The Greater Priest

• Title: The Greater Priest Hebrews 7:1–10
• Have you ever met a man who changed the way that you carried yourself?
• When you meet someone who has a measure of notoriety, influence or power, typically it will change the way that you talk, stand, and interact with a person. And it should. 
• Recently I met a man Named Jim, he introduced me to his friend Frank. No big deal. Guy was probably in his late 70s. Whispy white hair. I gave him the greeting of the day. Mutual respect
• Frank says “You were in the army”(im wearing my sweatshirt) yea “I was in the Airforce”
• Jim motions to me behind him and mouths “He was  2 star general”. My countenance changed
• A man who has served, lived and lead from 69-07 isn’t a man you talk to. You listen to that man. 
• How much different when we meet the savior? Have you considered how great this man was?//

1. The background

• • In this scripture, the writer of Hebrews is making the case to the listener you came out of a system where the priesthood mattered greatly. You Hebrews gave great regard to the priest. 
  • The priests came through the line of Levi, which came from Abraham, carried massive weight
  • Then he uses Abraham the father of the whole thing and his meeting with Melchizedek.
  • he meets him, he honors him, He gives to him, He receives a blessing from him
  • Which means this: if Abraham honored Melchizedek, then everything that came from Abraham including the priesthood is represented in that moment with Melchizedek. 
  • To Jews, Abraham is the man Father of many nations, holder of the promises, everything flows through him:The entire system Israel, the covenant, the priesthood it all traces back to him
  • Abraham shows up, he’s not just an individual he represents everyone who comes after him
  • That moment carries weight for three reasons:
  • Patriarchal Supremacy If Abraham is the top of the line and Abraham bows to Melchizedek then everything under him bows Isaac, Jacob, Levi, the entire priesthood indirectly bows to Mel.
  • Representational Identity Abraham isn’t just acting for himself he’s acting for his descendants Bible: Levi was still in the loins of Abe Abe gave=Levi gave. He honors, priesthood honors
  • Blessing Hierarchy the lesser is blessed by the greater Abraham receives the blessing Melchizedek gives the blessing which means Melchizedek is greater than Abraham
  • So if Abraham honored him-the priesthood is under him
  • This priesthood didn’t start with Moses or Levi it shows up before the law was ever given
  • A different kind of priest not based on genealogy not tied to a system not temporary
  • And Abraham the top of the whole thing recognized it as a greater priesthood. 
  • Which means the system they trusted in was never the highest there was always something greater/// A priesthood that existed before the law and stood above it. Its higher. 
  • Jesus shows up. not from Levi. not fitting their system. because He doesn’t come to improve it
  • This isn’t another man made priesthood this is a God established priesthood that existed before the system and proves the system was never the highest thing

• Jesus comes in that same order- Then you better consider how great this man is

Consider How Great this man is

•  A Great anchor- He will be the anchor to your soul (who he is)

• • The writer of Hebrews is making a clear argument- there is no one or any system greater 
  • In v 6:19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
  • We’ve seen over the past 5 years that the institutions and people that used to be central to our American experience are no longer as trustworthy as we thought them to be

• Government, education, healthcare,  things where we used say “at least we have this”

• • All my schools have been torn down. Univ. left orthodoxy, Military not the same
  • We have a propensity to gravitate towards something to identify with and hold on to

• Its why death bothers us so much. Institutional change etc. Superman had a dog?

• • Society as a whole was more religious when the Bible was written. All had some religion
  • What Hebrews and the bible argues- Jesus is the anchor. He will keep you from drifting. 
  • Look at –Psalm 62:5–6 My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him He only is my rock and my salvation He is my defense I shall not be moved
  • This rock language is to assure you of the stability. Something to hold on to. (are you holding?)
  • Matt 7:24–25 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock
  • Don’t we love when we finally get that place to live, a job, a relationship. Now I’ve got stability
  • And when it ends? Or it doesn’t stay a steady in your life? Its devastating. Horrible. 

• Christ is the rock. You can build your life on him. He’ll anchor your life. (all other ground)

• • Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you, the hope of glory
  • I’ve been pastoring for 22 years. I have seen people who built their life on shaky stuff that didn’t last. They wanted Jesus to bless THEIR anchor, not make Christ theirs. They Drifted. 

• I was on a boat recently. You must set the anchor correctly. If you do, you’re solid. 

• There’s only one way. You can’t beat the physics. You must find a solid hold. 
• Peel back the onion of hurts- pastors, people, situations, circumstance- wrong anchor. 
• Some of you are drifting and live drifting because you aren’t anchored in CHRIST
• Hebrews 10:19–20 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh
• An “anchor of the soul”. Are you tired of drifting? You don’t need inspiration. GET ANCHORED
• If Christ is not the weightiest thing in your life, you will drift./// He loves you enough to hold you

Consider how great this man is

• A great priest- He will be your high priest forever (what he does)

• 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

• • The essence of this statement is that Melchizedek’s influence and importance was not connected to his family line, genealogy or birthdate. 
  • His priesthood wasn’t validated by genealogy like the Levites were. 
  • All of these attributes were what made a priestly line valid and what gave them honor
  • But here’s the most important part- remains a priest continually. Never replaced. 
  • This is OT prophecy and NT fulfillment Psalm 110:4 The Lord has sworn and will not relent, You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek
  • Hebrews 5:6 As He also says in another place You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them

• This priesthood of Jesus is a priesthood established before the law and is eternal for YOU

• • We don’t have an equivalent. Not even a pastor- but lets just say- pastor is kind of a big deal in Church and NT. What if he was replaced every 2 years. Wouldn’t you like a permanent one?
  •  Even the most important spiritual leader you can think of is not your priest. Jesus IS

• The most important one is JESUS- The one who actually intercedes for you. In Heaven

• Every other priest was temporary. Jesus never stops being your priest

• • No flaws. Not temporary. Not broken by sin, but a perfect priest for you. 

• You don’t have access to a priest… you have access through the Priest///

• • God’s design was always direct access- from the garden. He wants relationship with YOU

• Jesus is God coming down to us, to reestablish this relationship with him. 

• • This Priest gives you direct access to Father God. No other mediator. Christ himself

• Haven’t you ever had a problem somewhere and you wanted the person in charge?

• • Oh its unnerving. You want to talk to the one who makes all the decisions, not underling
  • That’s what Hebrews is saying- This is Jesus- the top line get it all done guy 
  • 1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,
  • And what does he do? Not only does he give you access to the father, he forgives your sin, and keeps you right with God. Why would you delay to run and come to the one who intercedes?
  • You don’t need a better priest you have the final one. He’s loving you with open arms. 
  • Then He is worthy of a real tangible response from you

• Consider how great this man is- 

• A great response- He will receive your tithes (how we respond)

• • Dont miss the connection here. Revelation of greatness always produces a tangible response.
  • The author could have pointed to anything as the highest honor he chose a tithe
  • To take a tenth of what they had and give it to the priest as an offering to God
  • The Author is saying- This Priest was so honorable and so righteous that Abraham gave HIM a tithe BEFORE the Levitical priesthood came in, and by indirect- Levi in the loins, paid tithe to HIM and people paid tithes to Levi! How great a man this must have been! What a honor!
  • The first recorded tithe in Scripture was not commanded it was a response
  • Did you catch that? The response of Abraham to the greatness of the king of righteousness was to tithe. To give him a tenth. Before the law of Moses, without coercion. Just honor
  • He didn’t do it because he had to. Not because he was forced to. There wasn’t anyone at the home office checking up on him on why he did or didn’t do it. He just did it. 
  • Watch this- Abraham didn’t pay tithes to GET blessed he paid because he WAS blessed
  • who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all,
  • Abraham recognized his spiritual authority/greatness and was compelled not coerced
  • Its natural for people to have an interaction with the holy and have a tangible response
  •  All through OT and NT- God did want the heart, but there were tangibles that were used to signify a relationship- grain, birds, lamb, money
  • And these tangibles weren’t payments they were recognition.
  • When I do something for my wife monetarily or sacrificially. Its not a payment. It because I’m trying to show her I’m willing to give up everything to honor her. 
  • If you think Jesus is great, but there’s no recognition of his greatness how great is he?
  • But pastor, why money? Its meaningless. Then why does almost half never give it to God?
  • And it always comes down to money and possessions. It’s the greatest thing people value

• People will find every reason to explain it away but it always comes back to honor

• And yes, it may be trust, and it may be budgeting, and doubt. But it comes down to honor. 
• “but I honor God”. Do you honor him with that which is closest to your heart for yourself?
• Tangible always reflected something spiritual. Grain, birds, lambs, silver, gold, bread, wine. 
• You don’t give to prove something to God, you give because you’ve seen something about God
• Your giving doesn’t prove you love Him, but the absence of it reveals what you actually honor///
  Consider how great this man is

• A great blessing- He Will bless you (what we receive)

• • 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better
  • The greater blesses the lesser That means you don’t come to Him as equal you come to Him as needy You come to Him as lesser
  • Abraham gave honor up that was normal 
  • But when the greater blesses the lesser that’s authority That’s position 

• That’s God saying I stand above you and I’m choosing to lift you

• • But here’s the promise: when you humble yourself under Him He lifts you
  • James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up 
  • 1Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time
  • So this is what we do: We humble ourselves We honor Christ as our High Priest 
  • We stop trying to lift ourselves and we get under Him
  • And when we get under Him He lifts us Not because we earned it Not because we performed for it But because that’s who He is
  • You’ve been trying to stabilize yourself You’ve been trying to fix yourself You’ve been trying to elevate yourself
  •  And all along the greater has been there ready to bless you
  • He’s an anchor for your soul. He’s a priest who can’t be replaced. He’s worthy of your response. And He will lift you if you come under Him.
  • Abraham saw Him and bowed. The priesthood came after and bowed.

•  The only question left is will you bow or will you bow out?///

• You don’t need a better system You don’t need another answer You don’t need more time
• You don’t need to consider how great this man is-  You need to recognize how great this man is
• Internalize his greatness respond with humility and live under the protection of his blessings.