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Badger I think you need to reread Hebrews. The excerpt actually is misrepresenting what is exactly said and meant when it is written, HE is a priest in the "order of Melchizadek"...meaning and narrowing on THIS TRUTH: Without genealogy...showing that, unlike the levitical priesthood, the priestly house in service to the tribes of Israel,"this Melchizadek/this High Priest' is without genealogy...and CHRIST, as HIGH PRIEST forever (((FOREVER))) in the "order of Melchizadek" signifies and means this only...HE, CHRIST JESUS as HIGH PRIEST and MEDIATOR before GOD for men, because HE is without genealogy, HE is in service to ALL MEN: all generations...both the older and younger "generational sons"...all nations, all peoples...and HE (THAT IS CHRIST, in the order of Melchizadek (THAT HIGH PRIEST before GOD), is therefore NOT limited to ONLY the 12 tribes of Israel.
Just curious what would make his understanding different form yours? I think I agree with most of what you offered.
Ultimately we do not know God who uses form to help us understanding who he is so that we can understand Him and therefore seek after him who remains without form .
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God
This is because of mans own volition no man could seek after Him to commune with that not seen. But never could we know him after any rudiment as a molecule or atom of this corrupted world . It is why he corrupted it in the first place, men were looking to give him form so they did not have to walk by faith in respect to the things of God not seen, its the cause of the fall.
Its not my goal to offend anyone. Sorry if I did.
I hear scripture better than I hear the discourses of men, I have always been that way, I referred you to Badger because he seems to read similar things, which is also why I answered him like I did the first time around thinking I was actually sharing his pain. Its not you its me, I might drive someone else batty who might be like, "Well DISCUSS IT dont just post scripture" but thats what I see best with and seek in others to communicate with (that way, what I might seek out and better understand word wise) because I am dumb as doornails in other forms of communications in ways hard to put forth here to give you a heads up, which is also why I dont always try to engage with people but step back from it alot. Which again, is my problem not yours its just that I didnt know what to say to your post, and Im not sure what you were showing so it would be far worse for me to comment being unsure about it.
You didnt offend me in the least, and I didnt think you were trying to do so, I just dont always understand peoples posts enough to comment thats all.
I hope you will forgive me if I offended you I sure didnt mean to either, God bless you
You didnt offend me in the least, and I didnt think you were trying to do so, I just dont always understand peoples posts enough to comment thats all.
I hope you will forgive me if I offended you I sure didnt mean to either, God bless you
Here is what the Hebrew writer has to say about Melchizedek. Part one
By oldhermit
I. Jesus, a High Priest Like Melchizedek, 6:20-8:6.
A. Who was Melchizedek?
There have been many speculations as to who exactly this Melchizedek was. The speculations range for the possible to the absurd. Here is a list of some of the speculations that have been offered by a number of sources. Some have suggested:
1. He was the pre-incarnate Christ. This is a popular idea though not a very good one.
2. He was the Holy Spirit.
3. He was an angel.
4. He was Enoch. By the time Abraham meets Melchizedek, Enoch had been gone for more than a thousand years.
5. He was Shem, the son of Noah. This is a possibility.
6. He was an extra-ordinary emanation of deity.
The only one of these speculation that bears any kind of merit is that he may have possibly been Shem the son of Noah. This is physically possible for Shem and Abraham are contemporaries. In fact, Shem did not die until after Isaac married. As far as any of the rest of the speculations as to the manner of being Melchizedek was, the Hebrew writer leaves no room for speculation. He was a man.
B. Melchizedek is not a proper name but a title. The ancient kings of pre-Israel Jerusalem were called the Tsedeks. Melchizedek is from Meleck meaning King and Tsedek meaning righteousness. Thus, king of righteousness. He was the King of Salem meaning peace. This Salem would later be called Jerusalem meaning foundation of peace. In Joshua 10:1 we encounter another Tsedek of Salem called Adoni-Tsedek meaning lord of righteousness. The difference between these to men is the deterioration of the worship from the time of Melch-Tsedek to Adoni-Tsedek.
C. The nature of Melchizedek – He was a man. “Now consider how great this man was....” The word man in not represented in the text either by ἄνθρωπος nor ἀνήρ. It is provided by the gender of the pronoun οὗτος which is nominative masculine, singular for "this one," thus, this man.
1. The fact that he is a High Priest of God demands that he is of the human race. In 5:1 we learn that every High Priest is taken from among men.
2. As a man, he had a genealogy. “Whose genealogy was not derived from them (the Levites).” This is written in the possessive which says that he had a genealogy but, that it was a genealogy that was not traced from the priestly tribe of Levi.
II. Melchizedek is Both King and Priest, 1-2.
Melchizedek is only one of many shadows of Christ in the Old Testament. He is the example of how the function of both offices can are fulfilled in one man. The two offices of king and priest are manifestly contrary to one another in as much as the administration of the one stands in stark opposition to the other. As king, he is the administrator of justice to the sinner. As priest, he is the administrator of mercy to the sinner. Mercy cannot satisfy the demands of justice for the sinner goes unpunished. On the other hand, when justice is administered to the sinner, there is a complete absence of mercy because the penalty for sin is death. So, how can both offices be effected in one man to render both justice and mercy at the same time?
A. As King, he renders the sentence of death to the sinner. “The person who sins, will die,” Ezekiel 18:20. Because the demand for justice must be met in order for God's holiness to be satisfied, someone must die for sin. It is God's justice that preserves his holiness so for God to allow sin to go unpunished is a violation of his nature.
B. As High Priest, he must supply mercy to the sinner for this is the function of the office. The sinner is guilty and it is imperative that the sin be punished but, as Priest, he must pardon the offender and allow him to go unpunished, 4:14-16. How then does he both demand justice and extend mercy to the sinner?
Jesus himself pays the penalty for all sin for all time for all men. Calvary is the satisfaction of God to extradite his justice on the sins of humanity. Thus, as High Priest, he is able to pardon those who will appropriate to themselves the blood of atonement, 2Thessalonians 1:8-9.
III. A High Priest Without Genealogy, 3.
A. “Without father, mother, or genealogy” - Like Jesus, Melchizedek does not receive his priesthood from a predecessor. In the Levitical system, the high priest was descended only through the line of Aaron.7, 1Chronicles 6:50-52 but, the office of the high priest was not passed on to Melchizedek by his father, nor did he in turn pass it on to his heir. In other words, his is a one-man-forever-priesthood.
B. “Having neither beginning of days nor end of life.” In this there are three possibilities.
1. That this refers to the person of Melchizedek the man. Some argue from this that Melchizedek was not a man but some supernatural being who was neither born of human parents not had a beginning or end of life. But, as the text says, he was a man and as such, he had a past, 6. Some view this with the preceding statement as simply a Hebraism which stresses the obscurity of his genealogy and posterity. Perhaps.
2. That this refers not to the man himself but to his priesthood. This priesthood is unlike that of the Levitical system. We can look back at Sinai and see where the Levitical priesthood had its beginning of days with the anointing of Aaron and his sons, Exodus 28:1ff. We can then look forward from there to the cross and see where this priesthood saw its end of life. Now, a new and greater covenant is inaugurated in Jesus “according to a the power of an endless life.” But, this may not apply to just the priesthood apart from the man because this is a one man priesthood and apart from the man there is no priesthood.
3. That this refers to the man as a high priest. As a man he had a beginning of days and an end of life. As high priest, he has neither but remains a priest continually. This contrasts the priests of the Levitical system whose “beginning of days” began at the age of twenty-five when they began to serve as priests. They reached their “end of life” at the age of fifty when they completed their appointed time of priestly service, Numbers 8:24-25.
C. “But made like the Son of God.” Here, the order is reversed. In 6:20, Christ is presented as a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Now, Melchizedek is said to be a High Priest who was made like the Son of God. Like everything else that is type, Melchizedek is the shadow of the reality. This is like the building of the tabernacle in Exodus 25:40 being built according to the “pattern shown to you on the mountain.” Everything that is shadow must be patterned according to the substance it represents. The substance ALWAYS precedes the type. It must reflect the reality. Jesus is not a type of himself. The reality can never serve as the representation or shadow.
D. He “remains a priest continually.” His priesthood is uninterrupted even by death. He leaves his office to no one else. Although Melchizedek has been dead for many centuries, he is still the central figure in the one man forever priesthood. Like the Son of God, he carries his priest beyond the grave. His priesthood, in contrast to that of the Levites is not bound by the physical - “not according to the law of fleshly commandment,” 15-16. This fleshly commandment says that the Levitical priest must end his days of service at the age of 50. The High Priest ended his days of service at his death. In contrast, the priesthood of Melchizedek is greater. He continues as the High Priest of his priesthood even though he is dead, 8. Jesus cannot occupy two existing priestly offices. Since both high priests exist forever what would this have to say about the theory that Jesus was Melchizedek?
IV. The Greatness of Melchizedek, 1-10.
A. As priest, Melchizedek was greater than the patriarch Abraham, 1-4. In Genesis 14, Abraham had just finished demonstrating his own greatness among men in the defeat of Chedolaomer and the three kings who were with him. No other armies had been able to stand against this king of Elam yet, Abraham destroyed him using 318 trained servants and the accompaniment of the combined forces of Mamre, Eschol, and Aner – the Amorite brothers. The fact that Melchizedek came out to meet Abraham after his victory bringing bread and wine itself speaks of Abraham's greatness. Even Melchizedek, who is the greater, pays honor to the patriarch. But, as verse 7 says, "the lesser is blessed by the greater." The fact of Melchizedek's greatness in demonstrated in two ways.
1. Abraham, under no legal obligation to do so, payed tithes to Melchizedek giving him one tent of the Abraham's share of the spoils. Melchizedek does not come out for the purpose of collecting anything from Abraham but to honor and bless him. Abraham, of his own accord, gives one tenth to Melchizedek.
2. Melchizedek bless Abraham, Genesis 14:19-20.
a. Thanks, praise, and congratulations were given to Abraham for his victory. In this, Melchizedek recognized Abraham as belonging to the Most High God.
b. Thanks, praise, and glorification were also given to God as the causative agent of the victory.
* God is the Most High Preeminent one.
* God is the possessor of heaven and earth.
* God is the deliver of the enemy.
B. As priest, Melchizedek is greater than Levi, 5-10.
1. The Levites had a legal right to receive tithes. This was the priests portion. This was needed for the support of the priests and the upkeep of the temple. Out of this also the priests provided the blood sacrifice for the poorest among the people.
2. Yet through Abraham, Levi is represented as having paid tithes himself to Melchizedek.
By oldhermit
I. Jesus, a High Priest Like Melchizedek, 6:20-8:6.
A. Who was Melchizedek?
There have been many speculations as to who exactly this Melchizedek was. The speculations range for the possible to the absurd. Here is a list of some of the speculations that have been offered by a number of sources. Some have suggested:
1. He was the pre-incarnate Christ. This is a popular idea though not a very good one.
2. He was the Holy Spirit.
3. He was an angel.
4. He was Enoch. By the time Abraham meets Melchizedek, Enoch had been gone for more than a thousand years.
5. He was Shem, the son of Noah. This is a possibility.
6. He was an extra-ordinary emanation of deity.
The only one of these speculation that bears any kind of merit is that he may have possibly been Shem the son of Noah. This is physically possible for Shem and Abraham are contemporaries. In fact, Shem did not die until after Isaac married. As far as any of the rest of the speculations as to the manner of being Melchizedek was, the Hebrew writer leaves no room for speculation. He was a man.
B. Melchizedek is not a proper name but a title. The ancient kings of pre-Israel Jerusalem were called the Tsedeks. Melchizedek is from Meleck meaning King and Tsedek meaning righteousness. Thus, king of righteousness. He was the King of Salem meaning peace. This Salem would later be called Jerusalem meaning foundation of peace. In Joshua 10:1 we encounter another Tsedek of Salem called Adoni-Tsedek meaning lord of righteousness. The difference between these to men is the deterioration of the worship from the time of Melch-Tsedek to Adoni-Tsedek.
C. The nature of Melchizedek – He was a man. “Now consider how great this man was....” The word man in not represented in the text either by ἄνθρωπος nor ἀνήρ. It is provided by the gender of the pronoun οὗτος which is nominative masculine, singular for "this one," thus, this man.
1. The fact that he is a High Priest of God demands that he is of the human race. In 5:1 we learn that every High Priest is taken from among men.
2. As a man, he had a genealogy. “Whose genealogy was not derived from them (the Levites).” This is written in the possessive which says that he had a genealogy but, that it was a genealogy that was not traced from the priestly tribe of Levi.
II. Melchizedek is Both King and Priest, 1-2.
Melchizedek is only one of many shadows of Christ in the Old Testament. He is the example of how the function of both offices can are fulfilled in one man. The two offices of king and priest are manifestly contrary to one another in as much as the administration of the one stands in stark opposition to the other. As king, he is the administrator of justice to the sinner. As priest, he is the administrator of mercy to the sinner. Mercy cannot satisfy the demands of justice for the sinner goes unpunished. On the other hand, when justice is administered to the sinner, there is a complete absence of mercy because the penalty for sin is death. So, how can both offices be effected in one man to render both justice and mercy at the same time?
A. As King, he renders the sentence of death to the sinner. “The person who sins, will die,” Ezekiel 18:20. Because the demand for justice must be met in order for God's holiness to be satisfied, someone must die for sin. It is God's justice that preserves his holiness so for God to allow sin to go unpunished is a violation of his nature.
B. As High Priest, he must supply mercy to the sinner for this is the function of the office. The sinner is guilty and it is imperative that the sin be punished but, as Priest, he must pardon the offender and allow him to go unpunished, 4:14-16. How then does he both demand justice and extend mercy to the sinner?
Jesus himself pays the penalty for all sin for all time for all men. Calvary is the satisfaction of God to extradite his justice on the sins of humanity. Thus, as High Priest, he is able to pardon those who will appropriate to themselves the blood of atonement, 2Thessalonians 1:8-9.
III. A High Priest Without Genealogy, 3.
A. “Without father, mother, or genealogy” - Like Jesus, Melchizedek does not receive his priesthood from a predecessor. In the Levitical system, the high priest was descended only through the line of Aaron.7, 1Chronicles 6:50-52 but, the office of the high priest was not passed on to Melchizedek by his father, nor did he in turn pass it on to his heir. In other words, his is a one-man-forever-priesthood.
B. “Having neither beginning of days nor end of life.” In this there are three possibilities.
1. That this refers to the person of Melchizedek the man. Some argue from this that Melchizedek was not a man but some supernatural being who was neither born of human parents not had a beginning or end of life. But, as the text says, he was a man and as such, he had a past, 6. Some view this with the preceding statement as simply a Hebraism which stresses the obscurity of his genealogy and posterity. Perhaps.
2. That this refers not to the man himself but to his priesthood. This priesthood is unlike that of the Levitical system. We can look back at Sinai and see where the Levitical priesthood had its beginning of days with the anointing of Aaron and his sons, Exodus 28:1ff. We can then look forward from there to the cross and see where this priesthood saw its end of life. Now, a new and greater covenant is inaugurated in Jesus “according to a the power of an endless life.” But, this may not apply to just the priesthood apart from the man because this is a one man priesthood and apart from the man there is no priesthood.
3. That this refers to the man as a high priest. As a man he had a beginning of days and an end of life. As high priest, he has neither but remains a priest continually. This contrasts the priests of the Levitical system whose “beginning of days” began at the age of twenty-five when they began to serve as priests. They reached their “end of life” at the age of fifty when they completed their appointed time of priestly service, Numbers 8:24-25.
C. “But made like the Son of God.” Here, the order is reversed. In 6:20, Christ is presented as a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Now, Melchizedek is said to be a High Priest who was made like the Son of God. Like everything else that is type, Melchizedek is the shadow of the reality. This is like the building of the tabernacle in Exodus 25:40 being built according to the “pattern shown to you on the mountain.” Everything that is shadow must be patterned according to the substance it represents. The substance ALWAYS precedes the type. It must reflect the reality. Jesus is not a type of himself. The reality can never serve as the representation or shadow.
D. He “remains a priest continually.” His priesthood is uninterrupted even by death. He leaves his office to no one else. Although Melchizedek has been dead for many centuries, he is still the central figure in the one man forever priesthood. Like the Son of God, he carries his priest beyond the grave. His priesthood, in contrast to that of the Levites is not bound by the physical - “not according to the law of fleshly commandment,” 15-16. This fleshly commandment says that the Levitical priest must end his days of service at the age of 50. The High Priest ended his days of service at his death. In contrast, the priesthood of Melchizedek is greater. He continues as the High Priest of his priesthood even though he is dead, 8. Jesus cannot occupy two existing priestly offices. Since both high priests exist forever what would this have to say about the theory that Jesus was Melchizedek?
IV. The Greatness of Melchizedek, 1-10.
A. As priest, Melchizedek was greater than the patriarch Abraham, 1-4. In Genesis 14, Abraham had just finished demonstrating his own greatness among men in the defeat of Chedolaomer and the three kings who were with him. No other armies had been able to stand against this king of Elam yet, Abraham destroyed him using 318 trained servants and the accompaniment of the combined forces of Mamre, Eschol, and Aner – the Amorite brothers. The fact that Melchizedek came out to meet Abraham after his victory bringing bread and wine itself speaks of Abraham's greatness. Even Melchizedek, who is the greater, pays honor to the patriarch. But, as verse 7 says, "the lesser is blessed by the greater." The fact of Melchizedek's greatness in demonstrated in two ways.
1. Abraham, under no legal obligation to do so, payed tithes to Melchizedek giving him one tent of the Abraham's share of the spoils. Melchizedek does not come out for the purpose of collecting anything from Abraham but to honor and bless him. Abraham, of his own accord, gives one tenth to Melchizedek.
2. Melchizedek bless Abraham, Genesis 14:19-20.
a. Thanks, praise, and congratulations were given to Abraham for his victory. In this, Melchizedek recognized Abraham as belonging to the Most High God.
b. Thanks, praise, and glorification were also given to God as the causative agent of the victory.
* God is the Most High Preeminent one.
* God is the possessor of heaven and earth.
* God is the deliver of the enemy.
B. As priest, Melchizedek is greater than Levi, 5-10.
1. The Levites had a legal right to receive tithes. This was the priests portion. This was needed for the support of the priests and the upkeep of the temple. Out of this also the priests provided the blood sacrifice for the poorest among the people.
2. Yet through Abraham, Levi is represented as having paid tithes himself to Melchizedek.
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Whats this "we" thing? You? Why is that? No, no one owes me an apology, seriously I just jumped on the thread read over the OP and was basically like, "Yeah, I sympathize for ya, because that made it uninteresting even for me, that was tough for me" LOL (and was just going to take off) and not join in.
I think there is something wrong with my brain because so much looks like chinese when someone gives more of a discourse, "a general overview" of a thing, it happens all the time with me, "I just go blank". Besides, I dont have a large vocabulary and some folks are much smarter than me when it come to wielding words around and putting things neatly into concepts and talking about them whereas I really struggle with it.
I kid you not, I was on RickyZ's thread today and was working on my reply for over 5 hours (only 3 paragraphs) and I couldnt get it to come across the way I wanted so I never posted it. I just struggle to communicate the way its often expected of me and oftentimes I just cant comprehend what someone else is saying (it will become more laborsome for them to explain, so I just figured I would just say I dont understand but then they might feel I am being offensive or something, Im not, I really dont understand people that well. I try to find something I can agree with and go off of that, which is helpful. Thanks for the kind words, I seek him for things I dont understand daily myself, love the word and interlocking these things the best I can I find that both fun and challenging, to do it without touching it (sort of a mental game I play with myself which I love but not many others do) That sort of thing.
God bless you
I think there is something wrong with my brain because so much looks like chinese when someone gives more of a discourse, "a general overview" of a thing, it happens all the time with me, "I just go blank". Besides, I dont have a large vocabulary and some folks are much smarter than me when it come to wielding words around and putting things neatly into concepts and talking about them whereas I really struggle with it.
I kid you not, I was on RickyZ's thread today and was working on my reply for over 5 hours (only 3 paragraphs) and I couldnt get it to come across the way I wanted so I never posted it. I just struggle to communicate the way its often expected of me and oftentimes I just cant comprehend what someone else is saying (it will become more laborsome for them to explain, so I just figured I would just say I dont understand but then they might feel I am being offensive or something, Im not, I really dont understand people that well. I try to find something I can agree with and go off of that, which is helpful. Thanks for the kind words, I seek him for things I dont understand daily myself, love the word and interlocking these things the best I can I find that both fun and challenging, to do it without touching it (sort of a mental game I play with myself which I love but not many others do) That sort of thing.
God bless you
Part Two
V. A Change is Needed in the Priesthood and in the Law, 11-19.
A. The priesthood had to be changed, 11-17.
1. The means of perfection could not be obtained through the Levitical system. Perfection is acceptability before God. The former system could not permit one beyond the veil because it could not make one righteous/perfect.
a. It could not cleanse the conscience, 9:7-10.
b. It could not take away sin, 10:1-4,11.
c. It could not satisfy the spiritual need of man for it was strictly for the flesh, 9:13. This was nothing more than ceremonial cleansing.
2. A priesthood was needed by which perfection is possible and this would require a priesthood of a different than that of Aaron.
3. It required a High Priest whose appointment was not governed by:
a. The Law – The law made no provision for one of another tribe to officiate at the altar, 13. Jesus is of the tribe of Judah.
b. The flesh – This, by its very nature presents limitations of service. Priests were appointed according to the fleshly order and had limited days of service, 23, Numbers 20:25-29.
c. The commandment – The commandment governed only a fleshly priesthood which was weak and transitory. It governed the service of the earthly sanctuary and could not reach into the more perfect tabernacle which was heaven itself. The bleed of these sacrifices could never reach beyond the altar upon which it was sprinkled.
4. It required a High Priest whose appointment is governed by:
a. Power – This is the power to perfect. The law was powerless to make perfect but, this High Priest is able to make perfect forever those who are being sanctified, 10:14.
b. Endlessness – His appointment extends even beyond the grave and stresses not just the duration of his office but also the quality of his mediation.
c. Life – This is spiritual, live-giving. Here, there is found no weakness for here is a High Priest who is able to “save to the uttermost,” 25. This governs the service of the true tabernacle in heaven itself. It is the reality and cannot minister on the foundation of shadow.
5. The first priesthood was transitory, 17. The announcement of another priesthood to come shows the transitory nature and the insufficiency of the first. The Psalmist announced the coming of a Priest of a different order and of a different type. This automatically made the first priesthood old just as the announcement of another covenant made the first covenant old, 8:23.
B. Since the priesthood was changed, the Law must also be changed, 12,18-19. The Law cannot stand apart from the priesthood upon which it is established. The priesthood is the foundation upon which the law was given. Without the priesthood there would have been no need for the Law for there was already a law in effect – the law of sin and death which said – you sin, you die. When the foundation of the priesthood which was its superstructure was taken away, then the law falls for lack of support.
1. The former commandment is annulled, done away with, deprived of force, made void, frustrated, or abolished, 18.
a. Because of its weakness – man, Romans 8:3.
b. Because of its unprofitability – It could not make one righteousness, Romans 8:4.
c. Because it could not make one perfect – It could not remove sin, 10:1-2. The Law could declare one perfect if one never sinned. Christ is the example of this. But, our problem resides in the fact that all of us have already sinned.
2. The result of the “better hope” is approachability to God, 19.
a. Because of its strength it frees us from the curse of the Law, Galatians 3:10-13.
b. Because of its profitability it made us righteousness, 2Corinthians 5:21, Jeremiah 23:6 and 33:16.
c. Because it made us perfect – NO MORE SIN, 10:16-22.
VI. Jesus is a High Priest By a Greater Appointment, 20-22.
A. Aaron was appointed without an oath, 21. God did not bind himself to a fleshly priesthood to satisfy the need for human redemption nor did he guarantee the bringing in of a better covenant established on a priesthood that is fleshly, transitory, and was in constant change.
B. Jesus' appointment was with an oath, 20-21. God stakes everything in the appointment of this High Priest. He established duration, quality, and perfection of this one-man-forever-priest. The interposing with an oath insures the certainty of the greater priesthood and that this High Priest will never give place to another.
C. “The Lord has sworn and will not repent...” God will not change his mind on the matter. There will be no changing of the plans to suit the circumstances. “You are a priest forever.”
D. The fact that Jesus' appointment was made with an oath shows the superiority of this High Priest over Aaron. Aaron's appointment was according to the ceremonial washings, 16.
1. The appointment of Aaron, Leviticus 8:1-9:4. Established through the repeated shedding of blood.
a. The priests were washed with water, 6
b. They were clothed with holy garments, 7-9,13.
c. Sin offerings were made on their behalf, 14-17.
d. Burnt offering was made for their consecration - They are being set apart unto Jehovah, 18-21.
e. Offering was made for their ordination - Probably the peace offering, 22-29, (3:1-17).
f. The blood of this offering was applied to the lobe of the right ear for the hearing of the word of God. It is applied the thumb of the right hand for the doing of the word of God. It is then applied to the great toe of the right foot for walking in the commandments of God, 23.
g. They were anointed with the sprinkling of the oil and blood. This was for dedication to the Lord, 30, (see Hebrews 9:18-22).
h. They were given to eat of the ram of ordination, 31-32. This was probably the eating of the peace offering.
i. They underwent seven days of ordination, 33-36. They were not permitted to go out of the tent of meeting under penalty of death.
j. On the eighth day, they were to offer for themselves a sin offering and a burnt offering and then they were ready to stand to make atonement for the people, 9:1-4.
The one thing that was missing in all of this ceremony was the oath. The covenant can be no better than the priesthood upon which it stands. If a better covenant was to be inaugurated, there must first be the appointment of a better priesthood.
2. The appointment of Jesus – “The Lord has sworn and will not repent, You are a priest forever....” Now, what are the elements missing in this appointment? This appointment is minus all of the ceremonial ingredients of the Levetical requirements. This is establishment by oath. This too shows the superiority of the oath. The oath did what all the commandments could not do with all of its requirements and ordinances. It inaugurated an abiding priesthood. The oath set Jesus apart as our guarantee of a better arrangement, 22.
VII. The Distinctive Nature of Our Great High Priest, 23-28.
Jesus continues as high priest via the resurrection for the purpose of intercession on behalf of all those who “draw near to God through him.” What a sharp contrast to those high priests of old who could not save at all nor could they intercede forever. Those high priests were forever changing. From Aaron in Leviticus 8 to Phinnias in AD 70, there were 81 men who served and high priest. But, in Jesus the same High Priest lives forever to make intercession and to save. Unlike those of the former order we are privileged to have the same High Priest that our fathers had and their fathers before them and so on. What kind of high priest was needed according to verses 26-29? To understand the importance of a thing, one must first show the need.
- We needed a high priest who was holy. This was illustrated in Aaron by the miter or turban upon which was the inscription “Righteous to Jehovah” on his forehead. Aaron was not intrinsically righteous. The inscription was to remind him of the need for righteousness in his office.
- We needed a high priest who was harmless.
- We needed a high priest who was undefiled. The continuous need for Aaron to constantly offer sacrifices for himself shows that he was continuously under defilement.
- We needed a high priest who was separated from sinners. The fact that Aaron must first offer for his own sins testifies to the fact that he too was a sinner.
- We needed a high priest who was higher than the heavens.
- We needed a high priest who has no need to offer first for his own sins before he can intercede for the people. If Jesus must offer himself first for himself then he could not offer for the people for he has only one sacrifice to offer.
- We needed a high priest who was NOT appointed by the Law because the Law appointed men of imperfection.
- We needed a high priest who was without weakness.
- We needed a high priest who had been appointed by oath as opposed to cereminy.
- We needed a high priest who had been perfected – One who was without want of anything necessary to completion, perfect.
V. A Change is Needed in the Priesthood and in the Law, 11-19.
A. The priesthood had to be changed, 11-17.
1. The means of perfection could not be obtained through the Levitical system. Perfection is acceptability before God. The former system could not permit one beyond the veil because it could not make one righteous/perfect.
a. It could not cleanse the conscience, 9:7-10.
b. It could not take away sin, 10:1-4,11.
c. It could not satisfy the spiritual need of man for it was strictly for the flesh, 9:13. This was nothing more than ceremonial cleansing.
2. A priesthood was needed by which perfection is possible and this would require a priesthood of a different than that of Aaron.
3. It required a High Priest whose appointment was not governed by:
a. The Law – The law made no provision for one of another tribe to officiate at the altar, 13. Jesus is of the tribe of Judah.
b. The flesh – This, by its very nature presents limitations of service. Priests were appointed according to the fleshly order and had limited days of service, 23, Numbers 20:25-29.
c. The commandment – The commandment governed only a fleshly priesthood which was weak and transitory. It governed the service of the earthly sanctuary and could not reach into the more perfect tabernacle which was heaven itself. The bleed of these sacrifices could never reach beyond the altar upon which it was sprinkled.
4. It required a High Priest whose appointment is governed by:
a. Power – This is the power to perfect. The law was powerless to make perfect but, this High Priest is able to make perfect forever those who are being sanctified, 10:14.
b. Endlessness – His appointment extends even beyond the grave and stresses not just the duration of his office but also the quality of his mediation.
c. Life – This is spiritual, live-giving. Here, there is found no weakness for here is a High Priest who is able to “save to the uttermost,” 25. This governs the service of the true tabernacle in heaven itself. It is the reality and cannot minister on the foundation of shadow.
5. The first priesthood was transitory, 17. The announcement of another priesthood to come shows the transitory nature and the insufficiency of the first. The Psalmist announced the coming of a Priest of a different order and of a different type. This automatically made the first priesthood old just as the announcement of another covenant made the first covenant old, 8:23.
B. Since the priesthood was changed, the Law must also be changed, 12,18-19. The Law cannot stand apart from the priesthood upon which it is established. The priesthood is the foundation upon which the law was given. Without the priesthood there would have been no need for the Law for there was already a law in effect – the law of sin and death which said – you sin, you die. When the foundation of the priesthood which was its superstructure was taken away, then the law falls for lack of support.
1. The former commandment is annulled, done away with, deprived of force, made void, frustrated, or abolished, 18.
a. Because of its weakness – man, Romans 8:3.
b. Because of its unprofitability – It could not make one righteousness, Romans 8:4.
c. Because it could not make one perfect – It could not remove sin, 10:1-2. The Law could declare one perfect if one never sinned. Christ is the example of this. But, our problem resides in the fact that all of us have already sinned.
2. The result of the “better hope” is approachability to God, 19.
a. Because of its strength it frees us from the curse of the Law, Galatians 3:10-13.
b. Because of its profitability it made us righteousness, 2Corinthians 5:21, Jeremiah 23:6 and 33:16.
c. Because it made us perfect – NO MORE SIN, 10:16-22.
VI. Jesus is a High Priest By a Greater Appointment, 20-22.
A. Aaron was appointed without an oath, 21. God did not bind himself to a fleshly priesthood to satisfy the need for human redemption nor did he guarantee the bringing in of a better covenant established on a priesthood that is fleshly, transitory, and was in constant change.
B. Jesus' appointment was with an oath, 20-21. God stakes everything in the appointment of this High Priest. He established duration, quality, and perfection of this one-man-forever-priest. The interposing with an oath insures the certainty of the greater priesthood and that this High Priest will never give place to another.
C. “The Lord has sworn and will not repent...” God will not change his mind on the matter. There will be no changing of the plans to suit the circumstances. “You are a priest forever.”
D. The fact that Jesus' appointment was made with an oath shows the superiority of this High Priest over Aaron. Aaron's appointment was according to the ceremonial washings, 16.
1. The appointment of Aaron, Leviticus 8:1-9:4. Established through the repeated shedding of blood.
a. The priests were washed with water, 6
b. They were clothed with holy garments, 7-9,13.
c. Sin offerings were made on their behalf, 14-17.
d. Burnt offering was made for their consecration - They are being set apart unto Jehovah, 18-21.
e. Offering was made for their ordination - Probably the peace offering, 22-29, (3:1-17).
f. The blood of this offering was applied to the lobe of the right ear for the hearing of the word of God. It is applied the thumb of the right hand for the doing of the word of God. It is then applied to the great toe of the right foot for walking in the commandments of God, 23.
g. They were anointed with the sprinkling of the oil and blood. This was for dedication to the Lord, 30, (see Hebrews 9:18-22).
h. They were given to eat of the ram of ordination, 31-32. This was probably the eating of the peace offering.
i. They underwent seven days of ordination, 33-36. They were not permitted to go out of the tent of meeting under penalty of death.
j. On the eighth day, they were to offer for themselves a sin offering and a burnt offering and then they were ready to stand to make atonement for the people, 9:1-4.
The one thing that was missing in all of this ceremony was the oath. The covenant can be no better than the priesthood upon which it stands. If a better covenant was to be inaugurated, there must first be the appointment of a better priesthood.
2. The appointment of Jesus – “The Lord has sworn and will not repent, You are a priest forever....” Now, what are the elements missing in this appointment? This appointment is minus all of the ceremonial ingredients of the Levetical requirements. This is establishment by oath. This too shows the superiority of the oath. The oath did what all the commandments could not do with all of its requirements and ordinances. It inaugurated an abiding priesthood. The oath set Jesus apart as our guarantee of a better arrangement, 22.
VII. The Distinctive Nature of Our Great High Priest, 23-28.
Jesus continues as high priest via the resurrection for the purpose of intercession on behalf of all those who “draw near to God through him.” What a sharp contrast to those high priests of old who could not save at all nor could they intercede forever. Those high priests were forever changing. From Aaron in Leviticus 8 to Phinnias in AD 70, there were 81 men who served and high priest. But, in Jesus the same High Priest lives forever to make intercession and to save. Unlike those of the former order we are privileged to have the same High Priest that our fathers had and their fathers before them and so on. What kind of high priest was needed according to verses 26-29? To understand the importance of a thing, one must first show the need.
- We needed a high priest who was holy. This was illustrated in Aaron by the miter or turban upon which was the inscription “Righteous to Jehovah” on his forehead. Aaron was not intrinsically righteous. The inscription was to remind him of the need for righteousness in his office.
- We needed a high priest who was harmless.
- We needed a high priest who was undefiled. The continuous need for Aaron to constantly offer sacrifices for himself shows that he was continuously under defilement.
- We needed a high priest who was separated from sinners. The fact that Aaron must first offer for his own sins testifies to the fact that he too was a sinner.
- We needed a high priest who was higher than the heavens.
- We needed a high priest who has no need to offer first for his own sins before he can intercede for the people. If Jesus must offer himself first for himself then he could not offer for the people for he has only one sacrifice to offer.
- We needed a high priest who was NOT appointed by the Law because the Law appointed men of imperfection.
- We needed a high priest who was without weakness.
- We needed a high priest who had been appointed by oath as opposed to cereminy.
- We needed a high priest who had been perfected – One who was without want of anything necessary to completion, perfect.
B
We all need to be more charitable, loving, respectful and yes humble in these chat rooms and when conversing with
all men. There is nothing to forgive. I can recognize the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of salvation, that you are wearing.
I have studied the word of God for 40 years. My pain and my great joy are fruit gleaned from our Fathers garden. You are swifter than you know. Peace to you pilgrimpassingthru
P S I love your screen name!
all men. There is nothing to forgive. I can recognize the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of salvation, that you are wearing.
I have studied the word of God for 40 years. My pain and my great joy are fruit gleaned from our Fathers garden. You are swifter than you know. Peace to you pilgrimpassingthru
P S I love your screen name!
How does knowing who Melchizedek was help us in our walk with Jesus?
Moving on, Its fine to debate issues like these with other Christians. But we need to realize many on here are probably not Born again Christians and have no clue what we are talking about.
I feel we need to focus our topics on bringing the Truth to those who do not know Jesus and those who are caught up in a false Church that teaches lies and not the Truth.
Maybe what we need is a new chat room just only for the discussion of very deep and complex Doctrines for those who have walked with Jesus for a long period of time. Or a new chat room just for those new in Christ or are looking for Christ.
What do you think badger58?
Moving on, Its fine to debate issues like these with other Christians. But we need to realize many on here are probably not Born again Christians and have no clue what we are talking about.
I feel we need to focus our topics on bringing the Truth to those who do not know Jesus and those who are caught up in a false Church that teaches lies and not the Truth.
Maybe what we need is a new chat room just only for the discussion of very deep and complex Doctrines for those who have walked with Jesus for a long period of time. Or a new chat room just for those new in Christ or are looking for Christ.
What do you think badger58?
B
I like you very much pilgrimpassingthru
I feel simpatico to your position.
I'm not that bright either, but our Father in heaven
Is not discouraged by that little fact. He's a great teacher!
I need a friend like you. I want to believe that there are lots like you, but my fear is that you are one in a million. Lol
I feel simpatico to your position.
I'm not that bright either, but our Father in heaven
Is not discouraged by that little fact. He's a great teacher!
I need a friend like you. I want to believe that there are lots like you, but my fear is that you are one in a million. Lol
This is what I mean...
Too many want to just keep talking and lose sight of the ONE THING That is needed and needful...
THE TRUTH of CHRIST and the GOSPEL which, if all were like little children, would have and should have been sufficient.
It's just that we keep talking and talking and talking...
I don't know why...I just wish that CHRIST alone would be preached so that all men might hear THE GOSPEL clearly instead of just the "additional noise"...
I am not meaning to offend anyone...
I talk a lot.
I know it...
But I also know this...that we had all that was needed and needful and were made RICH the MOMENT we heard the GOSPEL of OUR SALVATION (heard it as it should be heard as THE WORD of GOD from GOD) and believed and were washed and gathered up and marked as belonging to GOD in CHRIST JESUS...
Too many want to just keep talking and lose sight of the ONE THING That is needed and needful...
THE TRUTH of CHRIST and the GOSPEL which, if all were like little children, would have and should have been sufficient.
It's just that we keep talking and talking and talking...
I don't know why...I just wish that CHRIST alone would be preached so that all men might hear THE GOSPEL clearly instead of just the "additional noise"...
I am not meaning to offend anyone...
I talk a lot.
I know it...
But I also know this...that we had all that was needed and needful and were made RICH the MOMENT we heard the GOSPEL of OUR SALVATION (heard it as it should be heard as THE WORD of GOD from GOD) and believed and were washed and gathered up and marked as belonging to GOD in CHRIST JESUS...
Badger?
Babies can't stomach "meat".
Do you agree?
(that is what KenAllen is saying to you).
It is great to talk about Melchizadek...but if you are NOT clear in mentioning that Melchizadek was simply a shadow and prefigure of CHRIST, you actually put babies in a worse position...
You see, it implies that somehow we are waiting for "another"?
And that is NOT TRUTH.
Babies can't stomach "meat".
Do you agree?
(that is what KenAllen is saying to you).
It is great to talk about Melchizadek...but if you are NOT clear in mentioning that Melchizadek was simply a shadow and prefigure of CHRIST, you actually put babies in a worse position...
You see, it implies that somehow we are waiting for "another"?
And that is NOT TRUTH.
