Melchizedek, Abraham, and Christ

Dennis Tuuri

Outline: Hebrews 7:1-10 Melchizedek, Abraham and Christ Sermon Outline for July 31, 2005 by Pastor Dennis R. Tuuri Structure and Context Whole Book I. 1:1-4 The Father’s Final Word - The Bright and Shining Son LINK TO II. – 1:4 “having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. II. 1:5-2:18 A Better Name Than Angels - Son of God and Son of Man LINK TO III. – 2:17 “that He might be  a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God” III. 3:1-5:10 A Better High-Priest: Source of Faithfulness, Rest, Compassion LINK TO IV. – 5:9,10 “And  having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest  “  according to the order of Melchizedek,  ” IV. 5:11-10:39 Christ, A Priest Like Melchizedek , High Priest of GoodThings  to Come Link to V – 10: 10:36 -39 “You have need of endurance …,the just shall live by faith ” V. 11:1-12:13 We should live with faith and endurance. Link to VI – 12:13 “Make Straight Paths” VI. 12:14-13:19 Strong Hands, Straight Paths - Living in Heavenly Community on Earth VII. 13:20-25 Benediction: Completeness Unto Every Good Work Section IV 5:1-6:20 Introductory Exhortation - Shema! 7:1-28 Jesus is High Priest of the Superior Order of Melchizedek 8:1-6 Heavenly Patterns for Earthly Work 8:7-13 The Old Covenant Was Provisional and Imperfect 9:1-10 The Weakness of the Old Covenant 9:11 High Priest of Good Things to Come 9:11-14 The Power of the New Covenant 9:15-23 The New Covenant Is Established 9:24-28 Access to Heaven, Closer Relationship to God 10:1-18 The Offering of Jesus Accomplished What the Old Offerings Could Not 10:19 -39 Concluding Exhortations – Live By Faith, Assembling and Encouraging Subsection 7:1-28 Jesus is High Priest of the Superior Order of Melchizedek 7:1-10 Melchizedekian Priesthood Is Superior to Levitical Priesthood 7:11-19 The Priesthood Being Changed, The Law (of Worship) Is aAso Changed 7:20-28 The New Priesthood Saves Us to Perfection Genesis 14:17-15:1 17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him. 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. 19 And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. 21 Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the Lord , God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’— 24 except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.” 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Hebrews 7:1-10 Heb. 6:20 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High “Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Ps. 110:4) - - - I. The Narrative from Genesis 14:17ff 1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem , priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem , meaning “king of peace,” 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. II. The Lesson for the Hebrews from the Genesis Narrative 4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them , of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes , paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. - - - Heb 7:11 11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise “according to the order of Melchizedek,” (Ps. 110:4) and not be called according to the order of Aaron? Questions from Hebrews 7:1-10 for Young Hearers 1. Today’s text points us back to Genesis ___ ___: ___ ___ 2. Name the king that met Abraham after he killed wicked kings. ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 3. “Melchi” means ___ ___ ___ ___ 4. “Zedek” means ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 5. Another name for this is ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___. 6. He was a ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ king. 7. He was also a ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___. 8. “God Most High” in Hebrew is ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___. 9. He is also mentioned in ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___. 10. He ruled in ___ ___ ___ ___ ___. 11. This name means ___ ___ ___ ___ ___. 12. He was a ___ ___ ___ ___ of Christ. 13. He ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Abraham. 14. Abraham gave him a ___ ___ ___ ___ ___. 15. Both of these facts show us he was ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ than Abraham, and his great-grandchild, Levi, and the Levitical priests. 16. Many Jews taught that ___ ___ ___ ___ was greater than him! 17. We are to ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ others. 18. We should give a ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ to God. 19.We should pray that in our Salem , rulers would obey God’s ___ ___ ___.