Hebrews 6:13-7:28

[Josh]

Post your comments/ questions/ discussion starters on Hebrews 6:13-7:28 as replies to this post.

Help the teachers prepare their lessons!

[Josh]

So, this week's reading is all about a guy named Melchizedek.

I think we need to have a spelling/ pronunciation contest on his name. I think I must have retyped his name 8 times before I got it right!

So, anyway, Melchizedek is a character who pops up briefly in the stories about Abraham in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament. In Genesis 14, Abraham has just rescued his nephew Lot and defeated some enemey kings. Several others kings come out to thank him, including Melchizedek:

Genesis 14:
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.

20 And blessed be God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand."
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

I know Dad is going to talk a bit more about different ideas about who this Melchizedek really was, so I won't spoil that. But, I just thought I'd point this out so that the Hebrews reading made a bit more sense.

If you're new to reading the Bible, this week's passage is probably a bit daunting. But keep at it. If anyone has questions, don't hesistate to ask.

Perhaps it might be helpful to put out there the main point the author of Hebrews is trying to make in this passage about Melchizedek (at least from my perspective).

According to the Old Testament law, the Jews had a High Priest who would intercede for them in God's temple- offering the required sacrifices, etc..

The author of Hebrews is saying that Jesus is our perfect high priest- we no longer have need of a human high priest.

But there's one problem- the Jewish law said that the High priest must come from the Israelite family line of the Levites. But Jesus wasn't a descendant of Levi- he was a descendent of the kingly line of Judah.

So, he can be called a King, like his father David, but how can he be considered a priest in the Levite family?

Well, the author Hebrews here is reminding his audience that there was another priest in the Old Testament- a priest of the true God, a priest who wasn't a Levite (in fact, he was a Gentile/ non-Jew)! So, there is a precedent for a valid kind of priest who wasn't of the line of Levi.

But there's one more verse that's really important to insert in here. It's a statement in the book of Psalms where God is said to say to King David (of the kingly line of Judah):

Psalm 110:

1 The LORD says to my Lord*:
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet."
2 The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion;
you will rule in the midst of your enemies.

3 Your troops will be willing
on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy majesty,
from the womb of the dawn
you will receive the dew of your youth.

4 The LORD has sworn
and will not change his mind:
"You* are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."

*The lowercase Lord/ you in this passage is King David, and the Jews also felt it was prophetic of the Messiah to come.

So, from the Christian perspective, this passage is saying that the King could also be a priest- thus Jesus, is both our King and our Priest.

King implies leader, judge, and ruler.

Priest implies that He is one who understand us, and intercedes to the Father on behalf of us, and makes atonement for our sins.

Does that help make some more sense of this passage?

Any other thoughts or questions?

[mick]

Thanks Josh thanks for the summary. I will use part of it. I find it somewhat ironic we both have the flu at the same time. I'm getting back the dry wheezing cough I had before Christmas.

I think I will mention a couple of wild ideas about Melchizedek and them shoot them down. Then have the group explore was he a man or God?

Dad

[amyleigh]

Thank you josh you have no idea how much that has helped me but im sure that I am still going to have questions but I will let you know!!
Amy

[Josh]

Amy- that's great. Keep the questions coming. I like questions.

Dad- did you read the comments on this passage from the Ancient Christian Commentary? I thought they made for pretty interesting reading.

[mick]

Josh,

I did read the commentaries and they are indeed interesting.