Fresh Brewed Faith | Week 4

Week 4 - Once For All

Hebrews 7-8

I. Who is this Melchizedek? (Genesis 14:17-20; Psalm 110:4; Hebrews 7:1-10)

• Melchizedek was the King of Salem
• Melchizedek was a Priest of the Most High God
• He met Abraham as he returned from defeating the kings
• He received a tithe from Abraham
• His name means King of Righteousness
• His name means King of Peace
• He has no recorded genealogy
• He is made like the Son of God
• He remains a priest forever

II. What Melchizedek Teaches Us About Jesus (Hebrews 7:11-28)

A. The Law and Levitical priesthood could not make anyone perfect (vv. 11-14).

• If they had been perfect, God would not have prophesied a new order of priesthood according to Melchizedek in Psalm 110:4 (v. 11).
• The Law and the Levitical priesthood are connected, so when the priesthood changed, the Law had to change (v. 12).
• Melchizedek and Jesus represent a new priesthood because neither descended from the tribe of Levi (vv. 13-14).

These poets knew far less reason than we for loving God...Yet they express a longing for Him, for His mere presence, which comes only to the best Christians or to Christians in their best moments. They long to live all their days in the Temple so that they may constantly see “the fair beauty of the Lord” (Psalm 27:4). Their longing to go up to Jerusalem and “appear before the presence of God” is like a physical thirst (Psalm 42). From Jerusalem presence flashes out “in perfect beauty” (Psalm 50:2). Lacking that encounter with Him, their souls are parched like a waterless countryside (Psalm 63: 2). They crave to be “satisfied with the pleasures” of His house (Psalm 65:4). Only there can they be at ease, like a bird in the nest (Psalm 84:3). One day of those “pleasures” is better than a lifetime spent elsewhere (Psalm 84:10). (C.S. Lewis, Reflections of the Psalms)

B. The new covenant and the priesthood of Jesus are superior because they provide access to God (7:15-17).

• The priesthood of Jesus is based upon an indestructible life (vv. 15-17).
• The old covenant and Levitical priesthood have been “set aside” because they are “weak and useless” (vv. 18-19).
• The new covenant and the priesthood of Jesus provide a “better hope” through which we have access to God (v. 19).

III. Better! (Hebrews 8)

A. Better Ministry (8:1-6)

B. Better Covenant (Hebrews 8:7-13)

1. The new covenant is distinctly different from the old covenant that Israel did not keep (8:7-9).

2. The new covenant involves God placing His laws into the minds and hearts of His people (8:10).

3. The new covenant allows a close, intimate relationship between God and His people (8:10b).

4. The new covenant means that every individual knows God personally (8:11).

5. The new covenant gives total forgiveness of sins (8:12).

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