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HEBREWS – LESSON 4
I. Jesus’ priesthood is of a higher order than that of Aaron (7:1-
A. Seen in Melchizedek as a type (7:1-
1. Priest and King of Salem (King of righteousness and King of peace)
2. Abraham is blessed by Melchizedek after defeating the kings – Abraham gives a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek (cf. Genesis 14:18-
3. Melchizedek came with no genealogical records: (no record of father, mother); no record of birth or death.
4. Abides as priest continually
B. Seen in Melchizedek’s greatness in his interaction with Abraham (7:4-
1. Abraham, through whom the sons of Levi would come, gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek – Levi who would receive tithes from the people who came from Abraham according to the Law of Moses, paid tithes to Melchizedek while in the loins of Abraham.
a. Melchizedek, who was not connected to Abraham genealogically, has taken tithes of Abraham while blessing Abraham who had received God’s promises.
b. “Without dispute: the less is blessed of the better” (7:7)
C. Seen in the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood (7:11-
1. If there was a completeness in the Levitical priesthood why would God prophesy of another order (the order of Melchizedek) that would come?
a. The Aaronic priesthood was annexed to the Law of Moses – one cannot change without the change of the other.
2. Jesus belongs to another tribe (Judah) from which no man gives attendance to the altar.
a. Moses was silent regarding this tribe as pertaining to priests.
3. Jesus is priest after the likeness of the order of Melchizedek – after an endless live-
a. Psalm 110:4 points to Jesus as a “priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
4. There is a canceling or putting away the commandment regarding the priesthood in the Law of Moses, giving way to a better hope and perfected priesthood through which we can draw nigh to God.
D. Seen in the priesthood made with an oath (7:20-
1. God swears and will not repent or change His mind regarding the priesthood after the order of Melchizedek which J Jesus perfectly fulfills (cf. Psalm 110:4)
a. “The Lord has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest for ever…”
b. “Jesus is a surety of a better covenant” (v. 22).
E. Seen in Jesus being an unchangeable priest (7:23-
1. Under the old covenant many were made priests due to being hindered by death – but Jesus abides forever who serves as our priest.
2. Wherefore, Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near unto God through Him because he ever lives to make intercession for them.
F. Seen in Jesus being a sinless priest (7:26-
1. Jesus’ sinless character: “holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, made higher than the heavens.”
2. Does not have to offer a sacrifice for his own sins, and then one for the people –as the priests under the Old Covenant did on a daily basis – Jesus, being sinless, needed to only offer the one sufficient sacrifice for the people-
3. Unlike the priesthood after the Old Law who appointed men with infirmity (sin and death), God has appointed His Son – “perfected for evermore.”
G. Seen in Jesus being a priest of a better covenant (8:1-
1. He officiates in the true tabernacle of heaven of which the earthly tabernacle was a “type” (8:1-
a. Jesus is sitting upon the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens serving in the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, not man.
b. If on earth Jesus could not be a priest according to the Law seeing the law would have those of the tribe of Levi serving – who served in that which is a copy and a shadow of the heavenly things.
c. Moses commanded to make the tabernacle on earth according to the heavenly pattern shown him in the mount.
2. Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry-
a. If the first covenant had been faultless – if sinners could have been justified by the system of law -
b. Jeremiah prophesied of the coming of the “new covenant” (cf. Jeremiah 31:31-
1. That which is new presupposes that something had become old.
2. When old, it close to vanishing away – God through Jeremiah saw the day of Christ who would fulfill the Old Law bringing it to an end.
QUESTIONS:
1. What two positions did Melchizedek hold?
2. How could Melchizedek be made like unto the Son of God before Christ came to this earth?
3. What four characteristics of Christ are seen in Melchizedek?
4. What is the slaughter of the kings referred to by the Hebrew writer?
5. Who was blessed at this time?
6. Who blesses, the lesser or the greater? Explain.
7. How does this “lesser-
8. Who is living in verse 8?
9. When God changed priesthoods, what else did He also change?
10. Jesus came from what tribe?
11. What two powerful things stood behind Christ’s priesthood that was different from that of Aaron’s priesthood?
12. How was the Old Law “unprofitable”?
13. What has been the result of disannulling the Law?
14. Because Christ ever lives, what two things occur?
15. Christ was not only a priest, but a ___________________________.
16. How sufficient was Christ’s offering?
17. In 7:11-
18. What is the true tabernacle?
19. What is meant by, “which the Lord pitched”?
20. Why could not Christ act as a priest on earth?
21. What is the meaning of the word “copy” in verse 5?
22. What does it say of our service when we serve a “copy”?
23. The fact that a second covenant was sought proves what about the first covenant?
24. When was the first covenant given?
25. On what would the new covenant be written?
26. How would this differ from the old covenant?
27. Under the new covenant, would teaching be needed? Explain.
28. What blessings would be enjoyed under the new covenant?
29. How would this differ from the old covenant?
30. At the time of the writing of Hebrews, was the old covenant still in effect?
31. If so, what is our condition regarding our sins?
32. If not, how is the first covenant “becoming old”?