There are several things that make this a difficult passage to understand and apply to your daily life.
Two of them:
• The Mysteriousness of Melchizedek
• The Priest System - we’re unfamiliar with it
This chapter doesn’t tickle your ears
It comes hard and fast to the mind
But when it gets in, it will feed your soul.
Hebrews 12:2 – fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
Melchizedek helps us understand Jesus as our great and perfect High Priest.
About Melchizedek
1. He was both King and Priest.
He’s on a different level than the typical priest.
Zechariah 6:13 – He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices
Priests weren’t allowed to be King.
Kings weren’t priests.
So being both gets our attention right away.
2. He Blessed Abraham
The one through whom everyone on earth will be blessed is being blessed by Melchizedek.
Verse 7 – without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.
No one could possibly be greater than Abraham, yet Melchizedek shows his superiority to not just Abraham, but to the entire Levitical priesthood by blessing Abraham.
3. Righteousness and Peace
In the middle of the wickedness and depravity of the times - Melchizedek stood out as a righteous man. A man at peace with God.
Melchizedek is an example of what it looks like to be without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.
He shows us that it is possible to live an upright life in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.
(Philippians 2 gives detailed instructions.)
4. Permanence
Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest continually.
Levitical priests had to not only be in the Tribe of Levi, but also able to trace their lineage back to Aaron. Melchizedek was superior to the Aaronic priesthood with no genealogy. No records.
Also: all priests were imperfect men, so their sacrificial work was imperfect. Because their priesthood was a limited time frame, it didn’t last. Melchizedek was superior in that his priesthood didn’t have a start/stop timeframe.
The Levitical priesthood was never meant to be perfect or permanent. It always pointed to something greater. Melchizedek's priesthood was a demonstration of something greater while also pointing to something greater still.
It’s not about ancestry or origin. This was a product of divine designation.
Jesus wasn’t from the line of Levi either.
He was from the line of Judah.
5. Melchizedek is Superior
The offering made to Melchizedek is quite significant. It was always the lesser, giving the greater, the blessing of an offering.
The tenth of the spoils was significant amount.
Abraham the patriarch - To be a patriarch was to be at the top of the food chain so to speak. This offering placed Melchizedek higher than even Abraham.
Also, Levitical priests only served the people of Israel while Melchizedek was a priest of the Most High God. This is the Universal name for God. Melchizedek is a priest not just for the people of Israel, but for everyone.
What does all this mean?
Jesus is:
Our King and Priest
The Savior of the world.
The Royal One who sits on the throne.
Jesus also brings ultimate
Blessing
As Melchizedek blessed Abraham
Jesus blesses us - in salvation and in daily life.
Righteousness and Peace
Jesus imparts His perfect righteousness to us, bringing peace with God.
His work is:
Permanent!
He made One Sacrifice for all time
His work does not need to be repeated
All that’s left is for us to repent and trust in Him and receive that forgiveness.
Superiority - Jesus is Better
No matter what system, plan or structure you’ve got in place, Jesus is better.
Don’t rely on your own efforts - look to Him.
This week the Hand is really about what you’re putting into the head that will affect the heart.
Assignment this week:
Read these passages and meditate on the five qualities and how they apply to your own life:
Ultimately - this passage is one explanation & applications of
Hebrews 3:1 – … consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession—Jesus
May meditating on these passages deepen your affection for your awesome Savior!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob
No comments:
Post a Comment