in that recent battle • He tithed, giving an offering in worship to “God Most High”

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Context • This is the end of the account • No more details about Melchizedek are found in Genesis, or other ancient history books • Aside from the passages in Hebrews, the only other place that mentions Melchizedek in the Bible is Psalm 110

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Context • Psalm 110 • Messianic psalm, prophesy of a savior • One who sits at the right hand of God the Father • With enemies a footstool for His feet • Holding a mighty scepter of power • The supreme ruler • Arrayed in holy majesty • The supreme judge

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Context • And the Psalm describes the Messiah as a “priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek”

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Context • And the Psalm describes the Messiah as a “priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” • Sound familiar?

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Context • And the Psalm describes the Messiah as a “priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek” • Sound familiar? • Hebrews 6 ends with “having become a High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek”

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Context • And Jesus applied the language of Psalm 110 in describing Himself in Matthew 22: 42: “The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet. ” • The duplication of this specific language in multiple places reminds us that none of this is about Melchizedek

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Context • And Jesus applied the language of Psalm 110 in describing Himself in Matthew 22: 42: “The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet. ” • The duplication of this specific language is multiple places reminds us that none of this is about Melchizedek These passages are all about Jesus

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek • We are best served to look at Hebrews 7 not so much for the answers to the question “Who is Melchizedek? ”

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek • We are best served to look at Hebrews 7 not so much for the answers to the question “Who is Melchizedek? ” • What we are really after are answers to the more profound question “Who is Jesus? ”

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek • We are best served to look at Hebrews 7 not so much for the answers to the question “Who is Melchizedek? ” • What we are really after are answers to the more profound question “Who is Jesus? ” • The author of Hebrews was inspired to lead us to Jesus

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek • We are best served to look at Hebrews 7 not so much for the answers to the question “Who is Melchizedek? ” • What we are really after are answers to the more profound question “Who is Jesus? ” • The author of Hebrews was inspired to lead us to Jesus • Melchizedek is being used as an illustration to help us understand more about Jesus

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek • Melchizedek portrays Jesus Christ in three significant ways in Hebrews 7

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 1. Melchizedek portrays Christ As Priest Melchizedek was a priest of the God Most High Jesus Christ is also a priest of the God Most High Both brought out bread and wine Jesus came to offer the ultimate sacrifice for our sins – His blood Now He is interceding for us in the very throne room of God He is constantly interceding for our sins every day because of that one sacrifice • There is no reason for other sacrifices – Jesus paid it all • • •

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 1. Melchizedek portrays Christ As Priest • Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we have become kind of like a man who suffered from a life threatening illness who has to take medicine every day to fight his sickness • BUT THEN, someone comes along with a medicine he only needs to take ONCE • And he is healed

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 1. Melchizedek portrays Christ As Priest • Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we have become kind of like a man who suffered from a life threatening illness who has to take medicine every day to fight his sickness • BUT THEN, someone comes along with a medicine he only needs to take ONCE • And he is healed But, there is a problem with this scenario

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 1. Melchizedek portrays Christ As Priest • Jesus was not born of the tribe of Levi – He was from the tribe of Judah • The Law had decreed that you could not be a High Priest if you were not from the tribe of Levi • Not even Prophets and Kings could offer sacrifices without incurring the wrath of God

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 1. Melchizedek portrays Christ As Priest • The only way Jesus could become a Priest was if God created another priesthood • And that is what God did • The author of Hebrews tells us that God declared His intentions in Psalm 110

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 1. Melchizedek portrays Christ As Priest • But, God went further • God took the trouble to prove that Jesus Christ is a legitimate Priest in every way • Melchizedek served as a Priest 400+ years before the Levitical Law was in effect

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 1. Melchizedek portrays Christ As Priest • The Priesthood of Jesus Christ preceded and followed after the Levitical priesthood • The Priesthood of Jesus Christ is better than the Levitical Priesthood

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 2. Melchizedek Portrays Christ as King • Melchizedek’s name means “king of righteousness” • King of Salem means “king of peace” • Melchizedek was both a Priest and King • Under Jewish Law, that was impossible

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 2. Melchizedek Portrays Christ as King • A Priest had to come from the tribe of Levi • A King had to come from the tribe of Judah • As a descendant of King David, who was from the tribe of Judah, Jesus had full credentials to be a King – but, this lineage is only part of the story

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 2. Melchizedek Portrays Christ as King • Jesus right to rule also came from the line of Melchizedek who was the King of Salem • Salem is a derivative of the word “Shalom” which means peace, so this give Melchizedek the title “King of Peace” • Isaiah 9: 6 prophesied that Messiah would be called “Prince of Peace”

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 2. Melchizedek Portrays Christ as King • This title relates Him back to Melchizedek • The ancient “King of Salem” from Abraham’s day and the “Prince of Peace” of Jesus’ day are similar • Another connection to the “King of Salem” – Salem is an early name for Jerusalem – the City of David –Jesus was a descendant of King David

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 3. Melchizedek portrays Christ as Eternal • “He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever. ” (Hebrews 7: 3) • The past kings of Israel before Babylonian captivity traced their genealogy back to King David. The priests of Israel traced their genealogy back to Aaron – those priests returning back from Babylon who could no longer give evidence of their genealogy were not permitted to serve any longer as priests

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 3. Melchizedek portrays Christ as Eternal • But the first priest-king had no genealogy • He appears from obscurity out of the pages of history • We know nothing of his origins and we know nothing of his death • In this he is likened to the Son of God

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 3. Melchizedek portrays Christ as Eternal • Some may say that Jesus has a genealogy and therefore is not like Melchizedek • The answer is found in the pre-existence of Jesus • Though He has a human genealogy, He also existed before He was born

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 3. Melchizedek portrays Christ as Eternal • He appears in the very beginning – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and Word was God. ” (John 1: 1) • Here is our take away:

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 3. Melchizedek portrays Christ as Eternal • He appears in the very beginning – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and Word was God. ” (John 1: 1) • Here is our take away: The priesthood of Jesus is a better priesthood because He never had a beginning and His priesthood has no end

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek 3. Melchizedek portrays Christ as Eternal • He will always be our High Priest • He will always be the basis for our forgiveness and our fellowship with God

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek • Our lesson teaches us, through a picture of Melchizedek • Jesus is our High Priest • Jesus is our King • Jesus is eternal

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek Jesus • The guarantor of a better covenant (Hebrews 7: 22) • He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him (Hebrews 7: 25)

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek During this coming week, • Will you thank God for the precious gift of His Son Jesus,

A Priest in the Order of Melchizedek During this coming week, • Will you thank God for the precious gift of His Son Jesus, and • Will you draw near to God, through Jesus?