Bible Studies

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Jesus Christ is our Forerunner and He Appeared to Abraham as Melchizedek Part 1

Hebrews 6:20-7:1 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. 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; KJV

The writer of Hebrews now brings his discourse back around full circle to the blessed, beloved, and bountiful Priesthood of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ who alone is the certainty of God the Father's Promise to Abraham and through Abraham's seed, that being, his miraculous seed Isaac being born to he and Sarah at the ages of 100 and 90 years old. In the Levitical priesthood, the Hebrew priest would enter into the 'holy of hollies' as a representative of the people of Israel or the Hebrew Nation, however, none of the people could ever enter into this part of the Jewish/Hebrew Temple, but now they had then and we have now Someone that has opened the way for us, as it is written here by the writer of Hebrews, "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." (Hebrews 6:20) (KJV).  Now the writer of Hebrews declares to the then Hebrew converts (who lived under this rite, this rule, this reality for many centuries) that through the death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross for our sins and now our trust and faith in Him as Lord and Savior this veil was torn apart from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51) allowing every believer in Jesus Christ direct access to the Throne of God through Him, as it is written, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6) (KJV).

More than just the people's representative and mediator before God the Father our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ is our 'forerunner' and this English word is translated by the Greek word prodromos (used this one time only in the New Testament) which means a runner ahead, that is, scout (figuratively precursor): - forerunner. In other words, not only did our Lord Jesus Christ become our ransom (buying us back from our captivity to the devil (Colossians 1:13-14)), but He has also opened up the way for every sinner to have direct access and communication and fellowship with God our Father and our Creator. Here is what Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary had to say of Hebrews 6:20, "The 'for us' implies that it was not for Himself, as God, He needed to enter there, but as our High Priest, representing and introducing us, His followers, opening the way to us, by His intercession with the Father, as the Aaronic high priest entered the Holiest Place once a year to make propitiation for the people. The first-fruits of our nature are ascended, and so the rest is sanctified. Christ's ascension is our promotion: and whither the glory of the Head has preceded, thither the hope of the body, too, is called. We ought to keep festal day, since Christ has taken up and set in the heavens the first-fruit of our lump, that is, the human flesh [Chrysostom]. As John the Baptist was Christ's forerunner on earth, so Christ is ours in heaven."

Now the writer of Hebrews begins to declare, detail, and describe Melchizedek (who appears to Abram/Abraham once after his 'slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale' (Genesis 14:17)). This Melchizedek (who appeared out of nowhere) was the Priest of the Most High God (greater than Abraham & Aaron), therefore, it was the Pre-incarnate Christ Jesus our Lord who appeared to Abram/Abraham in (Genesis 14:18), as it is referenced here by the writer of Hebrews with these words, "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;" (Hebrews 7:1) (KJV). Let us remember these words of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself when speaking to some of the Jews/Hebrews before He ever went to the Cross to be Crucified they were questioning His Authority and here is the discussion as documented for us by the Apostle John, "Then answered the Jews, and said unto Him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon? Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honour My Father, and ye do dishonour Me. And I seek not Mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death. Then said the Jews unto Him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour Myself, My honour is nothing: it is My Father that honoureth Me; of whom ye say, that He is your God: Yet ye have not known Him; but I know Him: and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know Him, and keep His saying. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I Am." (John 8:48-58) (KJV). What we are reading now from the writer of Hebrews as he began from Hebrews 6:13 until the end of Hebrews 7 is some of the strong meat of the Word of God that he wanted all of the then Hebrew converts to be able to digest or discern or distinguish with complete understanding by virtue of them growing up into spiritual maturity and graduating from the milk of the Word of God by remaining babes in Christ. Here is what John Wesley had to say of Hebrews 7:1, "The sum of this chapter is, Christ, as appears from His type, Melchizedek, who was greater than Abraham himself, from whom Levi descended, has a priesthood altogether excellent, new, firm, perpetual. Genesis 14:18."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

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