Hebrews 7: Eternal Companion
In the Old Testament, religion and priests go hand in hand. Moses had carefully laid out all the rules for the Levites, the priestly clan of Israel. But the Hebrew Christians had departed from their old religion that was centered on priestly functions. Yet some of them hankered to return to their old ways. "Don't turn back," the writer appeals. "You have something far better in Christ." In chapters 7—10 the author tells of Christ's superior priestly origin, his better covenant and his sufficient-for-all-time sacrifice of himself. Regardless of whether we have had to move away from old traditions to find Christ, we all need confidence builders like chapter 7 so that as we run our faith-race, we will stick with Jesus no matter what.
Warming Up to God
"He always makes me feel so strong," a church member said of his pastor after a sermon. What relationships strengthen your knowledge of Christ and build you up?
Read Hebrews 7. »
Discovering the Word
- Jesus is our high priest, not of the ancient Jewish line of Aaron but of the line of the pre-Aaronic Melchizedek. "Just think how great he [Melchizedek] was," commands the writer (v. 4). What was there about Melchizedek that made him so great (vv. 1-3)?
- Great as his name and position were, there was one incident that proved Melchizedek's superiority to the Hebrews: Their patriarch Abraham tithed (gave one-tenth of his income) to him (v. 4). According to verses 5-10, why does this prove that Jesus' high priesthood is superior to that of Levi (Aaron's son)?
- Jesus inaugurated a new era and set aside the old because he was not of the priestly tribe (vv. 11-14). On what does his priestly authority rest (vv. 15-17)?
- In what sense were the ancient rules of the Jews "weak and useless" (vv. 18-19)?
- God's oath set aside Jesus as a distinctive high priest (vv. 20-21). How does Jesus guarantee our faith-agreement (covenant) with him (vv. 22-25)?
- What about Christ's character and sacrifice sets him far above other earthly priests (vv. 26-28)?
Applying the Word
- Twice the writer tells us to come to God through Christ's high priesthood (vv. 19, 25). Why do you need to do this?
- How can you practice it in your faith-race?
Responding in Prayer
Praise God for giving you a high priest over all in Jesus Christ.
For Further Study
The Incomparable Christ by John Stott