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FreeWay Foundation            July 6, 2012

 

 

Melchizedek, King and priest

(Hebrews 7:1-28)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration: on Melchizedek in this chapter and other Scripture references

            1.  King of Salem (Jerusalem?), v. 1; Genesis 14:18-20.

            2.  Priest of the Most High God, v. 1; Psalm 110:4.

            3.  King of Righteousness, v. 2; Romans 5:18; Revelation 19:16.

            4.  King of Peace, v. 2; Isaiah 9:6.

II.  Meditation:  on Melchizedek's identity

            1.  Without father, mother, or genealogy, v. 3.

            2.  Had neither beginning of days nor end of life, v. 3.

            3.  Made like the Son of God, v. 3.

            4.  Remains a priest continually, vv. 3, 23-24.

(Although Jewish scholars usually identify  Melchizedek with Shem, one of Noah's sons,

who else except Christ, exactly fits this description)

III.  Observations:  on Abraham's dealing with the King of Salem (Exodus 14:18-20

(From Personal & Practical" Bible study notes on Exodus 14)

            1.  Abram established his relationship with the King of Salem, who gave him bread

                 and wine, v. 18.

            2.  Melchizedek actions 2,000 years before Christ foreshadowed the priestly ministry

                 of Christ.

            3.  Melchizedek used the same elements Christ used in the Lord's Supper.

            4.  Abraham worshipped God . . . and he offered tithes.

IV.  Revelation:  on Abraham's response to Melchizedek

            1.  Abraham gave a tithe (1/10^th of his possessions) to Melchizedek, v. 4.

            2.  Although Abraham's descendants (Levites) received tithes from all the tribes of Israel,

                 they (through Abraham) paid tithes to one who was superior to them, vv. 5-6, 8-10.

            3.  Abraham received a blessing from Melchizedek, rather than the other way around . . .

                 the lessor is blessed by the greater, vv. 6-7.

            4.  The Levitical priesthood was an imperfect foreshadowing of the priesthood of Christ,

                 which produced a better (new) covenant . . . a better hope through personally drawing

                 near to God, vv. 11-19.

V.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Identify Melchizedek as an Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

                 (See John 8:56)

            2.  Praise and thank the Lord for His salvation and for His continuing intercession for me, v. 25.

            3.  Pattern my life after the holy life of my High Priest, for I, too, am a priest of the Most High

                 God.  (See Revelation 1:6 and Revelation 5:10)

            4.  Receive spiritual blessings from Almighty God, and bestow spiritual blessings upon others

                 in the name of Jesus Christ.

 

 

 

The new covenant

(Hebrews 8:1-13)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on two key verses in this chapter

            1.  "We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens, a

                 minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man," vv. 1-2

            2.  "I will put my laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they

                 shall be My people," v. 10.

II.  Observations:  on why the new covenant is better (vv. 6-7, 13)

            1.  It is better because we have a divine (not a human) Mediator (Christ).

            2.  It is better because it is established on better promises (absolute, rather than conditional).

            3.  It is better because, unlike the old covenant, the new covenant is flawless, since it is built upon

                 God's activities, not man's.

            4.  It is better because the old covenant is obsolete and growing old, but the new covenant is

                 eternal and unchanging.

III.  Meditation:  on the particulars of the new covenant (vv. 8-10)

            1.  God puts His laws in a person's mind, rather than carving them on stone tablets.

            2.  God writes His commandments upon a person's . . . heart emphasizing the inner, spiritual

                 relationship rather than the outer, ritualistic works.

            3.  The new includes the personal promise from the Father: "I will be their God."

            4.  The new covenant also contains the assurance that, "They shall be My people" . . . unlike under

                 the old covenant when God's people did not continue in covenant relationship, and God

                 "disregarded them."

IV.  Revelation:  on what "new covenant" people shall do (vv. 11-12)

            1.  They shall have an intimate relationship with God.

            2.  They shall be taught . . . no by human priests . . . but by the Lord, Himself, through the person

                 of the Holy Spirit, John 16:13.

            3.  They all shall have spiritual discernment, regardless of their earthly, human status ("least" or "great").

            4.  They shall live in the assurance of God's unfailing mercy and forgiveness.

V.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Cultivate a vibrant devotional life, seeking to experience God every day.

            2.  Allow the Holy Spirit to teach me the spiritual things of God.

            3.  Avoid arrogant pride and prejudiced discrimination, accepting with equal love all of God's people.

            4.  Continue to live in perpetual repentance, receiving God's mercy and grace.

 

"Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens."

--Jimi Hendrix

           

 

 

 

 

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