Post by arete on Feb 2, 2015 22:01:37 GMT
Introduction:
Family history and genealogies are quite popular with some folks. My Aunt Ruth is our family historian and she will research any branch of the family for you no matter how obscure. The Jewish people were also very interested in family history and genealogy. This morning, the author of Hebrews relies on this as he references the family history of Abraham in Genesis. Furthermore, genealogies come into play. The priesthood was conferred by line of direct descent from Aaron. How then could Jesus be considered a priest to offer a sacrifice before God? The history of Abraham explains this so that the Hebrew audience can be certain that Jesus is the Christ and he is a priest and he is one forever…
Context:
Last time in Hebrews, the author had taught that we had the sure hope of salvation as a steadfast anchor for our soul and that Jesus Christ had gone before us on our behalf as a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. In the text this morning he explains more about Christ’s priestly office, but he references the family history of Israel to do so. The Hebrew audience would be exceedingly familiar with the Genesis account referenced in this morning’s text concerning Abraham and Melchizedek. Because of this, some of our context will come from considering Genesis 14, but first, let’s read Hebrews 7:1-10…
Body – Hebrews 7:1-10
The Priestly Order of Melchizedek
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 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.
4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Recap of Genesis 14, with an emphasis of 17-24 (it’s not often that I get to preach a sermon within a sermon)
Let’s consider the context offered in Genesis 14. Read Genesis 14:17-24.
Abram Blessed by Melchizedek
17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”
At Abram’s return from battle to rescue Lot from some rampaging kings, he is met by Bera King of Sodom & Melchizedek, the mysterious King of Salem who is identified as a priest of the Most High God – these men represent 2 worldviews: worldliness & holiness
Melchizedek’s first response was to give a banquet & bless Abram. The blessing assures the reader that Melchizedek does indeed worship the Creator God. He identifies the Most High as the Possessor/Creator of the entire earth - & states that Abram’s victory was accomplished by the Lord.
Abram accepts Melchizedek’s banquet & blessing. He further responds in worship by acknowledging the priesthood of Melchizedek & the reality that his victory was accomplished by God. He worships by giving 10% of everything – a fitting gift & a statement that Melchizedek is a priest of the God of Abram – or Abram would not have validated the blessing with this gift
Abram rejects an offer from Bera to keep the goods he captured. He refuses anything as he vowed to God. He refuses to place himself in a position where Bera might be glorified over God. Everything he has or will ever have will be the result of the Lord’s favor and not an ungodly king’s
Abram does not impose his convictions upon his allies. They are not bound by his devotion to the Lord and may accept whatever they wish from Bera. Other than this, he states that his men have taken sustenance from the goods while pursuing the enemy.
Illustration:
As a master supplies his faithful servants with everything necessary, and takes care that nothing be wanting, but, if they are unfaithful, he reverses his treatment of them; so even God, the true owner of the earth and all that dwell therein. – Cawdray
Application:
We are obligated to believe that all we have is a grace gift from God. We have nothing and will receive nothing good - except by his hand and his hand alone. Even the bodies we take to work to earn money are gifts from him. We need to take a cue from Abram and allow no one and nothing to receive glory for God’s provision – likewise, we need to be willing and even eager to worship God by giving back to him a portion that he has graciously given to us.
Resemblance of Christ in Melchizedek vv. 1-3
Abraham accepted Melchizedek as a priest of God (v. 1-2a). As mentioned, Abraham’s tithe and acceptance of Melchizedek’s blessing means that Abraham knows that they worship the same God, the one true God.
Melchizedek’s titles bear witness to Abraham’s acceptance (v. 2b). To the Jewish mind, names denoted the nature as well as the identity of a person. Melchizedek’s name means “king of righteousness” and he is king over Salem, meaning “Peace” a word that entails the fullness of life as God intended it and is often a synonym for salvation.
Melchizedek is a mysterious figure (v.3a). His lineage is never mentioned. No father or mother is given. No beginning or end to him is given in all of Scripture. He is righteousness and peace and in a sense, he is eternal.
Melchizedek is a type, but what does that mean? Type and antitype are literary devices used in Scripture. The “type” is a person who embodies certain godly or messianic concepts, but in an imperfect and human life. The antitype is the One who perfectly fulfills the godly and messianic concepts. Types are real people from Scripture whose lives were used by God to point us to Christ.
Melchizedek resembles Christ (v. 3b). The idea here is that more is being said about Jesus than about Melchizedek. Melchizedek is not the Christ, nor is he worthy of our worship. The author is arguing that Jesus is the king and source of righteousness, of peace, and that he is eternal.
Illustration:
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:16-17
Application:
We are obligated to believe specific things about Jesus Christ. He is the definition of righteousness as well as being our only source of power to be righteous like him. Likewise, Jesus is the only source of peace. He is the prince of peace. He is the one and only way to peace with God and to have the wholeness of life, eternal life that God has for his children. Finally, Jesus is eternal. He is God. He is timeless. He has no beginning and no end. And he is eternally the source of salvation. We are obligated to believe these things and obligated to proclaim them.
Repositioning of the Priestly Order vv. 4-10
Melchizedek’s greatness is demonstrated by Abraham’s tithe (v. 4, 6). The way it is written here, he received the tithe at one time, but the significance continues even now. Abraham acknowledged the position of Melchizedek’s priesthood once and forever.
Levitical priests also receive tithes (v.5). Where is the command for this? Numbers 18 tells us that the Levites collected tithes from Israel and paid tithes to the priests. The tithe was given back to God by giving it to those who oversaw all aspects of Temple worship
Melchizedek is not a Levite (v. 6). We may not know exactly what he was, but Levi had yet to be born. However, in that place at that time, tithes were a cultural response of worship. Abraham gave to Melchizedek as a means of worshiping the True God.
It is understood that the inferior is blessed by the superior (v.7). There is a sense in that Abraham was the inferior party. While he was a worshiper, Melchizedek was the priest that stood between men and God.
Melchizedek is in a sense, deathless (v.8). Simply, his death is not recorded. He prefigures the deathlessness of Christ. Furthermore, the order of Melchizedek is not dead, but there remains One, Jesus Christ, who is a priest after the order of Melchizedek forever.
Levi, and therefore all Levites, paid tithe to Melchizedek through Abraham (vv. 9-10). Levi cannot be greater than his father. The Levites are not greater than the founder of their tribe. Through Abraham, they all paid tithe to Melchizedek.
Illustration:
It is hard for us to appreciate what a priest like Christ means compared to the Temple system. You would sin. Then you had to go to find an animal you could afford without blemish. You then needed to walk to the Tabernacle or Temple. People would know that you had sinned against God. You would have the animal inspected. If any blemish was found, you would be turned away or offered to trade and spend more for an unblemished animal. You would hold your hands on its head and confess your sin. The priest would slit its throat, shedding its blood instead of yours. It would die in your place. The animal would be in part eaten by priests and burned on an altar. On your way home, you might sin again and require yet another sacrifice…
Application:
We are privileged to have the eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ. Instead of a sinner like us interceding for us, we have the Son of God himself eternally acting as our go between to the Father on his throne. Instead of a sinner like us offering a temporary sacrifice that never satisfies our sin debt, we have the Son of God who sacrificed himself to fully pay our sin debt – every sin we have ever or will ever commit stands paid.
So What Now?
Praise God for his grace and the opportunity to worship & glorify him. When we realize that all we are and have is a gift from God, we worship him with a right heart and give back to him ourselves and a portion of our goods.
Praise God for the Savior Jesus Christ. He is our righteousness. He is our Peace. He is the eternal Son of God and the only source of eternal life. Praise him if he is your savior. Plead his forgiveness and salvation if he isn’t.
Praise God that your sin debt is satisfied. Don’t let this become an excuse to sin and incur God’s discipline. But do revel in the mercy and grace of God who in Christ paid the entire debt of every sin you will ever commit and save you once and forever to himself.
Praise God for the family history of Scripture. The church is not Israel, but as adopted sons of the king of the universe, we take great hope in the family history that has pointed the ages to the person of Christ who is the firstborn among us, who is our Lord and king, and who is our great high priest forever…
Benediction
"...so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:18-20 NRSV)
Family history and genealogies are quite popular with some folks. My Aunt Ruth is our family historian and she will research any branch of the family for you no matter how obscure. The Jewish people were also very interested in family history and genealogy. This morning, the author of Hebrews relies on this as he references the family history of Abraham in Genesis. Furthermore, genealogies come into play. The priesthood was conferred by line of direct descent from Aaron. How then could Jesus be considered a priest to offer a sacrifice before God? The history of Abraham explains this so that the Hebrew audience can be certain that Jesus is the Christ and he is a priest and he is one forever…
Context:
Last time in Hebrews, the author had taught that we had the sure hope of salvation as a steadfast anchor for our soul and that Jesus Christ had gone before us on our behalf as a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. In the text this morning he explains more about Christ’s priestly office, but he references the family history of Israel to do so. The Hebrew audience would be exceedingly familiar with the Genesis account referenced in this morning’s text concerning Abraham and Melchizedek. Because of this, some of our context will come from considering Genesis 14, but first, let’s read Hebrews 7:1-10…
Body – Hebrews 7:1-10
The Priestly Order of Melchizedek
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3 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.
4 See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! 5 And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. 6 But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. 8 In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. 9 One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, 10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
Recap of Genesis 14, with an emphasis of 17-24 (it’s not often that I get to preach a sermon within a sermon)
Let’s consider the context offered in Genesis 14. Read Genesis 14:17-24.
Abram Blessed by Melchizedek
17 After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) 19 And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
20 and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 And the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, but take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I would not take a thread or a sandal strap or anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will take nothing but what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me. Let Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre take their share.”
At Abram’s return from battle to rescue Lot from some rampaging kings, he is met by Bera King of Sodom & Melchizedek, the mysterious King of Salem who is identified as a priest of the Most High God – these men represent 2 worldviews: worldliness & holiness
Melchizedek’s first response was to give a banquet & bless Abram. The blessing assures the reader that Melchizedek does indeed worship the Creator God. He identifies the Most High as the Possessor/Creator of the entire earth - & states that Abram’s victory was accomplished by the Lord.
Abram accepts Melchizedek’s banquet & blessing. He further responds in worship by acknowledging the priesthood of Melchizedek & the reality that his victory was accomplished by God. He worships by giving 10% of everything – a fitting gift & a statement that Melchizedek is a priest of the God of Abram – or Abram would not have validated the blessing with this gift
Abram rejects an offer from Bera to keep the goods he captured. He refuses anything as he vowed to God. He refuses to place himself in a position where Bera might be glorified over God. Everything he has or will ever have will be the result of the Lord’s favor and not an ungodly king’s
Abram does not impose his convictions upon his allies. They are not bound by his devotion to the Lord and may accept whatever they wish from Bera. Other than this, he states that his men have taken sustenance from the goods while pursuing the enemy.
Illustration:
As a master supplies his faithful servants with everything necessary, and takes care that nothing be wanting, but, if they are unfaithful, he reverses his treatment of them; so even God, the true owner of the earth and all that dwell therein. – Cawdray
Application:
We are obligated to believe that all we have is a grace gift from God. We have nothing and will receive nothing good - except by his hand and his hand alone. Even the bodies we take to work to earn money are gifts from him. We need to take a cue from Abram and allow no one and nothing to receive glory for God’s provision – likewise, we need to be willing and even eager to worship God by giving back to him a portion that he has graciously given to us.
Resemblance of Christ in Melchizedek vv. 1-3
Abraham accepted Melchizedek as a priest of God (v. 1-2a). As mentioned, Abraham’s tithe and acceptance of Melchizedek’s blessing means that Abraham knows that they worship the same God, the one true God.
Melchizedek’s titles bear witness to Abraham’s acceptance (v. 2b). To the Jewish mind, names denoted the nature as well as the identity of a person. Melchizedek’s name means “king of righteousness” and he is king over Salem, meaning “Peace” a word that entails the fullness of life as God intended it and is often a synonym for salvation.
Melchizedek is a mysterious figure (v.3a). His lineage is never mentioned. No father or mother is given. No beginning or end to him is given in all of Scripture. He is righteousness and peace and in a sense, he is eternal.
Melchizedek is a type, but what does that mean? Type and antitype are literary devices used in Scripture. The “type” is a person who embodies certain godly or messianic concepts, but in an imperfect and human life. The antitype is the One who perfectly fulfills the godly and messianic concepts. Types are real people from Scripture whose lives were used by God to point us to Christ.
Melchizedek resembles Christ (v. 3b). The idea here is that more is being said about Jesus than about Melchizedek. Melchizedek is not the Christ, nor is he worthy of our worship. The author is arguing that Jesus is the king and source of righteousness, of peace, and that he is eternal.
Illustration:
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 16:16-17
Application:
We are obligated to believe specific things about Jesus Christ. He is the definition of righteousness as well as being our only source of power to be righteous like him. Likewise, Jesus is the only source of peace. He is the prince of peace. He is the one and only way to peace with God and to have the wholeness of life, eternal life that God has for his children. Finally, Jesus is eternal. He is God. He is timeless. He has no beginning and no end. And he is eternally the source of salvation. We are obligated to believe these things and obligated to proclaim them.
Repositioning of the Priestly Order vv. 4-10
Melchizedek’s greatness is demonstrated by Abraham’s tithe (v. 4, 6). The way it is written here, he received the tithe at one time, but the significance continues even now. Abraham acknowledged the position of Melchizedek’s priesthood once and forever.
Levitical priests also receive tithes (v.5). Where is the command for this? Numbers 18 tells us that the Levites collected tithes from Israel and paid tithes to the priests. The tithe was given back to God by giving it to those who oversaw all aspects of Temple worship
Melchizedek is not a Levite (v. 6). We may not know exactly what he was, but Levi had yet to be born. However, in that place at that time, tithes were a cultural response of worship. Abraham gave to Melchizedek as a means of worshiping the True God.
It is understood that the inferior is blessed by the superior (v.7). There is a sense in that Abraham was the inferior party. While he was a worshiper, Melchizedek was the priest that stood between men and God.
Melchizedek is in a sense, deathless (v.8). Simply, his death is not recorded. He prefigures the deathlessness of Christ. Furthermore, the order of Melchizedek is not dead, but there remains One, Jesus Christ, who is a priest after the order of Melchizedek forever.
Levi, and therefore all Levites, paid tithe to Melchizedek through Abraham (vv. 9-10). Levi cannot be greater than his father. The Levites are not greater than the founder of their tribe. Through Abraham, they all paid tithe to Melchizedek.
Illustration:
It is hard for us to appreciate what a priest like Christ means compared to the Temple system. You would sin. Then you had to go to find an animal you could afford without blemish. You then needed to walk to the Tabernacle or Temple. People would know that you had sinned against God. You would have the animal inspected. If any blemish was found, you would be turned away or offered to trade and spend more for an unblemished animal. You would hold your hands on its head and confess your sin. The priest would slit its throat, shedding its blood instead of yours. It would die in your place. The animal would be in part eaten by priests and burned on an altar. On your way home, you might sin again and require yet another sacrifice…
Application:
We are privileged to have the eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ. Instead of a sinner like us interceding for us, we have the Son of God himself eternally acting as our go between to the Father on his throne. Instead of a sinner like us offering a temporary sacrifice that never satisfies our sin debt, we have the Son of God who sacrificed himself to fully pay our sin debt – every sin we have ever or will ever commit stands paid.
So What Now?
Praise God for his grace and the opportunity to worship & glorify him. When we realize that all we are and have is a gift from God, we worship him with a right heart and give back to him ourselves and a portion of our goods.
Praise God for the Savior Jesus Christ. He is our righteousness. He is our Peace. He is the eternal Son of God and the only source of eternal life. Praise him if he is your savior. Plead his forgiveness and salvation if he isn’t.
Praise God that your sin debt is satisfied. Don’t let this become an excuse to sin and incur God’s discipline. But do revel in the mercy and grace of God who in Christ paid the entire debt of every sin you will ever commit and save you once and forever to himself.
Praise God for the family history of Scripture. The church is not Israel, but as adopted sons of the king of the universe, we take great hope in the family history that has pointed the ages to the person of Christ who is the firstborn among us, who is our Lord and king, and who is our great high priest forever…
Benediction
"...so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:18-20 NRSV)