Dr. Rodney Plunket

Hebrews 7

This morning we come to the second in a special series of lessons from the New Testament Book of Hebrews.  This book is actually a letter from an unknown Christian author to an unknown group of Christians.  The letter’s purpose, as its contents reveal, is to revive the faith of a group of early Christians who are losing their spiritual fervor.

It is also important to realize that this letter is written to Jewish Christians.  And the gospel was such exciting Good News to these Jews, because it revealed to them the Messiah/the anointed Son of David/the One the Old Testament (OT) prophets promised would be sent by God.

Question:  If, in the past, Jesus was perceived to be such Good News to these Jewish believers, why are they losing their fervor now?  Why is their faith becoming tired?  Why, to use the metaphorical description in Heb 12:12, do they have “drooping hands” and “weak knees.”

We cannot give a complete answer to that question.  We can only read one side of the conversation, and the conversation took place over nineteen hundred years ago.  But I want to introduce you to a Jewish expectation which I think suggests one possible cause of their discouragement.  The Jews expected a kingdom of the Messiah/a kingdom of the Christ that would possess an extremely significant priestly component.

In order to introduce this expectation, I want to look at two OT passages.  Please take your Bible and turn to Jeremiah (Jer) 33:14-17 and follow along as I read.

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.  In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety.  And this is the name by which it will be called:  “The Lord is our righteousness.”

For thus says the Lord:  David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, and the levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to make grain offerings, and to make sacrifices for all time.

Notice first the prediction of a man who will be “a righteous Branch to spring up for David.”  This is a reference to the descendant of David who was to come, a figure who later came to be referred to as the Messiah or the Christ.  But this passage not only refers to a kingly figure, the Branch of David, who is to come.  It also refers to a priestly figure who will be associated with that king.  This priestly figure will “offer burnt offerings, . . . make grain offer­ings, and . . . make sacrifices for all time.”  The kingdom of the Messiah to come is referred to as the messianic kingdom.  What we have here, then, is a picture of the messianic kingdom; and that messianic kingdom has vital roles for both a king and a priest.

Now please turn to the OT Book of Zechariah and look with me at two more OT chapters that fed this Jewish expectation of a messianic kingdom with a significant priestly component.  We will look first at Zechariah (Zech) 4.  There the prophet Zechariah describes a vision that he is shown by God.  The vision is of a “gold lampstand” with “seven lamps on it.”  On either side of the lampstand are two olive trees.  In Zech 4:12 the prophet asks a question of the angel who is with him.  Zechariah asks, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?”  The angel responds in verse (v) 14 by saying, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”  Now the Hebrew phrase that is rendered here as “anointed ones” literally means “sons of oil,” and that phrase is taken to indicate that these two figures have been anointed with oil.  This apparent reference to anointing is extremely important because the Hebrew word which the English language transliterates as “Messiah” means anointed one.  And the Greek word which the English language transliterates as “Christ” also means anointed one.  This reference in Zech 4 to “anointed ones” may have originally referred to both an actual political leader of the Jews and an actual high priest of the Jews during the time of Zechariah.  However, Jews came to see these words as pointing to the nature of the messianic kingdom to come.  For our purposes there are two important items to note with regard to Zechariah’s words.  Number one, we have two “anointed ones” and not just one.  Number two, the overall context of Zechariah suggests that the two anointed ones are a kingly figure and a priestly figure.

Now please turn to Zech 6.  In v 11 of that chapter, the prophet Zechariah is told to place a crown on the head of Joshua the high priest.  Then in v 12 we have a reference to a man “whose name is Branch.”  Verse 13 then says, that the one named Branch “shall build the temple of the Lord; he shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne.  There shall be a priest by his throne, with peaceful understanding between the two of them.”  We have already seen that the name Branch is used in Jeremiah (33:15) to refer to the messianic king to come.  In addition, there are three passages in the Book of Isaiah (4:2; 11:1; 23:5) that do the same thing.  So the same meaning of “Branch” is assumed here.  So again we have a picture of a messianic kingdom with a significant priestly component.

What we see then is that Jeremiah 33 and Zech 4 & 6 provide good biblical reasons for the Jewish Christian recipients of Hebrews to have expected a messianic kingdom with a priestly dimension.

Let’s try to put it all together.  We have the Book of Hebrews, a letter written to Jewish Christians who were experiencing a weakening of faith.  We have a known Jewish expectation that the messianic kingdom would have a significant priestly component.  And in the Book of Hebrews we find a great deal of emphasis on Jesus as high priest.  All of this has convinced me that the Book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who are in the midst of a time of weakness.  That weakness causes them to become more open to doubts and skepticism about Jesus and His kingdom, and at least some of their doubt is due to the absence of any priestly component in the message being proclaimed about Jesus.

But you might ask, ‘how can you say there is an absence of any priestly component in the kingdom of Jesus?  Jesus is our high priest; how could these first century Jewish Christians not know that?’

That’s a good question.  The answer is that no one seems to have proclaimed Jesus as high priest until the writer of Hebrews did it.  You see, no other NT book calls Jesus a high priest.  So it is possible that this writer is the first person in the early church to have been led by God to teach that truth.  The issue that these readers are struggling with may not even have been raised in the church until they raised it.

So look at the attention that the writer of Hebrews gives this issue.  In Heb 2:17 the writer refers to Jesus as “a merciful and faithful high priest.”  In 3:1 Jesus is “the apostle and high priest of our confession.”  Jesus is again referred to as a high priest in 4:14 & 4:15.  Heb 5:4-6 is another great example of this emphasis.  Please turn to that passage and follow along as I read.

And one does not presume to take this honor [of being a high priest], but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

     So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,

     “You are my Son,

today I have begotten you”;

as he says also in another place, 

     “You are a priest forever,

          according to the order of Melchizedek.”

In Heb 5:10 the writer again refers to God’s designation of Jesus as “a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”  And in Heb 6:20 he refers to Jesus “having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

That brings us to the chapter where our writer carefully lays out the biblical evidence for Jesus as a high priest.  By so doing he makes clear that the messianic kingdom ruled by Jesus Christ does indeed have a significant priestly component.  Please turn to Heb 7:1-3 and follow along as I read.

This “King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him”; and to him Abraham apportioned “one-tenth of everything.”  His name, in the first place, means “king of righteousness”; next he is also king of Salem, that is, “king of peace.”  Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

So who is this Melchizedek?  He is a character back in the OT, but there is only one story about him.

That story is found back in Genesis 14:17-20.  In that story Abraham gives Melchizedek 10% (a tithe) of the spoils from a great battle that Abraham won.  What the story makes clear is that Melchizedek was both a priest of “the most high God” and the king of the city of Salem.  Salem likely corresponds to the city of Jerusalem where the kings in the line of David reigned.

There is only one other OT reference to Melchizedek.  It is in Psalm (Ps) 110:1-4.  Please turn to that passage and follow along as I read.

The Lord says to my lord,

“Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies your footstool.”

The Lord sends out from Zion

your mighty scepter.

Rule in the midst of your foes.

Your people will offer themselves willingly

on the day you lead your forces

on the holy mountains.

From the womb of the morning,

like dew, your youth will come to you.

The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind,

“You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

The writer of Hebrews alludes to this passage numerous times in this book.  And he does not just allude to the statement about Melchizedek.  He also alludes to the portion that refers to someone being told to “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”  He alludes to that portion in Heb 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12-13; & 12:2.  In fact, there are so many allusions to this psalm is in the Book Hebrews that it is not that much of an overstatement to refer to this NT book as a Christian reflection on Psalm 110.

So let me briefly introduce you to the message of Ps 110 as I understand that message.  Psalm 110 begins by using the personal name of God.  That name is Yahweh.  Verse 1 says, to be quite literal, “Yahweh says to my lord.”  Who is the “lord” to whom Yahweh God speaks?  That is the king, the king whom the psalmist refers to as “my lord.”  This psalm goes on to describe the attitude of Yahweh God toward the king.  It makes clear that the king has a highly exalted status.  It is as if he sits at the right hand of God.

But the king here is also referred to as a priest.  How can that be?  Israelite priests were all supposed to come from the tribe of Levi, and David’s lineage was from the tribe of Judah.  Psalm 110 says that the king is from a special order of priesthood.  He is a priest “according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Just like Melchizedek was both king and priest in the city that became Jerusalem, so the davidic king was both king and priest.  And the psalm’s reference to being “a priest forever” originally indicated that every king from the line of David would have a priestly function based on the Melchizedekian order priesthood.

But the writer of Hebrews saw that there was a powerful connection between this passage and Jesus Christ.  Jesus was from the line of David.  When Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to heaven, He was seated at the right hand of God as is reported in Mark 16:19; Acts 2:33; 5:31 and other NT passages.  So Jesus, the writer of Hebrews reveals, is a much more emphatic fulfillment of the first part of Psalm 110 than any earthly king could ever be.  That means Jesus must be the emphatic fulfillment of the portion about Melchizedekian priesthood as well.

And that is the message that our writer declares with power in Hebrews (Heb) 7.  He declares that Jesus is our high priest.  He is our high priest forever.  He is our high priest “according to the order of Melchizedek.”  He fulfills Ps 110 in a way that the many kings in the line David never did and never could.

And there is much more we could say about the writer’s presentation here, but I just want you to feel the power of this message for a group of Jewish Christians who were getting weak in their faith.  We do have a high priest, he tells them.  The messianic kingdom to which we belong does have a high priest, and that high priest is also our king who is seated at the right hand of God, and there will come a time when everyone of His enemies will be so thoroughly conquered that they will be no more than a footstool for His feet.

We are not Jewish Christians living in a time when Jesus as high priest had yet to be declared.  So what does all of this have to do with you and me?  Let me read a passage to you and then a story.  I think the relevance of Jesus as high priest will be clear.  Please turn to Heb 4:14-16 and follow along as I read.

Heb 4:14-16.  Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We can approach the throne of grace with boldness.  We can go there to “receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Why?  Because of who our “great high priest” is.

Think back to the OT.  Think back to the concept of holiness.  Think back to how dangerous it was to come into God’s presence.  We enter God’s very throne room and “receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Why?  Because of who our high priest is.

Let me share a story that I think will bring home to our hearts the wonder of what our high priest does for us.

“NO JACKET REQUIRED”

I shook my head in disbelief.  This couldn’t be the right place.  After all, I couldn’t possibly be welcome here.  I had been given an invitation several times, by several different people, and finally decided to see what this place was all about.  But, this couldn’t be the right place.

         Quickly, I glanced down at the invitation that I clutched in my hand.  I scanned past the words, “Come as you are.  No jacket required.” and found the location.  Yes, I was at the right place.  I peered through the window again and saw a room of people whose faces seemed to glow with joy.  All were neatly dressed, adorned in fine garments and appeared strangely clean as they dined at this exquisite restaurant.

         Ashamed, I looked down at my own tattered and torn clothing, covered in stains.  I was dirty, in fact, filthy.  A foul smell seemed to consume me and I couldn’t shake the grime that clung to my body.  As I turned around to leave, the words from the invitation seemed to leap out at me . . . “Come as you are.  No jacket required.”

         I decided to give it a shot.  Mustering up every bit of courage I could find, I opened the door to this restaurant and walked up to a man standing behind a podium.  “Your name, sir?” he asked me with a smile.  “Jimmy D. Brown,” I mumbled without looking up.  I thrust my hands deep into my pockets, hoping to conceal their stains.

         He didn’t seem to notice the filth that I was covered in and he continued, “Very good, sir.  A table is reserved in your name.  Would you like to be seated?”

         I couldn’t believe what I heard!  A grin broke out on my face and I said, “Yes, of course!”  He led me to a table and, sure enough, there was a placard with my name written on it in a deep, dark red.  As I browsed over a menu, I saw many delightful items listed.  There were things like, “peace,” “joy,” “blessings,” “confidence,” “assurance,” “hope,” “love,” “faith,” and “mercy.”  I realized that this was no ordinary restaurant!

I flipped the menu back to the front in order to see where I was . . . “God’s Grace,” was the name of this place!

The man returned and said, “I recommend the ‘Special of the Day’.  With it, you are entitled to heaping portions of everything on this menu.”

You’ve got to be kidding!  I thought to myself.  You mean, I can have ALL of this!  “What is the ‘Special of the Day’?”  I asked with excitement ringing in my voice.  “Salvation,” was his reply.  “I’ll take it,” I practically cried out.  Then, as quickly as I made that statement, the joy left my body.  A sick, painful ache jerked through my stomach and tears filled my eyes.  Between my sobs I said . . . “Mister, look at me.  I’m dirty and nasty.  I’m unclean and unworthy of such things.  I’d love to have all of this, but, but, I just can’t afford it.

Undaunted, the man smiled again.  “Sir, your check has already been taken care of by that Gentleman over there,” he said pointing to the front of the room.  “His name is Jesus.”

Turning, I saw a man whose very presence seemed to light the room.  He was almost too much to look at.  I found myself walking towards Him and in a shaking voice I whispered, “Sir, I’ll wash the dishes or sweep the floors or take out the trash.  I’ll do anything I can do to repay you for all of this.”

He opened His arms and said with a smile, “Son, all of this is yours if you just come unto me.  Ask me to clean you up and I will.  Ask me to remove the stains and it is done.  Ask me to allow you to feast at my table and you will eat.  Remember, the table is reserved in your name.  All you must do is accept this gift that I offer you.”

Astonished, I fell at his feet and said, “Please, Jesus.  Please clean up my life.  Please change me and sit me at your table and give me this new life.”

Immediately, I heard the words, “It is finished.”

I looked down and white robes adorned my squeaky clean body.  Something strange and wonderful happened.  I felt new, like a weight had been lifted and I found myself seated at His table.

“The ‘Special of the Day’ has been served,” the Lord said to me.  “Salvation is yours.”  We sat and talked for a great while and I so enjoyed the time that I spent with Him.  He told me, me of all people, that He would like for me to come back as often as I liked for another meal from God’s Grace.  He made it clear that He wanted me to spend as much time with Him as possible.

As it drew near time for me to go back outside into the “real world,” He whispered to me softly, “And Lo, I am with you always.”  And then, He said something to me that I will never forget.  He said . . . “My child, do you see these empty tables throughout this room?”

“Yes, Lord.  I see them.  What do they mean?”  I replied.

“These are reserved tables . . . but the individuals whose names are on each placard have not accepted their invitations to dine.  Would you be so kind as to hand out these invitations to those who have not joined us yet?”  Jesus asked.

“Of course,” I said with excitement as I picked up the invitations.

“Go ye therefore into all nations,” He said as I turned to leave.

I walked into God’s Grace dirty and hungry.  Stained in sin.  My righteousness as filthy rags.  And Jesus cleaned me up.  I walked out a brand new man . . . robed in white, His righteousness.  And so, I’ll keep my promise to my Lord.  I’ll go.  I’ll spread the Word.  I’ll share the Gospel . . . I’ll hand out the invitations.  And I’ll start with you.

Have you been to God’s Grace?  There’s a table reserved in your name, and here’s your invitation . . . “Come as you are.  No jacket required.”

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