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Continuation of my series through Hebrews.
Chapter 7, Melchizedek. Melchizedek, the king of Salem, the priest of the most anti-type, once again left a tenth part of all the spoils, was, first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is without genealogy.
Like the son of God, he remains a priest perpetually. Now observe how great this man was. Indeed, the sons of Levi descended from Abraham. But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them, no man received tithes, but in that case, one receives them of whom it is witnessed that he lives on.
And, so to speak, through on the basis of it, what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the change of necessity, one concerning another tribe from which no one has officiated at the altar.
This Melchizedek, who has become such, not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible light, for it is attested of him, you are a priest forever. There is a setting aside of a former commandment, which we draw near to God.
And inasmuch as it was so much, the more also Jesus has become. The former priest, on the one hand, exists, he continues forever, holds his priesthood holy, who does not need daily like the progenitor prior to Melchizedek, the Levitical priesthood from which he received the law.
What further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according? Now, indication, the beginning of verse 11, of exactly who this book is being written to.
Oh, Gentile Christians, Hebrew Christians, people who, argumentation of their families and friends, that perfection was through the Levitical priesthood. And certainly they could have gone to certain Old Testament, Old Covenant texts that talked about the establishment of the priesthood, the establishment of the Old Covenant, the people of Israel, and would have said, oh, see, this is to be perpetual, this is to be forever.
And so the argument is being made, and there is a use in the language here about the second-class conditional. Now, if perfection was through Levitical priesthood, the argument is, no, it's not, but here's what would have happened.
If perfection was through the Levitical priesthood, what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek? The argument's fairly straightforward. If it was God's intention that the old ways, the old order, which included the Levitical priest, was to bring about perfection, then why is there this prophetic word in Psalm 110 about some new order, an order about which Moses said nothing?
What is this being a priest after the order of Melchizedek? Why, in a text that the Jews themselves recognized was messianic, that the Jews themselves recognized was referring to one who was to come, why would there be another priestly line mentioned?
That's the argument that's being made. But notice the parenthetical statement. Most English translation, for on the basis of it, the people received the law. Now, what does that mean? The author is foundational to the giving of the law itself, because it's legislation.
I think what is being said here is not that the law came to Moses through a priesthood situation, but that you had the actual application, legislation of the law amongst the people, and this was to be done through the role of the Levitical priests.
They were to make application of God's law in that way. And so the statement is being made, there is an intimate connection between the law and the priesthood under the old covenant, and that is going to then become very important in then in verse 12.
So the argument of verse 11 is, if the Levitical priesthood was enough, if it had been God's intention, that perfection would come through Levitical priesthood. And it's real simple, that's exactly what the Jewish Christians would have been hearing from their families, come back to the old ways.
You've misunderstood, you've been deceived by this Christ cult, and don't you understand that the actual intention of God is that this was going to continue forever. Step back for a moment. What does this tell you once again about the dating of the book of Hebrews?
This book would make that much sense. None. Argumentation would make, it wasn't something to go back to, this book makes no sense. And so the argument being there still has to, that someone could be arguing, is God's intended way.
Very same scripture. This prophetic word in Psalm 110 about this priesthood of the order Melchizedek, that's directly connected to the messianic fulfillments we're all looking for. The fulfillment passages, what God is going to be doing.
That plays into what we're going to see in the next few chapters. That the old covenant has a type and a shadow that has a fulfillment and that fulfillment has come. So verse 12, for when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law.
Now here I believe the author is sort of foreshadowing what we're going to see in Hebrew. Long defense of the new covenant. The concept of a change in priesthood. A change in priesthood, which again he has based already on Psalm 110.
The priesthood, which of necessity there takes place a change of law also. The two go together. And so the Old Testament sacrificial law especially, which is the primary area in which the Levitical priesthood is going to be involved.
Especially in comparison to the Melchizedek. Because what's the contrast that's going to be drawn here in the next few chapters? The repeated sacrifices of the old covenant. The high priest and the fact that even they can't continue.
The finished work of Christ. One sacrifice, once for all. One priesthood. One of these shadows pointing to fulfillment of this. Sub-biblical, can't even stop. All tend to go the fulfillment. What is what substantiates the creation of a celibate, separate priesthood?
Attempt to defend presentation was once for all. One time. And so you go back to the old ways. Repetitive sacrifices that never perfect anyone. And a priesthood that stands between the people. It's a repudiation.
Faults of this section of those sweating profusely in their white shirts and dark ties at this time of year. John that says elderly. Text, for example, he says he continues forever. Holds his priesthood permanently.
The Greek term there, it means permanently. Without successor. And so it is sub-Christian. So, of law also. For the one concerning whom these things are spoken. Specifically in regards to fulfillment of Melchizedek.
For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe from which no one has officiated the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.
And so this one who comes in the order of Melchizedek does not come under the Levitical system. He does not come from the tribe of Levi. Though, again, it's interesting to note that they were troubled by this.
It's like they did not understand the fulfillment and they actually tried to find a way of making Jesus. Not seeing he was descended from Judah. The text, the stories of Jesus was descended from his priesthood to the Levitical priests because it's the fulfillment of the oracle in the Psalter Psalm 110.
This is according to the likeness of Melchizedek who has become such, the descendants of Levi can fulfill this position. It's according to the likeness of Melchizedek who has become such, not on the basis of the law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.
That's something else I'm reading. So you're a Melchizedek priest. Blasphemy. Are engaging in and claiming to be Melchizedek priest forever according to our Melchizedek. See how he's using that oracle again.
A priest forever. That's why Psalm 110 could not have been fulfilled in some Davidic king because he can't be a priest. This is pointing to a greater fulfillment. One who conquers death. And this one.
And so he says, this is a someone who transcends any of the high priesthood. For on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness. For the law made nothing perfect.
Came in of a thing aside. You see, the author pointing forward. Continue to practice that. Puts you in direct line before him. How? In the thundering. You're such a stiff neck. The holiness of God. Their own depravity, but it does not possess within itself the ability to keep going in.
Offering blood upon the altar. Never experiencing perfection. Separation. To do so. So much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better. So much more the guarantee of. Since his priesthood flows from a form of guaranteeing, then Jesus himself becomes the guarantee of a better.
So much the more also Jesus. Six, we have that tremendous text. He's gone into the holy place. We have that sure and steadfast anchor. Jesus, our forerunner, has gone in. But since the writer here is dealing with people who are under pressure from people who are gonna argue back, now he's giving the arguments of part of it.
The foundation of it. Guarantee. Guarantee. It works out, but something goes wrong. Turns out. So we tend to be a little bit. That he has something. Indication you can trust. He explains, this is why I did this.
Access to God. Has accepted. Transcends. Drawn near to God. He has established. I simply don't. He by whom.
