Hebrews 7-9

Hebrews 7

Melchizedek from Genesis 14:

• King of Salem (likely Jerusalem)
• Priest of God Most High
• Blessed Abraham
• Received a tenth (tithe) from Abraham

His name means:

• Melek (מֶלֶךְ) = king, Tzedek (צֶדֶק) = righteousness
  • King of Righteousness
  • Or King of Peace (Salem = peace)

Said “having neither beginning of days nor end of life”

• Could mean he was a heavenly being
• Or that it was unknown

Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek.

• Melchizedek blessed Abraham.
• The greater blesses the lesser.

Therefore:

• Melchizedek is presented as greater than Abraham.
• Since Levi descended from Abraham, even the Levitical priesthood is shown to be lower to Melchizedek

If perfection came through Aaron’s priesthood why would Psalm 110 promise another priest?

Jesus is not from Levi, He is from the tribe of Judah

The Law could not bring perfection.Christ brings:

• Better access to God
• Better hope

20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

Unlike Aaron’s priests Jesus was appointed by divine oath.

• Levitical priests died and were replaced
• Jesus lives forever and holds His priesthood permanently

“He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him.” 

Jesus is:

• Holy
• Innocent
• Unstained
• Exalted above the heavens

He offered one sacrifice once for all

Hebrews 8

Jesus:

• Is seated at God’s right hand
• Ministers in heaven

The tabernacle on earth was a copy and shadow of the heavenly reality. 

Jesus mediates:

• A better covenant
• Better promises

The New Covenant

The author quotes Jeremiah 31

God will:

• Write His law on hearts
• Be their God
• Forgive sins
• Remember sins no more
• Give personal knowledge of Him

Hebrews 9

The Earthly Tabernacle

The Holy Place

Contained:

• Lampstand
• Table
• Bread of the Presence

The Most Holy Place

Contained:

• Golden altar of incense
• Ark of the Covenant
• Manna
• Aaron’s rod
• Tablets of the Law

Only priests could enter. The High Priest entered:

• Once each year
• With blood

These sacrifices:

• Could not cleanse the conscience
• Were temporary regulations

Christ’s Ministry

Jesus entered:

• The greater tabernacle
• The heavenly sanctuary

he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Sacrifices were not:

• Goat blood
• Calves blood

But:

• His own blood
• He obtained eternal redemption

Animal sacrifices cleansed externally, but Christ cleanses:

• The conscience
• The inner person

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant

Jesus secures the promised eternal inheritance

Just as a will takes effect through death, Christ’s death inaugurated the new covenant.

“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

Earthly tabernacle are a copy…Heavenly sanctuary is the reality. Jesus now appears in God’s presence for believers

Levitical priests offered sacrifices repeatedly, Jesus offered Himself once

“It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” 

Christ:

• Came first to deal with sin
• Will come again to bring salvation to those waiting for Him

Application

Through Jesus we have a permanent High Priest. With the new covenant we are given salvation once and for all- our sins are fully forgiven! We don’t need to rely on repeated sacrifices, but on the work Jesus completed.