Better by Far - 7
The Excellency of Christ in the Book of Hebrews
The book of Hebrews provides reasons why Hebrew converts to Christianity shouldn't return to the Jewish faith. Some were tempted to do so in order to stop the severe persecution from their fellow Jewish countrymen. They also felt they should stand with them against the threat of an imminent attack by the Romans. The writer of this book is showing them that a return to the old ways is a backward step. It's to go from the greater to the lesser. Christianity is superior to Judaism because Jesus Christ is better by far than the angels, Moses, Joshua and Aaron. Chapter 7, that we're looking at today, picks up the theme again of the superiority of Christ's priesthood to that of Aaron's. Paul ended Chapter 6 by saying this about Jesus in Verse 20, "He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek". In order to see the importance of this statement we need to see who Melchizedek was and why his priesthood was significant.
Melchizedek is first mentioned here and shows us how important Melchizedek is. Chapter 7 Verse 1 says, "This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God most high. He met Abraham returning from defeat of the Kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything". The name Melchizedek means 'King of righteous'. A persons name in Bible times wasn't simply a title. It actually revealed the persons character. Melchizedek lived a righteous life. He was a godly man. He lived Salem in Canaan. He was surrounded by Canaanite idolatry and ungodliness. He maintained a holy life in a decadent generation. He's our example in a godless society. We read in Philippians Chapter 2 Verse 15 that we, "may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe, as you hold out the word of life". Does that describe you? Melchizedek was the 'King of Salem' which means 'King of peace'. Righteousness and peace go together. As you live the righteous life you enjoy the peace of God. The world is full of turmoil and unrest. Why is that? There's no righteousness before God so there's no peace. Melchizedek met Abraham and blessed him. That must have been a great encouragement to Abraham after his battle with the kings. It's good to give encouragement, and a word of comfort, to those who are battling with the opposition of the world, the flesh, and the Devil. As 'King of Righteousness and peace' Melchizedek is a type of Christ. A 'Type' is a person or thing in the Old Testament that's a picture of the person and work of Jesus in some way. Jesus is the ultimate 'King of Righteousness'. He is the author of it. He perfects it. He rules in righteousness. Jesus is the 'King of Peace'. He gives peace of heart and mind to His subjects. Jesus said in John Chapter 14 Verse 27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you". Real peace from a troubled conscience and a restless heart is found in Jesus Christ. Do you know Him as your Prince of Peace.
Melchizedek was "the priest of God most high". It's in this capacity that we see how he's like Jesus Christ, and why Jesus' priesthood is better that Aaron's. Paul explains why. First, Christ's priesthood is of a higher order than Aaron's. Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek. A 'tithe' is a tenth part of the whole. Verse 4 says, "Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder". Abraham was blessed by Melchizedek. Verse 6 says, "and he blesses him who had the promises". The Paul arrives at the logical implications. He says in Verse 7, "and without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater". Indeed, Levi the priestly tribe of Aaron, were in effect Abraham their ancestor when he offered the tenth of the plunder. So Paul rightly says, "Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor. The one who receives he tithe is greater than the one who gives it. Second, Christ's priesthood is more effective than Aaron's. Verse 8 says, "The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless for the law made nothing perfect". When one priest died another took his place. The sacrifices they brought could never take sin away. There was an imperfection in the Aaronic priesthood. A more effective and glorious priesthood was required. Melchizedek was a perfect picture of Christ. We read in verse 3 that he was, "without beginning of days and end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever". Melchizedek did have a genealogy. There was simply no record of it in the book of Genesis. This becomes a picture of the eternal nature of Jesus Christ. Since He is eternal so is His priesthood. Verse 16 says that it's based on, "the power of an indestructible life". Jesus Christ also dealt with sin permanently. Verse 27 tells us, "Unlike the other high priests He does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and then for all the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself". The offering of Christ on the cross perfectly atoned for your sin. Christ's priesthood was more firmly established than Aaron's. Aaron's priesthood was based upon ancestry. Jesus' priesthood was established by an oath. Verse 21 says, "He became a priest with an oath when God said to him: 'The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: you are a priest forever".
The priesthood of Jesus Christ is superior to the Levitical or Aaronic priesthood because it's indestructible, eternal, perfect in both the person of the priest and in the perfection of the sacrifices. None of that could be said of Aaron's priesthood.
How should you respond to your great high priest Jesus Christ? If you are already a believer then follow the example of Abraham. He gave a tenth of the whole. How much more should we give ourselves to Christ because of all that He has done for us. In the fourth verse of his hymn, "When I survey the wondrous cross", Isaac Watts wrote, "Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small, Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all".
For anyone who as yet has not trusted Christ as Saviour we read in Verse 26, "such a high priest meets our needs". You need a perfect priest and sacrifice that can deal with your sin. You need forgiveness for your sin. It can be found nowhere else but in the Lord Jesus Christ. Because of the perfection of who He is and what He has done Verse 25 tells us, "Therefore, He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He ever lives to intercede for them". There is a living Saviour exalted above the heavens. He can meet you deepest need today. Trust Him to do so.