HF185 - Hebrews 5 (#11 The Order of Melchizedek)
To: Hebraic-Foundations@YahooGroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Subject: Bible Study HF185 - Hebrews 5 (#11 The Order of Melchizedek)
Hebraics,
This is our eleventh study in the book of Hebrews. In this study we want to consider an interesting issue. It has to do with the high priestly ministry of Jesus. Let's look at it.
This is Bible Study HF185 - Hebrews 5 (#11 The Order of Melchizedek)
In this study we will cover chapter five of Hebrews.
Heb 5:1-4 - "For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was."
As we begin to look at the order of Melchizedek, keep in mind that the apostolic writer is speaking to a belief system that is already pretty much in place. So he begins with a comparison of how the high priesthood was set apart by God under the Law of Moses. And in this case the high priest had to offer sacrifices for himself as well as for the people.
Now the writer draws attention to Jesus being the high priest of the new covenant.
v5 - "So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You'; just as He says also in another passage, 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.'"
Perhaps we should take a look at this mysterious person who appears in the Old Testament as a priest of God, and to whom Abraham actually paid tithes. The first mention of Melchizedek is seen in Genesis 14.
In returning from his having defeated five kings, there are two kings who come out to meet him, the king of Salem [Later Jerusalem] and the king of Sodom. Abraham has no regard for the king of Sodom, but we find an interesting exchange between the king of Salem and Abraham.
"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, 'Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.' He gave him a tenth of all. (Genesis 14:18-20)
First this tells us that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham, and that he was both a king and a priest. But he was not a pagan priest. Melchizedek was priest of El Elyon. (God Most High.)
Much has been written about Melchizedek, both from the Jews and from the Christians. However, he disappears from this one scene and is never mentioned again in the Old Testament until David calls attention to him in Psalm 110:4; "The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."
David speaking by the Spirit says that Melchizedek will have a successor. It will be a 'forever' eternal priesthood. The sages applied this priesthood to the Messiah. (Among others.)
There is one thing I do want to point out. While Jewish writers try hard to the keep Melchizedek in the Jewish realm, the truth is that this figure would be a priest that is above, higher than, and beyond any other form of the priesthood to be seen in the Scriptures, that is, far above the Levitical priests.
This priesthood was in place long before the Law of Moses. And though little more mention is seen of Melchizedek, this higher eternal priesthood would reappear with the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. When Jesus takes His place at the right hand of the Father, He is crowned as both King and Priest.
Back to Hebrews:
vv7,8 - "In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and with loud crying and tears to the One able to save him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered."
It may seem strange to say that Jesus learned obedience. The idea being presented is that Jesus experienced the fullness of our humanity, for this reason He understands and sympathizes with our struggles. It was in His sufferings that He experienced victory in His humanity. It was in His sufferings that the Father was able to pull back the curtain of time, and thus we will read later in Hebrews, that Jesus endured the shame of the cross because of the joy that was set before Him.
In the garden Jesus was under such psychological and spiritual pressure that blood began to appear as drops on His forehead. The gospels do not paint all that can be said of His sufferings.
vv9-11 - "And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing."
Jesus Himself is the source of our eternal salvation. There is no other way. And where it speaks of 'those who obey Him,' this is in regard to our confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Paul speaks of this as the 'obedience of faith.' It should go without saying that to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, this means that we come under His authority and we do the things that He shows us to do.
vv12-14 - "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Again we see these cautions appearing. These Jewish peoples by now should have been far advanced in their walk with Jesus. But because of trying to mix the Mosaic covenant with the new covenant, they have become stunted in their spiritual growth. This is always the case with legalist religious systems.
The study is open.
Buddy
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Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
email: Bro.Buddy <at> ChristianChallenge.Org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
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"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)