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Hebrews Chapter Four

(Outline continues from yesterday)

4. Believers will only attain to that daily rest as we submit to the Word’s judgment in our soul, and maintain a diligent priesthood function of prayer before the Throne of Grace (Heb. 4:14-16).
   1. We have confidence to engage in this priesthood function because of our victorious & sympathetic high priest—Jesus the Son of God.
   2. In this priesthood function of prayer, we receive all the daily grace & mercy needed to hold fast our confession.

Hebrews Chapter Five

1. The priesthood of Jesus Christ is similar to that of Aaron, but eternally greater (Heb. 5:1-10).
   1. Aaronic (Levitical) priests can faithfully minister to weak people because they themselves are also weak (vv.2,3).
   2. Aaronic (Levitical) priests serve in their position of honor because God the Father has graciously placed them in service (vv.1,4).
   3. So it is with Christ, Who can faithfully minister to weak people because He was instructed in our weaknesses through His own personal sufferings (vv.7-9).
   4. Christ’s appointment as high priest was likewise a matter of God the Father’s gracious appointment (vv.5,6,10).
2. The author of Hebrews is eager to expand upon the priesthood of Christ according to the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 5:6,10; Ps. 110:4), but he is limited by his audience’s immaturity & inability to partake of solid food (Heb. 5:11-14 cf. 1st Cor. 3:1-3).

Hebrews Chapter Six

1. Believers are expected to grow beyond the baby-food of basic doctrine, and press on to maturity (Heb. 6:1-3).
2. Believers who fail to grow become dull of hearing (Heb. 5:11), and are in danger of falling away from the faith in the hardness of their heart (Heb. 6:4-8).
   1. The apostate believer, in effect, personally rejects and “crucifies” Jesus Christ all over again (v.6b).
   2. It is impossible for the apostate believer to be renewed again to repentance (v.6a).  Of course, this is in human terms, and not a limitation on Divine ability (Matt. 19:26).
   3. Apostate believers that have come into such Divine judgment are burned, as God cleanses his field to bear good fruit (vv.7,8; Jn. 15:6).
3. The key to prevent such apostasy is diligence and endurance in ministering to the needs of others (Heb. 6:9-12).
4. Diligent, enduring believers are occupied with their high priest “according to the order of Melchizedek” (Heb. 6:13-20).
   1. Our high priest is our living hope.
   2. This living hope anchors our soul.

Hebrews Chapter Seven

1. The author of Hebrews finally addresses his eager topic—Melchizedek (Heb. 7:1ff.).
   1. In the Old Testament, featured briefly in Gen. 14:18-20, and Ps. 110:4.
   2. In Hebrews, featured extensively in 5:1-10; 6:20; 7:1-17.
2. Melchizedek, King of Salem, is identified as a type of Christ (Heb. 7:1-3).
   1. Melchizedek, as the King of Righteousness & King of Peace, was a prophet/priest/king that pictured the Millennial glory of Christ.
   2. Melchizedek had no father, mother, genealogy, birth, or death recorded in Scripture.  His unknown life pictured the unknowable eternal life and eternal priesthood of God the Son.
   3. Melchizedek’s priesthood was superior to the Levitical priesthood by virtue of Levi (in the loins of Abraham) paying tithes to Melchizedek (Heb. 7:4-10).
3. The Levitical priesthood’s inferiority and ineffectiveness demanded that another priesthood be instituted (Heb. 7:11-28).
   1. The Levitical priesthood was based on physical requirements, but Christ’s priesthood is based on the power of an indestructible life (v.16). We hold our priesthood on the same basis (1st Pet. 1:23; 2:5).
   2. The Law perfected nothing, but Christ’s priesthood brings us near to God (v.19).
   3. The Levitical priesthood had no eternal foundation, but the priesthood of Christ is grounded in a Divine oath (vv.20-22).
   4. The Levitical priesthood faced a continual succession of dying priests, but the priesthood of Christ is eternal (vv.23-25).
   5. The Law featured high priests who required sacrifices for their own sins before they could minister to others; Christ is the sinless, perfect high priest (vv.26-28).

Note: Christ still identifies with our weaknesses, not because He was sinful, but because He was made to learn obedience through the things which He suffered (Heb. 5:8), and He was made to be sin on our behalf (2nd Cor. 5:21).