 And the title of our sermon this morning is Christ our priest Christ our priest and we are continuing our study of the essentials this morning and Introduction to those theological subjects that we believe to be essential to the growth and maturity of the Christian and last week we began considering the work of the Lord Jesus Christ as mediator between God and men Wherein as our mediator He fulfills three offices for the benefit of his church namely the offices of prophet Priest and king The last Lord's Day we look at the role of Jesus Christ in the office of prophet this morning It is our joy and privilege to consider The office of Christ or the role of Christ the function of Christ in his office as our great high priest and thinking about the Lord's function the Lord's role as the one mediator between God and men He first serves as prophet The Lord is the supreme and preeminent agent of God's revelation to man He stands as prophet facing the people so to speak and serves as a spokesman for God The prophet delivers the very word of God to the people of God Now in his role as mediator Jesus Christ the anointed one then serves as Priest rather than facing the people the priest is described as facing God or Representing the people to God Petitioning God on behalf of his people and remember these offices the office of prophet priest and king are anointed offices held by anointed men and held by anointed men until the one came who fulfilled these offices in their Fulness in his person and work namely the Messiah the Christ or the anointed one Now our confession of faith the London Baptist confession in chapter 8 article 10 Explains it this way says this number and order of offices is necessary for in respect of our ignorance we stand in need of his prophetical office and in respect of our alienation from God and Imperfection of the best of our services. We need his priestly office to reconcile us and present us acceptable to God I think with me for a moment about what our confession is saying there You and I are born in sin You and I are born in alienation from God We are cut off cast out even the best of our Services to God are corrupted by sin stained by sin polluted by sin The wages of our sin is death and the soul that sins it shall surely die We think about that then what is our greatest need? What's our greatest need? We need life Eternal life. We need reconciliation with God a right relationship to the one who has created us in his image and To live for his glory alone. We need forgiveness Forgiveness of sins. We need our guilt removed We need righteousness in order to stand before him holiness without which no one will see the Lord We need his wrath The wrath that is justly directed against us We need that wrath to be taken out of the way to be propitiated. We need to be born again We need to be made a new creation otherwise without this work You will perish eternally in hell for your sin. You have offended an eternal God Now what we need then what we need is we need a mediator a Mediator to go before us to represent us to God to stand before him on our behalf Because we cannot stand before him right our God is a consuming fire We need a mediator to represent us to God One who would be worthy enough to enter the very presence of God on our behalf One who could fulfill all the just and righteous requirements of God's holy law one who could Take our punishment one who could deal with our guilt one who could pay our debt and wonder of wonders God himself in grace and mercy has appointed just such a mediator That mediator is the one mediator between God and men the man Christ Jesus It is through his spirit the spirit of Christ that we are born again. It is through his Mediatorial work alone that we have forgiveness of our sins It's through his mediatorial work that we receive his righteousness as our own Righteousness it is through him that we are declared ourselves to be righteous in God's sight It's through his once for all Sacrificial death on our behalf that we are eternally saved He was our substitute Strikken Smitten by God and afflicted wounded for our transgressions bruised for our iniquities The chastisement for our peace was upon him and by his stripes. We are healed The Lord Jesus Christ is our great and faithful high priest He gives us everything that we need. Amen The work is done. We receive it through repentant faith Turning from our sin turning from our rebellion against him and trusting in him alone to save us That we have been given the tremendous blessing the tremendous privilege the joy of seeing that truth in all of its Technicolor splendor Revealed to us on the pages of the New Testament However for those under the Old Covenant for those that lived in Old Testament days They could only foresee the Lord's priestly work through types and shadows through types and shadows. It was more mysterious to them and one of the first places that we most clearly Encounter one of those types and shadows of the priestly ministry the Lord Jesus Christ In fact the first place that we encounter the word priest in scripture Involves a very enigmatic Figure from the Old Testament, but one that proves to be extremely important in explaining the role of Christ as Priest for us in the New Testament turn with me to Genesis 14 Genesis 14 And look there beginning with me at verse 13 Genesis chapter 14 beginning at verse 13 now at this point In the Genesis record Abram and his nephew lot have separated Abram is living in Hebron and lot has pitched his tent towards Sodom Chapter 13 verse 13 says the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against the Lord Now by the time we get to Genesis 14 lot is actually living in Sodom now And he's caught up in a war now that erupts between Four eastern kings and a confederacy of five kings of Canaan They fight it out these Two sets of kings they fight it out at the southern end of the Dead Sea in the valley of Sadeem The five kings of Canaan are defeated including the king of Sodom and Lot now is taken captive with his family. We look now beginning at verse 13 Then the one who had escaped Came and told Abram the Hebrew for he dwelt by the terribent trees of Mamre the Amorite brother of Eschel and brother of Anner and they were allies with Abram Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive He armed his 318 trained servants who were born in his own house and he went in pursuit as far as Dan He divided his forces against them by night and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobba Which is north of Damascus and so he brought back all the goods He also brought back his brother Lot and his goods as well as the women and the people Abraham in verse 13 verses 13 to 16 Abraham able to feel the militia of his own men 318 born in his own house that tells you how abundantly abundantly God has blessed Abram Abram takes those 318 born in his own house. They were trained and he Masterfully plans a sneak attack by night and he routes the armies of the four eastern kings in the middle of the night And by doing so he successfully rescues Lot his family brings back all of his possessions Abram then is visited by two kings look at verse 17 and The king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shavah. That is the Kings Valley After his return from the defeat of Keter Lamar and the kings who were with him in verse 18 then Melchizedek King of Salem Brought out bread and wine. He was the priest of God most high That's interesting in verse 18 these two kings one of them the king of Sodom second the king of Salem named Melchizedek Okay, Melchizedek the name is a compound word meaning king of righteousness King of righteousness and notice in verse 18. He's also the king of Salem The word Salem means peace. He is the king of peace But also Salem refers to Jerusalem if you look at Psalm 76 verse 2 Jerusalem is called Salem and here we're introduced to Melchizedek this enigmatic figure who is the king of Jerusalem the king of peace the king of righteousness That's interesting. Also they meet in the Kings Valley Kings Valley Just south of Jerusalem. It's in Jerusalem the Kings of Valley. So this Melchizedek Israel at this time was a series of city states and These city states had kings or rulers over them. There would have been many in this region We see the four kings who are already in this region of the five kings of Canaan These were all city states and Melchizedek would have been a leader among those city states And he comes out to greet Abram after his victory in the Valley of the Kings now Melchizedek is Not only a king Melchizedek is also a priest notice that from verse 18. He was priest of God Most High It's the first place this word is used in the Bible the word priest and notice not a pagan priest He's in Canaan, but he's not a Canaanite priest even in the midst of this Canaanite region He was a priest of God Most High L. Eleon. He's referring to the Sovereign Lord and recognizing here Abram as a servant of God Most High Acknowledging God Most High as the one who has given Abram the victory and then Melchizedek Brings out bread and wine. That's interesting. Isn't it? He brings out bread and wine That's a priestly service that Melchizedek is offering. It's a priestly service a priestly function and he brings out a blessing for Abram Now notice with me also in verse 18 Melchizedek comes out of nowhere We've not heard of Melchizedek before this point. He comes out of nowhere. There's no background provided We don't know who his mother is. We don't know his father is we don't have a genealogy There's no record of his birth. There's no record of his death He's a mystery It would appear as though in scripture that he has no beginning and has no end and it's pained that way on purpose It's a literary device if you will Melchizedek is setting us up for something greater There's a mystery here. Now both Abraham and Melchizedek worship the same God Abram uses the very same name for God in verse 22. He is the God Most High possessor of heaven and earth and He's the same one who promised blessings to Abram in Genesis chapter 12 already And now what do we see Melchizedek doing? Melchizedek comes to Abram bringing a blessing We see promise and fulfillment. No way promise and near fulfillment. There will be a far greater far fulfillment Now look with me again at verse 19 now So Melchizedek blessed him and he said to Abram 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 and he Abram gave him a tithe of all No Melchizedek king of righteousness priest of God Most High serves as a priestly mediator of God's blessings to Abram Right Abram in turn recognizes Melchizedek as a legitimate priest of God Most High and in doing so he gives Melchizedek a tithe This that becomes a pattern if you will a pattern that we'll see in the levitical priesthood under the law It's a pattern that tithe that is given. It's a pattern under the Mosaic covenant under the Mosaic law And we'll see later. It's a pattern that has significant importance under the new covenant as well So tithing before the law under the law and after the law in other words Melchizedek gives our Abram gives Melchizedek a tithe of all now consider all of this in Contrast with the way that Abram interacts with the king of Sodom look at verse 21 That was Melchizedek verse 21 now the king of Sodom comes and he says to Abram Give me the persons take the goods for yourself Notice the king of Sodom comes empty-handed No greeting no honor no gratitude No indication of joy Abram won the battle Defeated the enemy that just defeated the king of Sodom No joy no gladness at meeting Abram here conveyed He lost the battle that he is the one who's setting the terms here Isn't he give me the persons take the goods for yourself? Shirley indicates How ungrateful and wicked this king really was Verse 22 but Abram said to the king of Sodom I have raised my hand to the Lord God most high the possessor of heaven and earth That I will take nothing from a thread to a sandal strap and that I will not take anything that is yours Lest you should say I have made Abram rich Except only what the young men have eaten the portion of the men who went with me Anna, Eschel and Mamrie let them take their portion so we see the king of Salem then in direct contrast with the king of Sodom the king of righteousness in Contrast with the known king of unrighteousness Melchizedek offers bread wine and a blessing from God most high The king of Sodom offers the spoils of war with an intent to exploit that for his own advantage The Abram you think with me could have taken advantage of this couldn't he Abram won a victory Abram Could have taken land for himself in Canaan having won this victory, but that would have been a short cut God has promised to give him the land Abram could have thought well Maybe this is the way that God's going to give it to me I'm going to take it through this victory, but Abraham doesn't do that He recognizes that it's a wicked short cut and rather than taking the short cut Abram chooses to Cast his lot so to speak with God most high the possessor of heaven and earth who will give him the land in God's timing We'll give him the land in the way that God has determined to give it to him So he doesn't take the short cut It's in the very next chapter chapter 15 that God then explains to Abram that he will have a son a son will be from his own body and It will be his descendants who will inherit the land that God has promised him not now But 400 years later verse 13 chapter 15 verse 13 They will be strangers in the land that is not theirs Speaking of the land of Egypt and after 400 years they will come out with great possessions And of course because the sin of the Amorites was not yet complete all of this of course Is exactly what happens right exactly the Lord delivers them out of bondage in Egypt He directs them to Sinai and they're in the wilderness before Mount Sinai God enters into covenant with his people under Moses He gives them the law and then he establishes the old covenant Levitical priesthood more Types and shadows the old covenant priest and in particular the high priest would be The quintessential type or shadow you could say it would be the Significant type or shadow of the future Substance that is the priestly work of the Lord Jesus Christ Turn with me to the right to Exodus chapter 28 Exodus chapter 28 Here in Exodus 28 you could also look at Leviticus chapter 8 9 The Lord is establishing the ironic priesthood or the Levitical priesthood This would be a type of that great high priest that is to come these are types and shadows look at Exodus 28 beginning at verse 1 The Lord says to Moses Now take Aaron Your brother and his sons with him from among the children of Israel That he may minister to me as priest Aaron and Aaron's son Nadab Abihu Eleazar and Ithamar and you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother for glory and for beauty You shall speak to all who are gifted artisans whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom that they may make Aaron's Garments to consecrate him that he may minister to me as priest These are the garments which they shall make a breastplate an e-fod a robe a skilfully woven tunic a Turban and a sash and so they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons that he may minister to me as priest Now the purpose of Aaron here the purpose of the priesthood is For Aaron or the priesthood to represent the people to God He is to carry the people as it were on his heart or in his bosom as he enters Into communion with God. He's to represent them to God. Look at verse 9 verse 9 You shall take two onyx stones and Engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel Why would he do that right six of their names on one stone six names on the other stone in order of their birth? With the work of an engraver in stone like the engravings of a sign that you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel you shall set them in settings of gold you notice how the Lord is also concerned with the beauty of his worship That's a point that strikes me in reading these texts. There's there's great symbolism here There's there are types and shadows involved here There's significance and importance to everything that goes on and in addition to this Lord is concerned about the excellence of his worship the beauty of his worship right the The holiness of his worship certainly, but here the the beauty of it as well You shall set them in settings of gold verse 12 You shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel and so Aaron With those names written upon the stones shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial drop down to verse 15 verse 15 There you shall make the breastplate of judgment now the breastplate of judgment It's not judgment against Israel. It's called the breastplate of judgment because the Urim and the Thumim were also inserted there into the breastplate and That was a way that the people of Israel at that day could discern the will of God in doubtful cases The Urim and the Thumim and so it's called the breastplate of judgment Right you shall make the breastplate of judgment artistically woven according to the workmanship of the ephod You shall make it of gold blue purple scarlet thread fine woven linen You shall make it it shall be doubled into a square a span shall be its length and a span shall be its width You shall put settings of stones in it Four rows of stones the first row shall be a stardius a topaz and emerald This shall be the first row the second row shall be a turquoise a sapphire and a diamond The third row a jacinth an agate and an amethyst the fourth row a barrel and onyx and a jasper They shall be set in gold settings and the stones shall have the names of the sons of Israel 12 according to their names like the engravings of a signet each one with its own name And they shall be according to the 12 tribes verse 29 So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of judgment over his heart When he goes into the holy place as a memorial before the Lord Continually and you shall put the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thumim and they shall be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before the Lord and so Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel over his heart before the Lord continually right it's Aaron is pictured and it's intimate isn't it's it's precious. It's beautiful. He he takes the sons of Israel In his bosom so to speak as he enters the most holy place to go before God. He carries them over his heart This is love. This is care. This is concern. This is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ right the Lord Jesus Christ bears his people upon his heart as he enters behind the veil for us It's our Lord that carries us in his bosom right all of this is a picture a Picture of what the Lord Jesus Christ would do in his high priestly office for us here Aaron Carrying the tribes of Israel the Lord Jesus Christ carrying in his bosom all of those who are the seed of Abraham by faith in himself Right all those who are the seed of Abraham by faith in Jesus Christ And he carries us on his heart behind the veil. He carries us in the very presence of the Lord God He says in verse 31 then 31 You shall make the rot the robe of the ephod all of blue there shall be an opening For his head in the middle of it It shall be a woven binding all around its opening like the opening of a coat of mail so that it does not tear And upon its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue purple and scarlet All around its hem bells of gold between them all around a gold bell and a pomegranate a gold bell and a pomegranate Upon the hem of the robe all of round all around and it shall be upon Aaron When he ministers and its sound will be heard when he goes into the holy place before the Lord And when he comes out that he may not die You shall also make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it like the engraving of a signet holiness to the Lord All of this a picture Also, is it not that God is holy and we are not God is holy He is to be revered as holy his name is to be hallowed as holy as holy God is to be holy in our sight. God is holy Incidentally It was said that the bells Along the bottom of Aaron's ephod the ephod of the high priest Were so that when Aaron entered the holiest of all the most holy place once per year on the day of atonement To make atonement for the sins of the people Aaron went in there alone He first had to consecrate himself by sacrifice So that blood could cover his own sin and then he took the blood of the sacrifice Into the most holy place on behalf of the people and he would pour the blood out upon the mercy seat where God is said to dwell between the chair of him and the bells were there so that if God struck a Struck the high priest dead inside the most holy place the bells would stop ringing and then what they would know to drag him out by his feet The bells were there so the bells would jingle and they would know that he was still alive God is holy God is holy and this system is set up to depict God's holiness and our alienation from him in our sin But it's all to point forward It's the point to the necessary work that it would take for the Lord Jesus Christ to do to secure our own redemption And it's to point forward to him in the completion of that work on our behalf It's a glorious glorious picture a glorious illustration a helpful illustration We can only know and understand what Jesus Christ has done for us by knowing and understanding the Old Testament All right, we need this The priests would make sacrifices of the Lord first for their own sins, and then he would make sacrifice for the sins of the people Look at Exodus 29 flip the page and look there beginning at verse 38 29 38 Now this is what you shall offer on the altar two lambs of the first year day by day continually One lamb you shall offer in the morning the other lamb you shall offer it twilight With the one lamb shall be one tenth of an Eiffel of flour mixed with one fourth of a hen of pressed oil and One fourth of a hen of wine as a drink offering and the other lamb you shall offer it twilight And you shall offer with it the grain offering and the drink offering as in the morning for a sweet aroma and offering made by fire to the Lord this shall be verse 42 a Continual burnt offering Throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the Lord where I will meet you to speak with you There I will meet with the children of Israel and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory So I will consecrate the tabernacle of meeting and the altar I will also consecrate both Aaron and his sons to minister to me as priests I will dwell among the children of Israel and we will be their god and they shall know That I am the lord their god who brought them up from the land of egypt so that I may dwell among them I am the lord their god in other words The Levitical priesthood stood before the presence of god on behalf of the people They themselves were sanctified consecrated or set apart by a blood sacrifice and they would bear the blood of sacrifices Continually before the Lord there would be no end to this if this were all that there were there'd be no end Continuously throughout your generations And all this to atone for the sins of the people So that they would not be destroyed by God who is a consuming fire you see The high priest would enter the inner sanctuary of the temple called the most holy place or the holy of holies He would do so only once per year on the day of atonement Pour out the blood of the sacrifice on the mercy seat for the sins of Israel the people Themselves could not approach only the consecrated priest the people themselves. There was a separation right only the high priest and only once per year And it was this service that enabled the people to worship the Lord and enjoy the blessings of his presence among them without Dying it was temporary Just so they could worship the Lord without dying Now the descendants of Aaron Would be the ones who served as priests. It's the Aaronic order The Lord would separate to himself the tribe of Levi from among the 12 tribes of Israel to serve as priests That's why it's called the Levitical priesthood the notice The sacrifices must be made day by day continually Animal sacrifices cannot atone for human sin The people couldn't enter the holy of holies just the high priest and only once per year the people Aren't consecrated to God in the same way that the priests are consecrated to God. They're not priests themselves The people can't enjoy the fullness of God's presence. Neither can the high priest for that matter This doesn't get us back to a restored relationship doesn't It doesn't get us back there doesn't get us back to the place where the Lord walked in the garden in the cool of the Day where you could hear his voice There's no eternal life under this system all these priests even though consecrated all these priests die and Many priests have died and many priests were continuously being raised up in their place when they died a Finite creature cannot atone for sins against the infinite God In other words this system does not save you see it's a it's a stopgap measure at best a stopgap measure it does not save Enter then the Lord Jesus Christ Enter the Lord Jesus Christ our great high priest turn with me to Hebrews or let me read this Hebrews chapter 9 verse 11 but Christ came as High priest of the good things to come with the greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands that is not of this creation Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood He entered the most holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemption Only the blood of the very son of God Could fully and finally cleanse us from sin only his shed blood only he Can bring us into the presence of God and only in him can we enter Our God is a consuming fire The shedding of the blood of the only begotten Son of God a Calvary's Cross has opened up a new way for us and opened up a New and living way by which we may draw near to him But we have a problem. We have a problem The Levitical priesthood has been done away with that old covenant is obsolete. It's vanished away. It's disappeared It's gone. It's been rendered obsolete with the coming of the new covenant And how can the Lord's priesthood be a legitimate priesthood if the Lord isn't from the tribe of Levi? The Lord is from the tribe of Judah. He's lying from the tribe of Judah. We know that So does that mean then that the Lord is unqualified to serve as high priest? No No, Jesus Christ Receives his priesthood from another source a far Superior source every other priest finds sanction for his work Under the law according to the Levitical mandate, but not Jesus Christ turn to Psalm 110 Psalm 110 In one of the most frequently quoted Passages in all the New Testament from the Old Testament Psalm 110 I think Leviticus 19 you shall love your neighbor as yourself is the only Old Testament passage quoted more We have one of the most frequently quoted passages Psalm 110 and look they're beginning at verse one This is a messianic Psalm messianic Psalm verse one the Lord said to my Lord Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool The Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion rule in the midst of your enemies. You can see how it's Not only a priestly Psalm but a kingly Psalm as well Your people shall be volunteers in the day of your power in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning You have the dew of your youth the Lord has sworn. He's taken an oath He will not relent you are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek. He receives his priesthood from a far superior source the priesthood of Melchizedek not temporary Like the Levitical priests, but you are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek The Levitical priesthood was temporary Being raised from the dead its resurrection day resurrection Sunday Being raised from the dead means that the Lord will never Set aside his priestly office. He will be a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek Coming to God through him then means for us eternal life means eternal life Preserved not by our own power But by his power which is bounded grounded on an indestructible life the power of an endless Life he has an unchangeable priesthood a priesthood that continues forever Therefore he is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him Since he always lives to make intercession for them. It's a wondrous truth. The Bible is essentially silent on this connection this connection between the Lord Jesus Christ and Melchizedek Until you come to the book of Hebrews and then Hebrews just abounds with references to Melchizedek And this very issue turn with me to Hebrews chapter 7 Hebrews chapter 7 and look at verse 1 and with a point of showing That Jesus Christ is our legitimate and faithful and great high priest Our author makes two basic points from the text beginning in chapter 7 one The priestly order of Melchizedek is far Superior to the priestly order of Aaron or the priestly order of the Levites. That's verses 1 through 10 secondly Jesus Christ is rightly our high priest according to the order of Melchizedek his Priestly office is legitimate. It is highly superior and Christ is rightly our high priest look at verse 1 For this Melchizedek the king of Salem Priest of the most high God who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all First being translated king of righteousness and then also king of Salem meaning king of peace without father without mother without Genealogy having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the son of God. That's important remains a priest Continuously now remember in verses 1 through 10 the priestly order of Melchizedek is superior to the order of Aaron or the Levitical priesthood it's superior. Why is it superior because he remains a priest continuously? Do you see continually he was made look at verse 3 he was made like the son of God In other words Melchizedek was raised up in scripture as a type of Christ It's not that Jesus Christ we can't think this way It's not that Jesus Christ was a copy of Melchizedek or that we're to think of Jesus Christ as another Melchizedek No, no Melchizedek is in scripture by God's intention to point to Jesus Christ That's his function in Genesis 14 and in Psalm 110, right? He is a tight Melchizedek is the copy pointing to the substance pointing to the reality who is Christ Now notice the way in which he's brought up in scripture verse 3 without father Without mother without genealogy Having neither beginning of days nor end of life. That's how our author here interprets Genesis 14 What Melchizedek portrays in a literary sense in Genesis 14? Christ fulfills in a literal sense He remains Priest continually do you see the order of Melchizedek is superior to the order of Levites For the very reason that it is eternal that it continues remains continually. Let's keep going verse 4 Now consider how great this man was To whom and we're speaking of Melchizedek To whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils and Indeed those who are this of the sons of Levi who receive a priesthood Have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law that is from their brethren Though they have come from the loins of Abraham verse 6 But he whose genealogy is not derived from them. That's Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham and Blessed Abraham who had the promises in other words Melchizedek is greater than Abraham now think with me about what the passage is saying Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek The little bit the and he gave tithes to Melchizedek as a priest of the most high God The Levitical priesthood the Levitical priesthood was commanded by God to receive tithes from the people What do the people do they all tithe to the Levitical priests? But he whose genealogy is not derived from them Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham and Melchizedek blessed Abraham who had been given the promises by God therefore Melchizedek is greater than Abraham That's the point that's going to be made verse 7 Beyond all contradiction the lesser Abraham is blessed by the better Melchizedek Here mortal men receive tithes the Levitical priests receive tithes, but there Melchizedek receives them of whom it is witnessed that he lives That's the interpretation of Genesis 14 Melchizedek without beginning without end Literarily in Genesis 14 lives he has a priesthood that remains continuously all of that pointing forward to Jesus Christ, this is pointing to Jesus Christ even Levi verse 9 who receives tithes Paid tithes through Abraham to Melchizedek so to speak Verse 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him So what the author here is setting up is that even the Levites who received tithes those people who paid tithes They paid tithes To the Levites who were in the loins so to speak of Abraham when Abraham from there paid tithes to the greater who is Melchizedek see the argument that he's making The Melchizedek order is far superior to the order of Aaron Far superior to that of the Levites far superior therefore verse 11 therefore therefore if Perfection were through the Levitical priesthood Which it couldn't be the Levitical priesthood couldn't make anyone perfect. That was the problem with the old covenant It couldn't make us perfect But if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood for under it that people received the law What further need was there that another priest should arise according to the order of Melchizedek and Not be called according to the order of Aaron It was necessary that one should arise According to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron It's it's necessary to our salvation that priesthood could not take away sins For verse 12 the priesthood being changed of necessity there is also a change of the law For he of whom these things are spoken Belongs to another tribe from which no man has officiated at the altar It's evident that our Lord arose from Judah of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning the priesthood And it is yet far more evident if in the likeness of Melchizedek there arises another priest Who has come not according to the law of a fleshly commandment But according to the power of an endless life for he testifies you are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek So much to be said there. We just don't have the time to get into it yet Verse 18 for on the one hand there is an annuling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness For the law made nothing perfect on the other hand there is the bringing in of a better hope Through which we draw near to God our hope is based upon the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead He is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek on the basis of an endless life an indestructible life You see his priesthood superior because it is founded on the power of an endless life Verse 20 and in as much as he was not made priests without an oath For they have become priests without an oath, but he with an oath by him who said to him the Lord has sworn and will not relent You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek By so much more Jesus has become surety or the guarantor of a better covenant Also, there were many priests Why were there many priests because they kept dying Because they were prevented by death from continuing but he verse 24 because he continues forever has an unchangeable priesthood Therefore, he is also able to save because his priesthood lasts forever and is Unchangeable he is able to save to the uttermost. He is able to give us eternal life He's able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him since he always and forever lives to make intercession for them Verse 26 for such a high priest was fitting for us Who is holy harmless undefiled separate from sinners and has become higher than the heavens Who does not need daily is those high priests to offer up Sacrifice first for his own sins then for the sins of the people for this he did Once for all when he offered up himself hear me Catholics For the law points as high priests men who have weakness But the word of the oath which came after the law appoints the son who has been perfected forever Melchizedek is superior to the Levites and Jesus Christ is our high priest according to the order of Melchizedek And his priesthood is superior to any other priesthood because he is our high priest forever Otherwise salvation is impossible The sacrifices of the old were insufficient the old covenant itself Insufficient to save that old covenant priesthood Unsustainable untenable How can you be cleansed by animal sacrifices? You cannot how can God's wrath be propitiated? It cannot These are shadows and shadows only Christ's sacrifice is alone the sacrifice that truly saves the work of our Lord's priestly ministry includes one the sacrifice of himself and to the ongoing continual Intercession for his people Christ's Sacrifice of himself at Calvary and his ongoing session in heaven for his people these are effective for salvation when The work of the Old Testament priests was not the effectiveness of Christ priestly work That Effectiveness is tied to its superiorly It's the basis for which his priestly work and priestly office is Superior to that of the Old Covenant and this was superior it was due to Jesus being a high priest After the order of Melchizedek flip the page and look at Hebrews chapter 8 and look at verse 1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying We have such a high priest Who is seated to the right hand of the throne of the majesty in the heavens a minister of the sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord erected and not man. What is the true that which is in heaven? What is the copy that which we see in the Old Testament? Right verse 3 for every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices Therefore it is necessary that this one also have something to offer for if he were on earth He would not be a priest since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law who serve the copy and Shadow of the heavenly things as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the Tabernacle for he said See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain The pattern of that which was in the heavenlies was shown to Moses on the mountain Moses was to make the Tabernacle according to that pattern But now verse 6 he has obtained a more excellent ministry in as much as he is also mediator of a better Covenant which was established on better promises You know we might be tempted to think of the Old Covenant rituals the Old Covenant ceremonies the sacrifices as being the model Or as being the standard that Jesus then copies and fulfills That's not the case at all All that that we see in the Old Testament all of that the temple the priests the garments right the Ceremony the ritual the blood sacrifices the holy of holies the mercy seat all of that is the copy all of that is mere shadow of the real Substance and all of that informs our understanding of the real right all of that is a lived out parable it's a living Illustration if you will a copy of what Christ himself would fully and finally do on the great Day of atonement where he would go to the cross for his people shedding of his own place when he would then enter the holy place once for all Without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sins Flip the page Hebrews chapter 9 look at verse 11 These texts almost explain themselves when we think about them in this light, don't they? But Christ came verse 11 as high priests of the good things to come with the greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands that is not of this creation Not with the blood of bulls and goats and calves But with his own blood he entered the most holy place once for all having obtained eternal redemption For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean Sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh How much more verse 14 shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal spirit offered himself Without spot to God cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God and for this reason He is the mediator and our high priest of the new covenant by means of death sacrifice of himself For the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant that those who are called may receive the promise of the internal The eternal inheritance Otherwise salvation is impossible How should we? respond What shall we say then to these marvelous and wondrous realities, right? What Jesus Christ has done for us what he has suffered on our behalf The magnitude and excellency of his person in his work, right? How are we the people of God? Born again by his spirit and dwelt by his spirit Serving him desire to be faithful. How should the people of God then respond? Hebrews chapter 10 Look at verse 19 therefore brethren Having boldness To enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus By a new and living way which he consecrated for us through the veil that is his flesh and Having a high priest over the house of God brothers and sisters. Let us draw near With a true heart in full assurance of faith Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience our bodies washed with pure water Let us hold fast The confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful Do not draw back. Do not waver. Do not let your heart be troubled, right? Serve Christ follow Christ look to Christ Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. Let me ask you Should we go about that glorious work half-hearted? Never we have a great high priest seated in the heavenlies who's gone before us Let us have boldness then brothers and sisters Let us stir up one another in order to stir up love and good works not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together Even during this time right as is the manner of some but exhorting one another so much more as you see the day approaching Draw near to God and full assurance of faith hold faster confession without wavering stir one another up to love and good works exhorting one another We should do that with all earnestness and with all fervency with all love and devotion and Gratitude in our hearts not like the the ungrateful king of Sodom, right? Hebrews 10 look at verse 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence which has great reward Don't turn back You have need of endurance so that after you have done the will of God you may receive the promise For yet a little while just a little while. I love those words, right? Yet just a little while and he who is coming will come and will not tarry The just shall live by faith But if anyone draws back my soul has no pleasure in him But we are not of those who draw back to partition but of those who believed the saving of the soul Hold fast your confession. Do not draw back. He who endures to the end will be saved, right? Hebrews chapter 12 Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2 fix your eyes on him who is the author and finisher of our faith He is our great high priest when you're weary or discouraged consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself Strengthen the hands which hang down Strengthen the feeble knees make straight paths for your feet pursue peace and holiness chapter 12 verse 28 Therefore since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken Let us have grace by which we may serve God Acceptably with reverence and godly fear for our God is a consuming fire Hebrews chapter 13 Verse 10 speaking of his priesthood We have an altar From which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat for the bodies of those animals Whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin or burned outside the camp Therefore Jesus Christ also that he might sanctify the people with his own blood Suffered outside the gate Therefore verse 13 let us brothers and sisters let us go forth to him Outside the camp bearing his reproach. We have no continuing city here We seek the city that is to come the city whose builder and maker is God, right? Therefore by him let us continually offer sacrifice of praise to God that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name Do not forget to do good and to share for with such sacrifices. God is well pleased What a great salvation right absolutely stunning staggering amazing astonishing beautiful Majestic glorious wondrous awe inspiring worship provoking right What an amazing amazing salvation. We've been given All praise honor and glory to Christ our great high priest who always lives to make intercession for us. Amen Let's pray father in heaven We praise you we worship you Lord, we thank you For sending your only begotten son into the world to save wretched and deplorable and despicable sinners like ourselves We praise you for the efficacy and the majesty and the splendor of his High priestly work on behalf of his bride his elect those whom he would come to save We praise you Lord for your grace and mercy that is Magnified in this wondrous work and poured out on us Through him by your spirit, and I pray Lord that there wouldn't be a single person listening now Who would Treat that as a common thing That would trample the blood of the covenant underfoot Insulting the spirit of grace. I pray that Everyone Lord would turn to the sun turn from their sin trust in his perfect and complete and finished work And be saved they would worship and praise the lamb who is slain forever and ever We thank you Lord for this word Your word to your people Lord how it builds this up in our faith how it bolsters our hope how it provokes awe and wonder and worship and praise and I pray Lord that we would meditate on these things and that We would respond as we should that We would enter with boldness having our hearts sprinkled our consciousness is cleansed through his blood that we would Stir one another up to love and good works exhorting one another daily even more while it's called today That we would Lord that we would with Christ Bear his reproach Going outside the camp considering the reproach of Christ to be Greater treasure than all the riches of Egypt I pray Lord that We would honor you in our devotion to you honor you and our praise to you That we would consider these things as we pray and consider these things as we sing and consider these things as we read our Bibles and consider these things as we live day by day hour by hour minute by minute You are worthy of the whole of our lives and we praise you and look forward Lord To you coming back. We know that you will not tarry And we know that you will come and we look forward with great anticipation to that day and our eternal rest with you We love you in Jesus name. Amen