Bobservations' Column
Titled - "High Priest Forever"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz
The High Priest Melchizedek is back in the text this week, giving us a fuller view of not only him, but of the reasons why a new High Priest was necessarily needed! It was King David who wrote of a new High Priest coming in the future in Psalm 110. It speaks of harsh judgment to those who do not heed His admonishments and His simplified Commandments and Law of that coming high priest, who we worship today, as Jesus the Christ.
It was King David’s description of harsh punishment in Psalm 110 that warns us about rejecting God’s laws and Him! They ignored His good works toward them, and were blinded by their own good works towards their self-righteousness. Then, His description of His enduring love towards all mankind is reiterated in Psalm 111. Both of these Psalms were from King David, essentially songs and Hymns of worship towards Jehovah, for His faithfulness to His own Word.
David’s reign over Isreal was about a millennium (1,000) years before Jesus was born into this world, yet he “saw” this new, coming High Priest through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and his own familiarity with the words of the Prophets. How excellent is our God to show us things before they occur! They are revealed to supply hope, and to warn us away from the ways of the world.
That avoidance of worldliness is wisdom from above. He even grants us discernment of spirits to show us the way through our lives in a corrupt world, when we ask for that Spiritual Gift. His Word is truly a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path. The path, that narrow road, can be filled with potholes, ruts and temptations, because Satan knows that Believers are going to be walking there. Anything he can do to hinder our progress to God’s expected end for us, that’s where Satan will strike. We are therefore encouraged to put on the full Armor of God, as the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:10-18.
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” - Romans 15:4
The High Priest Melchizedek is back in the text this week, giving us a fuller view of not only him, but of the reasons why a new High Priest was necessarily needed! It was King David who wrote of a new High Priest coming in the future in Psalm 110. It speaks of harsh judgment to those who do not heed His admonishments and His simplified Commandments and Law of that coming high priest, who we worship today, as Jesus the Christ.
It was King David’s description of harsh punishment in Psalm 110 that warns us about rejecting God’s laws and Him! They ignored His good works toward them, and were blinded by their own good works towards their self-righteousness. Then, His description of His enduring love towards all mankind is reiterated in Psalm 111. Both of these Psalms were from King David, essentially songs and Hymns of worship towards Jehovah, for His faithfulness to His own Word.
David’s reign over Isreal was about a millennium (1,000) years before Jesus was born into this world, yet he “saw” this new, coming High Priest through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and his own familiarity with the words of the Prophets. How excellent is our God to show us things before they occur! They are revealed to supply hope, and to warn us away from the ways of the world.
That avoidance of worldliness is wisdom from above. He even grants us discernment of spirits to show us the way through our lives in a corrupt world, when we ask for that Spiritual Gift. His Word is truly a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path. The path, that narrow road, can be filled with potholes, ruts and temptations, because Satan knows that Believers are going to be walking there. Anything he can do to hinder our progress to God’s expected end for us, that’s where Satan will strike. We are therefore encouraged to put on the full Armor of God, as the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:10-18.
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” - Romans 15:4
Bobservations' Column: Audio Version
Sunday Morning Message:
Hebrews 7:1-13 - "High Priest Forever"
Summary/Additional Commentary & Definitions:
In the Bible, the Melchizedek priesthood is an office that only applied to Christ. Melchizedek is introduced in Genesis 14:18 and is described as the king of Salem and “priest of God.” Abram (later Abraham) offers Melchizedek a tithe and is blessed. The name Melchizedek is the combination of the Hebrew words for “king” and “righteous,” making Melchizedek a righteous, kingly priest.
In Matthew 22 Jesus debates the Pharisees. In verse 44 Jesus cites Psalm 110:1, stating that the Messiah is David’s “lord” in that verse. Melchizedek is mentioned in the same psalm: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek’” (Psalm 110:4). So the Messiah, David’s lord, was given Melchizedek’s priesthood. Melchizedek is therefore a type of Christ—some commentators say Melchizedek’s appearance to Abraham was actually a Christophany, an early revelation of Jesus Christ.
Much of chapters 6 and 7 of the book of Hebrews is given to explaining why Jesus’ Melchizedek priesthood is superior to that of Aaron. Hebrews 7:23–24 implies that Jesus holds His priestly office eternally, using a Greek word that suggests something that cannot be passed down or changed. Hebrews 7:26 calls this priest “exalted” and sinless. For all of these reasons, Christ alone can fulfill the office of the Melchizedek priesthood (Hebrews 6:20).
Sunday Morning Audio Message:
Key Words and Definitions with Reference:
Melchisedek (7:1) - The name means "King of Righteousness." was a king of Salem (Jerusalem) and priest of the Most High God (Genesis 14:18–20; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 5:6–11; 6:20—7:28). Melchizedek’s sudden appearance and disappearance in the book of Genesis is somewhat mysterious. Melchizedek and Abraham first met after Abraham’s defeat of Chedorlaomer and his three allies. Melchizedek presented bread and wine to Abraham and his weary men, demonstrating friendship. He bestowed a blessing on Abraham in the name of El Elyon (“God Most High”) and praised God for giving Abraham a victory in battle (Genesis 14:18–20). Abraham presented Melchizedek with a tithe (a tenth) of all the items he had gathered. By this act Abraham indicated that he recognized Melchizedek as a priest who ranked higher spiritually than he. In Psalm 110, a messianic psalm written by David (Matthew 22:43), Melchizedek is presented as a type of Christ. This theme is repeated in the book of Hebrews, where both Melchizedek and Christ are considered kings of righteousness and peace. By citing Melchizedek and his unique priesthood as a type, the writer shows that Christ’s new priesthood is superior to the old Levitical order and the priesthood of Aaron (Hebrews 7:1–10).
Like (7:1) - Literally, "made to be like"; this word is used nowhere else in the New Testament. The implication is that the resemblance to Christ rests upon the way Melchizedek's history is reported in the Old Testament, not upon Melchizedek himself. Melchizedek was not the preincarnate Christ, as some maintain, but was similar to Christ in that his priesthood was universal, royal, righteous, peaceful, and unending.
Here . . . There (7:8) - The adverbs have reference to the Levitical law whose system was still active at the time ("Here") and to the earlier historical incident recorded in Genesis 14 ("there"). The Levitical priesthood changed as each priest died until it passed away altogether, but Melchizedek's priesthood is perpetual since the record about his priesthood does not record his death (cf. v. 3).
Witnessed (7:8) - This "witness" was in Psalm 110:4, where the coming Messiah was recognized by God as "a high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek." There could be only one such high priest forever. The King of Righteousness (meaning of "Melchisedek") who blessed Abraham is also our eternal High Priest, the "one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).
Perfection (7:11) - Throughout Hebrews, the term refers to complete reconciliation with God and unhindered access to God - salvation. The Levitical system and its priesthood could not save anyone from his sins.
Another (7:13, 15) - In both cases, the term is "another of a different kind" (heteros), emphasizing the contrast with the Levitical priesthood.
Sprang (7:14) - "Sprang" means "rose" - that is, like the sun. As the light of the world, Christ rose up out of Judah, but He was not actually descended genetically from Judah, for He was miraculously conceived by God in Mary's Womb.
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