Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday evening, August 17, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
JESUS, THE MELCHIZEDEKEAN PRIEST
Scripture Reading: Genesis 14:14-20; Hebrews 7:1-21
Text: Hebrews 7:15
Hebrews 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Introduction: In Genesis 14 we come to one of the greatest similitudes of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. In studying types and metaphors we may sometimes have doubts about whether or not the comparison we note is legitimate. However, in this passage the
comparison is authenticated by nearly an entire chapter in the New Testament. After reading Hebrews 7, no student of scripture should ever read Genesis 14 without remembering that he is seeing a prophetic picture of our Lord in the person of Melchizedek.
Once again we are glad to obey the Lord when He said:
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
and again in that chapter:
John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
I remind you that after His resurrection Jesus took two of His disciples,
Luke 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Tonight I want us to think on this mysterious man who met Abraham and I want us to see that JESUS IS THE MELCHIZEDEKEAN PRIEST.
Melchizedek was not the Lord Jesus Christ, but was a great man (Hebrews 7:4) “like unto” the Son of God” (Hebrews 7:3).
7 Ways in which Melchizedek pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ:
I. HIS PROMINENT OFFICES POINT TO JESUS
Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
A. His office of mediation
B. His office of majesty
II. HIS PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION POINTS TO JESUS
Hebrews 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
A. He is our purity
B. He is our peace
III. HIS PECULIAR ANCESTRY POINTS TO JESUS
Hebrews 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
Hebrews 7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
A. Jesus was before all things – John 1:1-2
B. Jesus was the beginning of all things – John 1:3
IV. HIS PERPETUAL PRIESTHOOD POINTS TO JESUS
Hebrews 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
As our high priest, Jesus had for us
A. A perfect sacrifice
B. A permanent salvation
C. A personal seat
V. HIS POWER TO RECEIVE TITHES POINTS TO JESUS
Hebrews 7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
Jesus deserves our tithes
A. Because He is God
- He owns everything
B. Because He is good
- Even when you earn money through labor, HE is the one who gives you the power to get wealth!
VI. HIS PRONOUNCEMENT OF BLESSING POINTS TO JESUS
Hebrews 7:6-7 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. 7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
A. The blessing of prophecy – Genesis 14:19
B. The blessing of praise – Genesis 14:20
VII. HIS PROVISION FOR ABRAHAM POINTS TO JESUS
Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
He brought forth two things:
A. Bread – body of Christ
B. Wine – blood of Christ
- Wine in scripture is any juice of the grape, fermented or unfermented. We use unfermented wine in the Lord’s supper to remember HIM, because Jesus’ blood was 100 percent PURE.