Hebrews 7 (3)

Introduction
The book of Hebrews provides an excellent study in how reason and revelation work together to enable us to know truth and rest in the Lord. Today’s verses provide a microcosm of that study. The writer begins with what the Old Testament reveals about his subject (the priesthood). Then he applies logic to lead his readers in understanding that teaching. In the process, we gain important insight concerning how to understand the Old Testament Law in the light of the promised Priest (Ps. 110) and Prophet (Deut. 18.15-19) and King (Gen. 49.8-11; Zech. 3.1-10) of God.

Read Deuteronomy 18.15-19; Genesis 49.8-11; Zechariah 3.1-10.

Read Hebrews 7.11-13.

Think it through.
1.  The promise of a priest in the order of Melchizedek, given through David, signaled that the existing priesthood would at some point be replaced. Why would that be necessary (v. 11)? What does the writer mean by perfection? Through David, God pointed Israel back beforethe Levitical priesthood to encourage them to look ahead to a King/Priest whom David identified as “my Lord.” Toward the end of the period of the Old Testament, Zechariah also looked ahead to such a King/Priest – one like Melchizedek. Zechariah said this King/Priest would be named Joshua. The writer of Hebrews does not cite the Zechariah reference, but we can be sure his readers would have known of it. The implication is, therefore, that because “another priest” would be raised up – the “Lord Joshua” – perfection and the rest that comes with it would not be through the Levitical priesthood or the Old Testament Law. Consequently, the Law relating to the work of priests would also have to change. Why? How does this teach us to think about those Old Testament laws that relate to priests and their work? But are those laws without any value whatsoever (cf. 1 Cor. 9.13, 14)? Explain.

2.  The writer employs a logical construction to expose the folly of trying to find rest and perfection by returning to the authority of the priests of Judaism. He begins with Old Testament revelation about priesthoods. Then his argument follows the construction, “if this, then this.” If a new and eternal Priest and Priesthood (“a priest forever” – forever goes both backward and forward) was promised, then the old and temporal order of priests would be no longer necessary. And all the laws relating to that old priesthood would also necessarily be changed. How can you see this argument was crucial to the writer’s larger purpose in this book? How do divine revelation and reason, guided by revelation, work to help us understand the truth of God?

Meditate.
“The mystery of the divine plan is worthy of admiration: as Christ the Lord, eternal king as he is, was styled our high priest, so the tribe of Judah, which was formerly kingly, attained the priesthood through the Lord.” Theodoret of Cyr (393-466 AD)

For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15.25-28

Heavenly Father, You have made Jesus Lord and Christ, King and High Priest, Savior and Redeemer of the world! And I am His disciple, sent by Jesus to…

Pray Psalm 110.1-7.
What enemies of Jesus and your salvation do you expect to encounter today? How will Jesus put them under His feet through your going forth into your Personal Mission Field. Meditate and pray on these questions.

Psalm 110.1-7 (Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation)
“Sit by Me at My right hand,” 
The Lord says to my Lord, 
“Until I make Your foot stand 
On all who hate Your Word.” 
From in His Church the Savior 
Rules all His enemies; 
While those who know His favor 
Go forth the Lord to please. 

Filled with the Spirit’s power, 
In holy robes of love,
From early morning’s hour 
They serve their Lord above. 
Christ reigns a priest forever, 
The King of Righteousness 
And King of Peace who ever 
His chosen ones will bless. 

The Lord at Your right hand, Lord, 
In wrath shall shatter kings, 
When judgment by His strong Word 
He to the nations brings. 
Then, all His foes defeated, 
He takes His hard-won rest, 
In glorious triumph seated 
With us, redeemed and blest!

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.