We have direct access to the Father through Jesus Christ, our High Priest.

The lesson today is about the ministry of Jesus as our great High Priest in heaven. While mention has been made of Christ’s priesthood in previous lessons in this unit, this lesson is devoted entirely to this subject. As Christians we give most of our attention to Jesus’ earthly life, ministry, death, resurrection, and coming again, but much less to his ongoing ministry as our great High Priest, who continually intercedes on our behalf to God. Understanding this aspect of Jesus’ ministry on our behalf, can provide for us faith for praying, and great help and encouragement for victorious Christian living and effective Christian ministry, because Christ prays for us.

1. MELCHIZEDEK’S PRIESTHOOD

A. His Status: Both King and Priest

Heb 7:1  For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

Heb 7:2  To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

Heb 7:3  Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

…….Melchisedec King of Salem, which is interpreted “King of Peace” had no history of mother or father from the priestly lineage. He was righteous and holy with God because he had a relationship with and hunger for God. The Lord seen this man fit to be observed by others as not only King, but a priest found worthy to communicate with Him in behalf of mankind. What a thought, that just as this King, no matter our background, lineage or lack thereof, we can have a relationship with God and serve in His kingdom!

B. His Prominence: Greater Than the Levitical Priesthood

Heb 7:4  Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

…….Genesis chapter 14 shows us that when Abraham was fighting to rescue his brother Lot, after his victory Melchisedec blessed him with with bread and wine. After this, Abraham returned the blessing by giving Melchisedec a tenth of all that he gained.

Heb 7:5  And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

Heb 7:6  But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

Heb 7:7  And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

Heb 7:8  And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

Heb 7:9  And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

Heb 7:10  For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

…….To show the greatness of Melchisedec, the writer goes on to say that Levi, who received the office of the priesthood, who was not even yet born, has paid tithes to Melchisedec through their father Abraham, acknowledging him to be superior to them! We may wonder, why has this man received so much attention and honor? Because there is nowhere in scripture that this man was taught about God by any outward source, nor was he born into the customs and methods of serving God, he had a desire to be with the creator and was blessed for this!

2. JESUS LIKE MELCHIZEDEK

A. Appointed by God

Heb 7:11  If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

Heb 7:12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

…….The Priesthood before Christ must be changed for it could not bring relationship with the Lord individually. The laws of the Old Commandment, which were necessary to observe, could not change the heart. Jesus gave perfect and honest examples of this: Matthew 5:21, 27, 31.

Heb 7:13  For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

Heb 7:14  For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

Heb 7:15  And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

Heb 7:16  Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

Heb 7:17  For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Heb 7:18  For there is verily a disannulling (canceling) of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

Heb 7:19  For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Heb 7:20  And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

Heb 7:21  (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

Heb 7:22  By so much was Jesus made a surety (guarantee) of a better testament.

B. Without End or Imperfection

Heb 7:23  And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

Heb 7:24  But this man (speaking of Christ), because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

Heb 7:25  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

…….Unlike any priest before Him, Christ’s Priesthood will continue forever because He overcame death. His ministry is never ending! Not only is He still serving as High Priest, He is continually making intercession for us to the Father! What a thought that while we are praying for needs on earth, our Savior is praying on our behalf in heaven!

Heb 7:26  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Heb 7:27  Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

Heb 7:28  For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

…….Unlike the Priests before Him, Christ was not shut up and kept from outward temptations. The others never left the temple, all the while He was the temple! No matter how kept away the others remained, they were still not without sin. Jesus on the other hand was affected by sin but never failed in or to sin. He never one time stumbled in the course of his ministry and life!

3. JESUS’S EVERLASTING PRIESTHOOD

A. Superiority of Christ’s Priesthood

Heb 8:1  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

Heb 8:2  A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

…….The writer in verse one sums up the Priesthood of Christ. Jesus’s Priesthood is of no earthly temple, but of the heavenly, being at the throne on the right hand of God! Unlike all other priests, Jesus is our eternal high priest, ministering to us at gods right hand, the place of all power and authority in heaven and on earth.

Heb 8:3  For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

Heb 8:4  For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

Heb 8:5  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.

Heb 8:6  But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

…….Though the work of the tabernacle was great, it was only a small shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, the place where Christ ministers. Because Christ ministers at gods right hand, it is apparent that he has obtained a more excellent ministry than any earthly priest!

B. Superiority of the New Covenant

Heb 8:7  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

Heb 8:8  For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

Heb 8:9  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

Heb 8:10  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Heb 8:11  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

Heb 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Heb 8:13  In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.