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HEBREWS – LESSON 4
I. Jesus’ priesthood is of a higher order than that of Aaron (7:1-
A. Seen in Melchizedek as a type (7:1-
1. Priest and King of Salem (King of righteousness and King of peace)
2. Abraham is blessed by Melchizedek after defeating the kings – Abraham gives a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek (cf. Genesis 14:18-
3. Melchizedek came with no genealogical records: (no record of father, mother); no record of birth or death.
4. Abides as priest continually
B. Seen in Melchizedek’s greatness in his interaction with Abraham (7:4-
1. Abraham, through whom the sons of Levi would come, gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchizedek – Levi who would receive tithes from the people who came from Abraham according to the Law of Moses, paid tithes to Melchizedek while in the loins of Abraham.
a. Melchizedek, who was not connected to Abraham genealogically, has taken tithes of Abraham while blessing Abraham who had received God’s promises.
b. “Without dispute: the less is blessed of the better” (7:7)
C. Seen in the imperfection of the Levitical priesthood (7:11-
1. If there was a completeness in the Levitical priesthood why would God prophesy of another order (the order of Melchizedek) that would come?
a. The Aaronic priesthood was annexed to the Law of Moses – one cannot change without the change of the other.
2. Jesus belongs to another tribe (Judah) from which no man gives attendance to the altar.
a. Moses was silent regarding this tribe as pertaining to priests.
3. Jesus is priest after the likeness of the order of Melchizedek – after an endless live-
a. Psalm 110:4 points to Jesus as a “priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
4. There is a canceling or putting away the commandment regarding the priesthood in the Law of Moses, giving way to a better hope and perfected priesthood through which we can draw nigh to God.
D. Seen in the priesthood made with an oath (7:20-
1. God swears and will not repent or change His mind regarding the priesthood after the order of Melchizedek which J Jesus perfectly fulfills (cf. Psalm 110:4)
a. “The Lord has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest for ever…”
b. “Jesus is a surety of a better covenant” (v. 22).
E. Seen in Jesus being an unchangeable priest (7:23-
1. Under the old covenant many were made priests due to being hindered by death – but Jesus abides forever who serves as our priest.
2. Wherefore, Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near unto God through Him because he ever lives to make intercession for them.
F. Seen in Jesus being a sinless priest (7:26-
1. Jesus’ sinless character: “holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, made higher than the heavens.”
2. Does not have to offer a sacrifice for his own sins, and then one for the people –as the priests under the Old Covenant did on a daily basis – Jesus, being sinless, needed to only offer the one sufficient sacrifice for the people-
3. Unlike the priesthood after the Old Law who appointed men with infirmity (sin and death), God has appointed His Son – “perfected for evermore.”
G. Seen in Jesus being a priest of a better covenant (8:1-
1. He officiates in the true tabernacle of heaven of which the earthly tabernacle was a “type” (8:1-
a. Jesus is sitting upon the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens serving in the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, not man.
b. If on earth Jesus could not be a priest according to the Law seeing the law would have those of the tribe of Levi serving – who served in that which is a copy and a shadow of the heavenly things.
c. Moses commanded to make the tabernacle on earth according to the heavenly pattern shown him in the mount.
2. Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry-
a. If the first covenant had been faultless – if sinners could have been justified by the system of law -
b. Jeremiah prophesied of the coming of the “new covenant” (cf. Jeremiah 31:31-
1. That which is new presupposes that something had become old.
2. When old, it close to vanishing away – God through Jeremiah saw the day of Christ who would fulfill the Old Law bringing it to an end.
QUESTIONS:
1. What two positions did Melchizedek hold?
2. How could Melchizedek be made like unto the Son of God before Christ came to this earth?
3. What four characteristics of Christ are seen in Melchizedek?
4. What is the slaughter of the kings referred to by the Hebrew writer?
5. Who was blessed at this time?
6. Who blesses, the lesser or the greater? Explain.
7. How does this “lesser-
8. Who is living in verse 8?
9. When God changed priesthoods, what else did He also change?
10. Jesus came from what tribe?
11. What two powerful things stood behind Christ’s priesthood that was different from that of Aaron’s priesthood?
12. How was the Old Law “unprofitable”?
13. What has been the result of disannulling the Law?
14. Because Christ ever lives, what two things occur?
15. Christ was not only a priest, but a ___________________________.
16. How sufficient was Christ’s offering?
17. In 7:11-
18. What is the true tabernacle?
19. What is meant by, “which the Lord pitched”?
20. Why could not Christ act as a priest on earth?
21. What is the meaning of the word “copy” in verse 5?
22. What does it say of our service when we serve a “copy”?
23. The fact that a second covenant was sought proves what about the first covenant?
24. When was the first covenant given?
25. On what would the new covenant be written?
26. How would this differ from the old covenant?
27. Under the new covenant, would teaching be needed? Explain.
28. What blessings would be enjoyed under the new covenant?
29. How would this differ from the old covenant?
30. At the time of the writing of Hebrews, was the old covenant still in effect?
31. If so, what is our condition regarding our sins?
32. If not, how is the first covenant “becoming old”?
HEBREWS – LESSON 5
Introduction:
Christ’s priesthood continues to be glorified. By comparison, the writer continues to show that Christ’s priesthood is better than the Old Covenant’s priesthood. However, we now notice a change in emphasis. Instead of focusing upon the implications of the priesthood of Christ being according to the priesthood of Melchizedek, we learn that Christ as priest serves with greater efficacy in a more glorious realm.
To help establish a contrast, a picture of the old tabernacle with its “vessels of ministry” and “sacrifices” are mentioned. Familiarize yourself with the elements of the Old Covenant by reviewing the following passages:
a. Tabernacle information: Exodus 25-
b. Day of Atonement proceedings: Leviticus 16
c. The ashes of the red heifer: Numbers 19
d. The various offerings: Leviticus 23; Exodus 29:38-
e. Sprinkling of the Book of the Covenant: Exodus 24:4-
I. Jesus’ greater work as priest in the greater tabernacle of Heaven (9:1-
A. Tabernacle of this world and priest’s sacrifices symbolic of Christ’s greater reformation (9:1-
1. The earthly tabernacle’s meaningful furniture (v.1-
2. Priest’s service in the first section (holy place) of the tabernacle (v. 6)
3. High priest’s service into the second section (holy of holies) once a year (day of atonement) (v. 7-
4. Ordinances regarding the flesh cannot cleanse the conscience (v.9-
B. Christ entered as High Priest into the more perfect tabernacle and His blood cleanses the conscience (9:11-
1. Christ entered the tabernacle not made with hands (v.11).
2. Christ’s blood, not blood of goats and bulls, obtained eternal redemption for man (v. 12).
3. Christ’s blood has more efficacy (purifies the conscience) than the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of heifer (purifying water) (v.13-
C. Jesus Christ is mediator of a new covenant (9:15-
1. Death that redeems man from man’s transgression – offering eternal inheritance to those called by the Gospel (v.15)
2. Death that ratifies a covenant (last will and testament) (v.16-
3. Jesus’ blood dedicates new commandments – as blood of animals were sprinkled on the book of the Law of Moses (v.18-
4. The efficacy of blood emphasized – without shedding of blood there is no remission (v.21-
D. Jesus Christ has entered the greater tabernacle of heaven cleansed by the one-
1. Jesus continues to appear before the face of God for us (v.23-
2. Jesus does not continue to offer up sacrifices like the high priest did year by year in the tabernacle made with hands – Jesus at the end of the ages has offered Himself (v. 25-
3. As man is appointed to die once and afterward comes to the judgment – Jesus has been once offered for sins and shall appear a second time apart from sin to them that wait for Him unto eternal salvation (v.27-
E. The Law with its animal sacrifices is the shadow of the good things to come in taking away the guilt of sin (10:1-
F. Jesus fulfills all the sacrifices of the old covenant by coming to do the will of God – man is sanctified by the body of Jesus offered once for all (10:5-
G. Unlike the priests of old standing and offering sacrifices often than can never take away sin, Jesus offered one sacrifice for sin forever and sat down on the right hand of God (10:11-
H. Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth of a covenant with God’s law written on hearts and sins and iniquities to be remembered no more (10:15-
1. With remission of sins – no offering for sin further needed.
QUESTIONS:
1. In verse one, what two things are connected for our consideration?
2. In verses 1-
3. How is the contrast illustrated?
4. What does the Holy Spirit signify the contrast?
5. How many “veils” were in the tabernacle?
6. What items were in the first tabernacle?
7. What items were contained in the holy of holies?
8. Is the vessel pertaining to incense the alter or censor upon which the incense was offered to God? Explain:
9. What were the ordinances incapable of doing? Explain:
10. What is the “time of reformation”?
11. What is its significance?
12. In verse eleven, what does “not made with hands” mean?
13. In verse twelve, what two ways does Christ’s service as priest differ from the service of Aaron?
14. In verses 13-
15. In these verses, what is the purpose for the contrast?
16. How did the “ashes of a heifer” have anything to do with cleansing?
17. What is the significance of Christ offering Himself “through the eternal spirit”?
18. In verse fifteen, who benefited from the death of Jesus?
19. Before a testament can become effective, what must first occur?
20. With what was the first covenant dedicated?
21. Has a second covenant been properly dedicated?
22. What two things make Christ’s priesthood better than Aaron’s?
23. Christ will come a second time apart from _____________________. Explain:
24. Who will enjoy salvation when He comes?
25. What fact shows that the sacrifices under the old covenant did not make one perfect?
26. What did these sacrifices do?
27. What does it mean when God “had no pleasure” in the burnt offerings?
28. What was prepared that would cause God to be satisfied?
29. What two things are connected with God’s will in 10:7-
30. How many times was Christ’s offering needed?
31. How is this contrasted with the priest’s service under the old covenant?
32. How does the Holy Spirit bear witness to us?
33. What does He say goes along with remission of sins?
34. Under which covenant is such remission enjoyed?