Bible Studies

Hebrews Lesson 8

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
06/20/22
Free to Share
Author requests article critique

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

Chapter 7

In chapter 5, the author began to reference Melchizedek, who we were introduced to in the Old Testament, with Abraham. The author’s writing of Melchizedek was interrupted by a warning about unfaithfulness and apostasy. This warning continued in chapter 6. In this chapter, the author returns to the topic of Melchizedek. Through a series of metaphors, the author relates Melchizedek to the promises of God.

Here we read a discussion of the priesthood of Melchizedek. The main point of this discussion is that Christ is the perfect fulfillment of God’s promise. The New Covenant with Christ is superior to the old covenant with Levitical Law. This point is critical to the audience who persecuted Jewish Christians. It is important that this discussion begins here in this chapter and flows into the beginning of chapter 10.

Melchizedek is a metaphor for the ministry of Christ. In the Old Testament, the lineage of the kings and priests were kept separate, but Melchizedek in the Old Testament holds both titles of Priest and King. (Genesis 14:18) Melchizedek has no lineage recorded in the Old Testament and is a symbol that he has no beginning or end. Abraham honors Melchizedek, which shows that his priesthood is superior to that of Abraham’s descendants. God had promised to establish a prophetic figure in the priesthood of Melchizedek, and Jesus only fulfills that promise. (Psalm 110:4)

The first two fundamental points that the author brings are; first, Melchizedek is superior to Abraham and is superior to the Aaronic priesthood. Proof of this is Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek. That is true with Jesus, as He had no beginning or end. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:13)

Jesus is the High Priest in a perfect covenant that completely saves and has no end. The point that Melchizedek is superior to Aaron and the Levitical priest. The system of Law established under Moses was not perfect and was only temporary. In this chapter, the author uses the Old Testament Scriptures to compare the strengths and weaknesses of the two covenants. The author concludes that Jesus is superior to the priest of the Old Testament, as He is deathless, eternal, and without sin.

In the next chapter, we will see how the work of Jesus as our High Priest is superior to that of the Old Testament High Priest.

Discussion Topics

Question: What are the two main points of this chapter?

Answer: Jesus is superior to Melchizedek and superior to Old Testament Priest.

Question: How was Jesus as the High Priest important to the Christian Jew?

Answer: They didn’t need a Jewish Priest to talk to God.

Question: What is the comparison between the lineage of Melchizedek and Jesus?

Answer: Neither has a beginning nor an end.

Question: Why is Jesus superior as our High Priest?

Answer: He is sinless and eternal.

Opinion Question

What is the difference between the Old Testament and the New?

First Baptist Church of Durant (2020)