• Hebrews 5 – He told them they were not spiritually mature enough to process the thoughts on Melchizedek.
• He dealt with milk and meat in Hebrews 6.

THE GREATNESS OF MELCHIZEDEK
HEBREWS 7
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God Most High,

• Melchizedek was both king and priest, as was Jesus.
• This never occurred in Aaron’s Priesthood.
• Salem – is Jerusalem according to:

Psalm 76:2 God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel. 2 His tent is in Salem, His dwelling place in Zion. [1]

• Melchizedek was priest to the Most High God.
• God over all nations.
• Melchizedek was priest to God and all Nations.
• Aaron was just priest to the nation of Israel.
• If Melchizedek’s priesthood is a shadow of Jesus’ priesthood, then Jesus can minister to all nations.

met Abraham and blessed him as he returned from defeating the kings, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything.

• Story of Abraham is found in Genesis 14.
• Abraham defeats the kings and rescues Lot then gives Melchizedek a tenth of his spoils.
• Melchizedek blessed Abraham.
• Melchizedek is greater than Abraham.

First, his name means king of righteousness, then also, king of Salem, meaning king of peace.

• Melchizedek was king over Jerusalem.

3 Without father, mother, or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

• Scripture does not record his genealogy.
• He still had a father and mother, we just can’t trace his lineage.
• There is no record of birth of death so his priesthood is perpetual. No breaks.
• No record of death insinuates that it is eternal.
• Jesus’s priesthood is eternal.
• Melchizedek resembles Christ… he is not Christ.
• Where is this high priest now?
• In you… you resemble Christ now.

4 Now consider how great this man was: even Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the plunder to him. 5 The sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have a command according to the law to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers and sisters—though they have also descended from Abraham. 6 But one without this lineage collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. 7 Without a doubt, the inferior is blessed by the superior.

• Aaron received tithes from the sons of Abraham.
• Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek.
• Who is greater?

8 In the one case, men who will die receive a tenth, but in the other case, Scripture testifies that he lives. 9 And in a sense Levi himself, who receives a tenth, has paid a tenth through Abraham, 10 for he was still within his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

• Men who will die – mortal man
• Scripture never records Melchizedek’s death.
• Levi, of the Levitical Priesthood, was just a “gene” in Abraham when Abraham met Melchizedek.
• Who is greater?

 
A SUPERIOR PRIESTHOOD
11 Now if perfection came through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest to appear, said to be according to the order of Melchizedek and not according to the order of Aaron?

• The Levitical Priesthood was established under the Mosaic Law.
• There would have been no need for another priesthood if the Levitcal Priesthood made one perfect.
• The Law made no one perfect… in fact, it showed our imperfection.
• Jesus came along as one who had perfected the Law and was from the order of Melchizedek.

12 For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must be a change of law as well.

• With the establishment of the new priesthood came a new system for living.
• God established the Mosaic Law in which He knew no one could perfect.
• He then had to establish a system, the Levitical Law, to atone/cover our imperfections.
• These laws and system did not remove imperfections… they only made us more aware of our imperfections and a need for a Savior.
• The Law became obsolete.
• The order of Melchizedek was established before the Mosaic & Levital Laws.
• The priesthood of Melchizedek can function without the Law.

13 For the one these things are spoken about belonged to a different tribe. No one from it has served at the altar. 14 Now it is evident that our Lord came from Judah, and Moses said nothing about that tribe concerning priests.

• Jesus came from the lineage of Judah and King David.
• Aaron came from the tribe of Levi.
• High priests were only Levites.
• Levites who were not priests served as ministers.

15 And this becomes clearer if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 who did not become a priest based on a legal regulation about physical descent but based on the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it has been testified:
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek.

• Psalm 110:4 – This is a quote… proving that David was not only a King but also prophet.
• Another priest – Jesus
• Not an additional priest.
• The old priesthood was established by fulfilling a legal command “law”.
• This represents death.
• The sacrifices in the old priesthood just died.
• The new priesthood was established by an indestructible life.
• Jesus died, was buried and rose from the dead.
• This represents life.
• Never dying… for eternity… forever!

18 So the previous command is annulled because it was weak and unprofitable

• The Law has been set aside for the believer.
• 10 commandments in the court house… not in the Church.
• We are no longer under the Law but under grace
• Romans 6:14 - For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace.[2]

19 (for the law perfected nothing), but a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

• Under the old system, only the High Priest could approach the presence of God once a year (for atonement).
• Under the new covenant, the throne is always accessible to all believers.
• We now have the ability to have a relationship with God, through Jesus our High Priest, and become intimate with Him.
• Knowing this truth makes it hard for me to celebrate what He has done for me just a couple days out of the year.

20 None of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath made by the one who said to him:
The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever.”,
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.

• God made an oath that He will not break with Jesus.
• Aaron’s Priesthood was never guaranteed.
• Aaron’s Priesthood could end at any time… and it did at the cross.
• The veil was torn so that we could have access to God.

23 Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. 24 But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently.

• Jesus will not be succeeded by another priest.

25 Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.

• always = completely
• Our salvation is not partially done… it is complete.
• Jesus is the one who saves and is responsible for keeping us saved.
• It is not by our works but by His gift and grace.
• For us to lose our salvation, Jesus would have to cease to exist.
• We are secure in Jesus.
• Jesus is always interceding for us.

26 For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

• Jesus differed than the Levitical Priests.
• Jesus was perfect in behavior.
• Levite Priests were sinners.
• Jesus is even separated from sinners by being in heaven.

27 He doesn’t need to offer sacrifices every day, as high priests do—first for their own sins, then for those of the people. He did this once for all time when he offered himself.

• Jesus never had to made a sacrifice for His own sin.
• He took care of the WHOLE sin issue on the cross.

28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak, but the promise of the oath, which came after the law, appoints a Son, who has been perfected forever.[3]

• Levitical priests were because they died as well as sinned.
• Jesus was resurrected after the Law came and has perfected it forever.

It is Jesus, our High Priest, who makes us perfect.

[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. 2009 (Ps 76:1–2). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. 2009 (Ro 6:14). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Heb 7:1–28). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

• I don’t get frustrated… it is what it is…
• I just teach

 

• What is milk and what is meat?

THE PROBLEM OF IMMATURITY
HEBREWS 5
11 We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand. 12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. 13 Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.[1]
 
WARNING AGAINST FALLING AWAY
HEBREWS 6
1 Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity,

• We are encouraged to grow spiritually
• This confirms the author wrote this book to believers.

1. not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works,

       - Romans 6:14 - For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.[2]
- Temple sacrifices were under the Law.
- Temple sacrifices were their own dead works.
- We are saved by faith alone.

1. faith in God,

• Where does faith come from?
• Romans 12:3 - 3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.[3]
• They wanted to walk away from their faith and come back to it later after the persecutions had ended.
• You don’t have the ability to put faith on and off.

1. 2 teaching about ritual washings,

• 1 Peter 3:21 - 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, [4]
• This is about publicly severing the ties between Judaism and Christianity. It would become public.
• It will free them up from guilt.

1. laying on of hands,

• Still practicing Law by deciding who was to be commissioned to do certain acts.
• Move beyond this…

1. the resurrection of the dead,

• Sadducees did not believe in resurrections.
• Obviously, Jesus had been resurrected.
• Move on…

1. and eternal judgment.

• God will judge every person without Christ.
• John 3:36 - The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.[5]
• The everyday question… “How can God let people go to hell?” – Free will because He allows us to love.

3 And we will do this if God permits.

• Believers have a choice to continue in their daily ruts or move on.
• It will be God who permits to do so through the grace he supplies.
• I am a testament of that… and so are you…
• Look back at the past… where you have come from.
• Meat…
• Eternal security… can you lose your salvation?
• Keep in historical context.
• It is obvious these next verses are to believers.
• Why would they be receiving persecution if they were not true believers?

4 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened (believers), who tasted
(consumed versus touching, smelling, seeing)

• Hebrews 2:9 – Jesus tasted death.

the heavenly gift, who shared in the Holy Spirit, (only believers did this)5 who tasted God’s good word (rhema… not logos… it had been revealed to them) and the powers of the coming age (end times – Millennium, when believers reign with Christ), 6 and who have fallen away. This is because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding him up to contempt.

• Can a believer walk away from their salvation/justification and come back to it later to be reattached?
• Hebrews 10:10 - By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.[6]
• Hypothetical
• They had to choose to walk on in maturity or die physically.
• Think for just a second…
• How many sins must someone do to walk away from their salvation? One? 100?
• How long after someone sins do they have to wait to be forgiven of that sin? 2-3 days? Until people quit thinking about it?
• If you can never feel secure about your salvation, you will never experience peace in this journey.
• Those who are not sure… have to work hard to “persevere”.
• Those who are secure knows that “perseverance” is trusting the Father who is responsible for keeping us “saved”. It ain’t on me!

 

1. John 1:12 - I am a child of God.
2. John 15:15 - I am Christ's friend.
3. Romans 5:1 - I have been justified (completely forgiven and made righteous) and am at peace with God.
4. Romans 8:17 - I am an heir of God and fellow heir with Christ.
5. 1 Corinthians 1:30 - I have been placed in Christ by God's doing; Christ is now my wisdom from God, my righteousness, my sanctification, and my redemption.
6. 1 Corinthians 6:17 - I am joined to the Lord and am one spirit with Him.
7. 1 Corinthians 12:27 - I am a member of Christ's body (Ephesians 5:30).
8. Ephesians 1:4 - I was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before Him.
9. Philippians 3:20 - I am a citizen of heaven.
10. Colossians 2:10 - I have been made complete in Christ.

7 For the ground that drinks the rain that often falls on it and that produces vegetation useful to those for whom it is cultivated receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and at the end will be burned.

• This is about works… not salvation.
• The subject matter is the ground and the vegetation/thistles are the byproduct.
• What is burnt? The byproduct. The works. Not the ground. Not the believer.
• Believers will be judged with fire at the Judgment Seat… but it will be their works that are burned.
• 2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. [7]
• 1 Corinthians 3:13 - each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work.[8]
• If the Hebrew Christians walked on in maturity, they would receive rewards.
• If the Hebrew Christians returned to Jerusalem to practice sacrifices they would be physically consumed by fire by Titus and the Romans... but still had their salvation intact.

9 Even though we are speaking this way, dearly loved friends, in your case we are confident of things that are better (confident they will produce good fruit) and that pertain to salvation. (confirms to believers)

• He is confident they will walk in their identity if they choose to mature.

10 For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them. 11 Now we desire each of you to demonstrate the same diligence for the full assurance of your hope until the end, 12 so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.

• This is just total encouragement for them to walk on as they already have.
• Look back at how you already persevered.

 
INHERITING THE PROMISE
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself: 14 I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you. (Genesis 22:17)

• Abraham lived a life of faith based upon the promises of a Messiah.
• You live in that promise after the Messiah. Forgiven.

15 And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise.

• This promise to Abraham was unconditional.
• He would not nullify His promise.
• Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac.
• Abraham is the father of the Jewish Nation that has been multiplied over the years.
• Jesus was born a Jew as promised.
• All who believe in Jesus are grafted in (Rom 4:13)

16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute.

• God could swear by no one greater than Him.

17 Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.

• Jesus is our hope… our anchor.

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. 20 Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner, because he has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.[9]

• The Temple is no longer needed.
• Jesus has walked behind the veil in heaven for us.
• We are now that Temple.
• Our high priest, resides inside of us.
• We walk daily knowing Jesus is the forerunner.

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Heb 5:11–14). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Ro 6:14). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Ro 12:3). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (1 Pe 3:21). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Jn 3:36). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Heb 10:10). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (2 Co 5:10). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible (1 Co 3:13). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[9] Christian Standard Bible (Heb 6:1–20). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

Review:

• Redemption Rest
• Canaan Rest
• Sabbath Rest

 
CHRIST, A HIGH PRIEST
HEBREWS 5
1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed in matters pertaining to God for the people, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.

• Every high priest was taken from among men and served men.
• He served as a mediator between God and man.
• He ministered to the people.
• Exodus 28:1 – Priests were descendants of Aaron.

2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he is also clothed with weakness.

• He is sympathetic and gentle to the people because he has experienced life as they have.
• He knows he has the capability to make the same bad decisions.
• Our flesh wants to bust the chops of those sinning.
• Other people want me to control other people’s flesh.
• I have to teach Truth and trust the Spirit in them.

3 Because of this, he must make an offering for his own sins as well as for the people.

• The high priest made bad decisions as well as the people he was mediating for.
• On the Day of Atonement, he would offer a sacrifice for himself and then for others.

4 No one takes this honor on himself; instead, a person is called by God, just as Aaron was.

• You can’t appoint yourself as priest.
• God appointed each high priest.
• Priests were always descendants of Aaron. (Exodus 28:1)
• All priests were Levites.
• Today, you can basically ordain yourself via the internet.

5 In the same way, Christ did not exalt himself to become a high priest, but God who said to him,
You are my Son;
today I have become your Father, (Psalm 2:7)
6 also says in another place,
You are a priest forever
according to the order of Melchizedek. (Psalm 110:4)

• Christ was appointed by God as high priest.
• Psalm 110:4 - The Lord has sworn an oath and will not take it back:
• “You are a priest forever
• according to the pattern of Melchizedek.”[1]
• Melchizedek’s priesthood is eternal.
• Aaronic priesthood was only temporary.
• Melchizedek’s priesthood never lapsed because of death.
• Jesus didn’t become priest until His sacrifice at the cross. He was a prophet… now a priest.

7 During his earthly life, he offered prayers and appeals with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.

• Referring to Christ’s night in Gethsemane.
• Jesus honored God for who He was.
• The author is reminding the Hebrew Christians they need to do the same… in reverence.
• Who is responsible for saving?

8 Although he was the Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.

• This is the difference between walking by your flesh versus walking by your spirit.
• We suffer not only from our decisions to walk in the flesh but by others in the fallen world who do the same.
• A wise man will walk in obedience to the Spirit to avoid the pain & suffering of making bad decisions.

9 After he was perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,

• Perfected as the sacrifice on the cross.
• All the sacrifices were to be spotless offerings.
• “source” – originates from Jesus, author, causes it to happen, a never ending well.
• “eternal” – Not temporary… can’t lose it.
• “obey” here is not directive to earn salvation but a byproduct of those who believe.
• If you have salvation in Christ, it would be natural for you to walk in obedience with the Spirit in you.
• Obey = You listen & walk (do)
• We are saved by faith… not works.

10 and he was declared by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

• Melchizedek’s priesthood is greater than Aaron’s because it is eternal rather than temporary.
• Don’t go back to Aaron’s priesthood ways in Leviticus or you will lose your life in 70 AD.

 
THE PROBLEM OF IMMATURITY
11 We have a great deal to say about this, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become too lazy to understand.

• “this” or “him” – Melchizedek
• It wasn’t a concern to them obviously because they just went back to their old ways.
• It was easier for them… lazy.
• Their laziness was leading them to suffering and pain and even death.
• Don’t give up… keep processing.
• Their choice to sin was leading them to not pursue God.

12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food.

• We need to stay plugged in and motivated… focused.
• When we stop applying what we know… Financial Peace, diets, to do lists, etc. we forget what we know.

13 Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.

• So every week we have to come back here and teach identity.
• What if you start teaching identity to those around you?
• What if the Church actually believed they were already made righteous?
• Ephesians 6:17 - and the sword of the Spirit—which is the word of God.[2]
• ‎This sword is the offensive weapon God provides us. The sword is the Word of God.
• The believer saturates his mind with the Truths of God's Word, the Spirit brings to remembrance the specific verses needed to counter each of the enemy's schemes.

14 But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.[3]

• When we become spiritually mature we have the ability to choose right from wrong and excellent over good.
• We can see things from God’s perspective.
• Spiritual maturity allows us to overcome the evil one and his schemes.
• You have to know that you are already righteous.
• You have the ability to be victorious and not walk around defeated.

Dig deep into His Word.

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Ps 110:4). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Eph 6:17). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Heb 5:1–14). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.