A better Priesthood… (3 points)

• 1^st – New priesthood… vs. 11-14
  • 1^st – Change in PRIEST… vs. 11
    • Therefore – if PERFECTION had come through the Levitical PRIESTHOOD…
      • PRIESTHOOD – 4x in NT – only used here in this passage!
      • Having established Jesus is a BETTER Priest – Hebrews 4:14-6:20
      • The Author is now going one step further – Jesus replaced the old PRIESTHOOD of Aaron…
      • This would have been an inflammatory statement for the Jews…
      • This was challenging their RELIGION – and they were not eager to CHANGE!
    • What further NEED was there that ANOTHER priest should rise…
      • The Levitical PRIESTHOOD could not bring about PERFECTION [τελείωσις] …
      • Because the sacrifices of the Old Testament could only COVER sin – Hebrews 10:4
      • The sacrifices reminded men or the penalty for sin – DEATH – Romans 6:23
      • But they could do NOTHING to change the heart of the SINNER!
      • Therefore – there was a NEED for a CHANGE – a PRIESTHOOD not after Aaron…
      • Instead – a PRIESTHOOD after the order of Melchizedek!
  • 2^nd – Change in LAW… vs. 12
    • [Out] of necessity there is also a CHANGE of the LAW…
      • CHANGE – 3x in NT – to transpose or exchange one thing for another…
      • LAW – there is no the – before the word LAW in the original language…
      • Meaning we are NOT talking about the LAW of Moses – the LAW cannot change!
      • Matthew 5:18 – “Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from THE law till all is fulfilled.”
    • LAW – refers to TRADITIONS – RELIGION…
      • We live in a country where many are hardened towards the Gospel…
      • Because they have been indoctrinated in a lifetime of TRADITIONS…
      • And they are proud and think RELIGION is enough to get them into heaven…
      • Religion that just becomes an excuse to JUSTIFY sin – and disobey God…
      • I can do what I want from Monday – Saturday / so long as I go to church on Sunday…
      • Yet all RELIGION does is make us a HYPOCRITE – put on a mask one day a week…
      • It is time for a CHANGE – throw RELIGION out the window – and come to Jesus!
  • 3^rd – Change in TRIBE… vs. 13-14
    • [Jesus] belongs to another TRIBE…
      • It is evident [known to all] our Lord arose from Judah – Revelation 5:5
      • Which TRIBE – Moses spoke nothing concerning the PRIESTHOOD!
      • Every Priest had to come from the TRIBE of Levi – though not every Levite was a Priest…
      • When Israel rebelled – Golden Calf – all of Levi stood with the Lord – Exodus 32:26
      • As a result – God chose the Tribe of Levi to serve Him – Numbers 18:2
      • But ONLY the sons of Aaron were able to serve as Priests – Numbers 18:1
    • Judah was the TRIBE of the Kings…
      • God promised King David – his throne would be FOREVER – II Samuel 7:16
      • David was from the TRIBE of Judah – so every king after had to be from that TRIBE…
      • Including Jesus – who was from the line of King David – Matthew 1:17
      • Since the TRIBE of Levi was NOT working – it was time for a CHANGE!
      • Nobody likes CHANGE – we get comfortable in our routine…
      • But the definition of insanity – is doing the same thing but expecting different results!
      • If something is not working – then it is time to try something NEW!

• 2^nd – Better Priesthood… vs. 15-25
  • 1^st – Better PRIEST… vs. 15-17
    • It is far more EVIDENT – there arises ANOTHER priest…
      • As EVIDENT as it was that Jesus came from the TRIBE of Judah – as KING…
      • It is far more [abundantly] EVIDENT [only here NT] – crystal clear…
      • ANOTHER priest – [ἕτερος] – NOT the same – another of a DIFFERENT kind!
    • Jesus did not come after the same ORDER as the priests before Him…
      • Who met the requirement [fleshly commandment] of belonging to the TRIBE of Levi…
      • Instead – Jesus came in the POWER of and ENDLESS life…
      • ENDLESS [only here NT] – a life that cannot be destroyed – never dies!
      • You are a priest FOREVER according to the order of Melchizedek – Psalm 110:4
      • The problem was the sons of Aaron all died – and needed to be replaced…
      • God gave us a BETTER priesthood – one who lives forever – never changes!
      • Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
  • 2^nd – Better HOPE… vs. 18-19
    • On the one hand – there is the ANNULLING of the former command…
      • ANNULLING [ἀθέτησις] – 2x in NT – to ABOLISH or to put away…
      • Because of WEAKNESS and UNPROFITABLENESS – for THE LAW made nothing perfect!
      • The old PRIESTHOOD – and the LAWS relating to it – had no POWER!
      • Romans 3:20 – “No one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.” [NLT]
      • It only takes one SIN to keep us out of heaven – James 2:10
      • The problem is – how do we know WHEN we SIN against God…
      • To show us – God gave us His perfect Law – Romans 7:12
      • The problem is we are NOT perfect – we are in bondage to SIN – Romans 7:14
      • Therefore – the Law does not keep us from sin – is just shows we are sinners!
      • Have you ever seen a sign that says WET PAINT – and felt the need to touch it…
      • The Law stirs up the DESIRE for sin – sin that leads to judgment / death!
      • Romans 7:7 – “I would not have known sin except through the law.”
      • The LAW is meant to be our TEACHER – that points us to Jesus!
      • Galatians 3:24 – “The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ…”
    • On the other hand – a better HOPE – through which we draw near to God…
      • What is our better HOPE – the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ…
      • Hebrews 9:26 – “[Jesus] has appeared to PUT AWAY sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”
      • Jesus PUT AWAY [ἀθέτησις] our sin – cast it as far as east is from west – Psalm 110:12
      • There are ONLY two places we can look to for HOPE in life…
      • We can HOPE in OUR strength – look to RULES we can follow…
      • The Law of God – with its commands – that can never CHANGE our hearts…
      • The Law that has the power to PROVE we are a sinner – but only brings death!
      • Or we can HOPE in Jesus – His GRACE – that allows us to draw near to God!
      • II Corinthians 3:6 – “[God] made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
  • 3^rd – Better PROMISE… vs. 20-22
    • The Old Testament priests inherited their positions – sons of Aaron…
      • Jesus was made a priest with an OATH – 4x in NT (all here) – swearing to keep a PROMISE…
      • Psalm 110:4 – “The LORD has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever…’”
    • Therefore – Jesus has become the guarantee of a BETTER covenant…
      • We have already seen Jesus is BETTER than – Prophets/ Angels / Moses / Rest / Priests…
      • Not only is He a BETTER Hope – is also a BETTER Covenant!
      • Hebrews 8:6 – “[Jesus] is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”
  • 4^th – Better RESULTS… vs. 23-25
    • There were many [Old Testament] priests…
      • Because they were prevented by death from continuing [as priests] …
      • The priest in the Old Testament might have wanted to HELP…
      • But they were temporary – they could only HELP as long as they lived!
    • [Jesus] – continues FOREVER – has an unchangeable PRIESTHOOD!
      • Therefore – [Jesus] is able to SAVE to the UTTERMOST…
      • UTTERMOST [παντελής] – all the way to the END!
      • As a RESULT – He LIVES to make constant INTERCESSION [present] for us!
      • INTERCESSION – Jesus is always coming to our defense – Romans 8:34
      • Satan is our adversary – like a roaring lion he seeks to devour us – I Peter 5:8
      • Picture a courtroom – we are on trial for our sins – God is the judge…
      • Satan is accusing us – wants to see us condemned to hell – Revelation 12:10
      • He has all the evidence he needs – all our sins – long list of failures…
      • But Jesus INTERCEDES every time – comes to our DEFENSE – He points out a simple fact…
      • All our sins were paid for in full on the cross – we are found NOT guilty!

• 3^rd – Perfect Priesthood… vs. 26-28
  • Such a High Priest was FITTING for us…
    • FITTING [imperfect] – Jesus came to earth to be us what we NEEDED…
    • Hebrews 7:6 – “He [was] the kind of high priest we NEED…” [NLT]
    • We will conclude by looking at SEVEN ways Jesus is EXACTLY the High Priest we NEEDED!
  • 1^st – Jesus was HOLY… vs. 26
    • HOLY – [ὅσιος] – to be HOLY / SET APART for God!
    • Jesus was HOLY – in everything He said and did – as an EXAMPLE for us to follow!
    • John 13:15 – “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done.”
    • We can be set apart for God – in ALL of our conduct – in everything we do…
    • As we follow the EXAMPLE of Jesus – being set apart – not living for this world…
    • The NT word for church – ekklesia – means to be CALLED OUT of the world!
  • 2^nd – Jesus was HARMLESS… vs. 26
    • HARMLESS – 2x in NT [ἄκακος] – the opposite of being HARMFUL [κακος] …
    • Jesus will come TWICE – the first time He came HARMLESS – to defeat sin…
    • The second time he will come in VENGEANCE – to judge the nations – John 5:22
    • We are told – Philippians 2:10 – that every knee SHOULD bow to Jesus for salvation…
    • But we are also told – Romans 14:11 – every knew WILL bow to Jesus in judgment…
    • There are only two kinds of people when it comes to God…
    • Sinners who have seen their NEED for a Savior – and bow their knee to HARMLESS Lord…
    • Or sinners who reject Jesus – and will one day bow their knee to a VENGEFUL God!
  • 3^rd – Jesus was UNDEFILED… vs. 26
    • UNDEFILED – [ἀμίαντος] – the opposite of being stained / polluted by sin…
    • Jesus was NOT stained by selfishness – He took the time to care for the needs of others…
    • He did not pass by the poor or sick – He was UNDEFILED in His religion!
    • James 1:27 – “Pure and undefiled [ἀμίαντος] religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows…”
    • I can tell you I am a Christian – but what kind of EXAMPLE comes from my life…
    • It is easy to say we are UNDEFILED – but the proof is in our actions – LOVE…
    • If we say we are Christians – but only think about ourselves – we are DEFILED…
    • The number one MARK of someone who is following the EXAMPLE of Jesus – LOVE for others!
    • John 13:35 – “All will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
  • 4^th – Jesus was SEPARATE… vs. 26
    • SEPARATE – to depart – to go away – put space between…
    • The word is commonly used to describe DIVORCE – Matthew 19:6 / I Corinthians 7:10
    • Jesus was SEPARATE from the world – He never sinned – Hebrews 4:15
    • We must be careful NOT to invest our hearts into friends / family who live in SIN…
    • Do not seek their counsel or advice – they are not going to point us to the Word!
    • We must DIVORCE ourselves from the world – put space between us and their example…
    • Because people will either draw you closer to – or father away from Jesus!
    • I Corinthians 15:33 – “…bad company corrupts good character.”
  • 5^th – Jesus is HIGHER… vs. 26
    • Jesus has become [aorist] HIGHER than the Heavens…
    • Speaking of the ASCENSION of Jesus after his resurrection – Acts 1:9
    • Ephesians 4:10 – “The One who ascended far above all the heavens…”
    • Jesus is in Heaven – He sits at the right had of the Father – Hebrews 1:3
    • That makes him uniquely qualified to be able to tell others how to get to heaven!
    • People have LOTS of ideas on how to get to heaven – but they have never been…
    • It seems wiser to listen to the only one who is there – Jesus!
  • 6^th – Jesus was our SACRIFICE… vs. 27
    • The High Priest in the Old Testament – had to DAILY offer FIRST for their own sins…
      • Then they could DAILY offer sacrifices for the sins of the people…
      • In CONTRAST – Jesus is perfect – and did not have to offer sacrifices for Himself…
      • He OFFERED UP Himself [active] – ONCE and for all – and He died for the sins of ALL men! 
    • OFFERED UP – to put something on the ALTAR…
      • Jesus CHOSE to give His life as a sacrifice – so that we COULD be forgiven…
      • Our part is now to CHOSE to OFFER UP our life as a sacrifice to Him…
      • Romans 12:1 – “Give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable.” [NLT]
      • We are not our own – we have been bought with the highest price – I Corinthians 6:20
      • Therefore – we should glorify God with our body and mind – which are His!
  • 7^th – Jesus is PERFECT… vs. 28
    • THE Law [ὁ νόμος] of Moses – appointed priests out of men who had WEAKNESS…
      • WEAKNESS – to be weak in body – or weak in SOUL…
      • The idea is the LAW made men who were sinners – as mediators between God and man…
      • Therefore – they were IMPERFECT – flawed – and temporary!
      • The OLD PRIESTHOOD did NOT work – because it was filled with FLAWED men…
      • That is why God gave us a BETTER P PRIESTHOOD – in Jesus Christ!
    • The WORD [ὁ λόγος] Jesus – of the OATH [promise] which came AFTER the LAW…
      • Was [appointed is in italics] the SON who is PERFECT [perfect] FOREVER…
      • Do not miss this – Jesus is THE WORD – He is the PROMISE – He is PERFECT…
      • That makes Him the PRIEST of a perfect PRIESTHOOD – able to bring us to God!
      • Jesus is a BETTER PRIEST – who gives us a BETTER HOPE – built on BETTER PROMISES…
      • With BETTER RESULTS – because Jesus is EVERYTHING we NEED!
      • ALL we NEED in this life – and the next – is simply Jesus!

Philippians 4:19 – “God shall supply all your need [singular] according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”