Let's take our Bibles and turn
with me to the book of Hebrews chapter 7. Hebrews chapter 7. Before we begin, I'd like to
look at verses 4 to 10 tonight. Before we begin, let's pray together. Our Father, we thank You again
for another time. Time to be able to look into
Your Word. And Lord, to reflect on those
things that the Spirit of God has moved upon men to write. Inspired, holy words. Cause us to hear. Help us to
hear. Help me to preach. Help us to
worship. Lord, we ask You. Have mercy
on us tonight for Christ's sake. Amen. In just a few minutes, I'd like
to look at these verses. And while I was mulling over
in my mind, thinking again of what I was going to preach on,
this is what. I am going to try to set forth
from the Scriptures the wonder and the marvel and
the greatness of our blessed Lord and Savior. Greater, Paul the Apostle has
set forth to these Jews, these Jews that had received the oracles
of God. These Jews, 1,500 years, they
had been under the law. That law was sent by God, ordained
of God. All of the beautiful, wonderful
pictures and types, shadows, of the Lord Jesus Christ, ordained
of God. That is what I want us to understand. This was sent. This law was sent
by God Almighty. And those Jews knew that it was
sent by God Almighty. God Himself had made revelation
of His eternal covenant in Christ to Abraham. And now before there was ever
a law given at Sinai, before the law was ever given, here
was Abraham. That man that the Scripture speaks
of as the father of the faithful, in his loins came Aaron. The Levitical priesthood, the
Levites, all came out of, humanly speaking, out of Abraham. Abraham. And what Paul wants to set forth
and has been setting forth, this Melchizedek, the Lord Jesus Christ
who was after the order of Melchizedek, no beginning, no ending, no father,
no mother, no end of life, no beginning of life. This Melchizedek who I do believe
was just like when the Lord Jesus Christ came and met Abraham before
he sent those two angels into Sodom as the Lord. I believe this Melchizedek, the
Lord Himself, Paul has been setting forth that he was greater than
the angels, greater than the prophets, greater than Moses,
greater than Joshua, greater than Abraham. Abraham. That's
right. Abraham. We're going to look
tonight at these Scriptures and see, as Paul shows these Hebrews,
that a more excellent order than the order of Aaron has been set
forth introduced. And therefore, since a more excellent
order, greater after the order of Melchizedek, not after the
order of Aaron anymore. And Paul is with such wisdom
under the inspiration of the Spirit of God handling this thing.
I mean, listen, these things that they had done The way that
they had worshipped, I can't say it enough, that was ordained
of God. It couldn't be made light of. And Paul is wisely setting forth the glory of the One who has
fulfilled all of the times. He's telling these people, now
we've got an order that has been set forth, the order of Melchizedek. And therefore, as the Lord Jesus
Christ is the fulfillment of all that that law had set forth
in type, therefore, all the ceremonies and the ordinances are abolished. They're over. They're no more. Christ has fulfilled the law. No more slaying of animals. No
more candlesticks, showbreads. It's over. Verse 4, Paul said, after having
told, in verse 3, these Hebrews concerning Melchizedek, that
verse that I just quoted, 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. He says now in verse 4, Now consider
how great this man was, with whom even the patriarch Abraham
gave the tenth of the spoils. What the Spirit of God has just
said is this one thing right here. God concerning the Lord
Jesus Christ has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which
is above every name. Consider how great this man was. Yes, Abraham is referred to here
Patriarch. I looked that word up. I was
born patriarch. Now, I've heard that word before.
What does that mean? Here's what it means. The head,
the ruler, or the founder of a family. Abraham, father of the faithful. Father, the example But you remember
this, the Lord Jesus Christ said concerning Abraham, verily, verily,
I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am. God Almighty showed mercy to
Abraham, but Abraham was a fallen son of Adam. Bruised by the fall. Dead. Almighty God found him worshiping
idols and called him by grace. Abraham had to be redeemed by
the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and called by the same Holy Spirit
that called you out of darkness. You consider concerning the one
of whom Melchizedek was for sure a type you consider how great
he was. The Scripture says here that
the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils from the slaughter
of the kings to Melchizedek, recognizing by the grace and
power of Almighty God, God's ownership and the honor that
God was due of man's substance. All is His. But the amazing thing
of Abraham giving a tenth to Melchizedek, as I said a moment
ago, the law wasn't even given yet. Tithes had not even been established
as a part of the law. The law wasn't even yet before
the law, before the priesthood. Before the priesthood of Aaron
was ever brought into existence, before it ever started, that
started with Moses. This is Abraham. Before there was ever an Aaronic
priesthood, here was the priest. Here was the first mention of
priest. It's given in the Scriptures. Abraham. Father of the Jews,
Father of the faithful, He honored God by honoring God's priest. That's what I say to us tonight.
You consider how great this man is. Verse 5, Verily, they that
are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood,
have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the
law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins
of Abraham." Here's what Sam said. Here was Abraham and the
Levites who were of the order of Aaron. They received tithes. Yes, they did. But they came
out of Abraham. Here was Abraham doing something
that was never yet invoked by the law. Turn to Numbers. I want to show you something.
Turn to Numbers chapter. 18. When the law was established,
let me show you what God set forth concerning the people and giving
of tithes. Numbers 18, verse 20, And the
Lord spake unto Aaron, Numbers 18, Thou shalt have no inheritance
in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them.
I am thy part, thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
And behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth
in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they
serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Neither must the children of
Israel henceforth come nigh of the tabernacle of the congregation,
lest they bear sin and die. shall do the service of the tabernacle
of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity. It
shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. Among the children
of Israel they have no inheritance, but the tithes of the children
of Israel, which they offer as a heave offering unto the Lord,
I have given to the Levites to inherit. Therefore, I have said
unto them, among the children of Israel they shall have no
inheritance. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Thus speak
unto the Levites, and say unto them, When ye take of the children
of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your
inheritance, then ye shall offer up an heave offering of it for
the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe." Now here was the
law that was given. All the people, priests included,
owed God allegiance. obedience, the order of Aaron,
the law. The law had one objective, to
show God's people what they are, what God demands, and their need
of a substitute, their need of one to stand for them. was our schoolmaster. Remember
a few weeks ago I told you that doesn't mean he's our teacher.
The pedagogue, the schoolmaster was the one that was responsible
to make sure that the young child over whom that schoolmaster had
responsibility was to get it to the teacher. The law is not
our teacher. The law brings us to Christ not
as a teacher. but as the shower of the demands
of Almighty God. Yes, the sons of Levi, they had
a commandment from the Lord to receive tithes from the people
that they and the tabernacle might be maintained. That's what
the tithes was for. They gave it to the priest so
that the priest himself, the priest had no inheritance. God
was their inheritance. The priest and the tabernacle
was maintained by the tithe. But they couldn't maintain God's
tabernacle. Not through the weakness of their
flesh. Oh, they pictured one that could. But they couldn't. The blood of bulls and goats.
I'd never put away sin. But you consider this man, how
great he was. It says in verse 6, But he whose
descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham and
blessed him that had the promises. Those priests of the priesthood,
God had set forth that they were going to be maintained. Maintain
them, maintain the tabernacle. but they could not put away sin.
But he whose descent is not counted from them, not counted from Aaron,
received tithes of Abraham and blessed him that had the promise. The one who was not from the
order of Aaron. The one who was not from the
loins of Abraham. Aaron was. Not Melchizedek. The one who was eternal. He was
the one who received the honor and the respect and the praise
given unto him by Abraham. Abraham met the one who was the
king and the priest. He was the one that was superior. Abraham blessed. Abraham was
blessed. by Melchizedek because Melchizedek
could bless him. Those priests, they did
receive tithes. But they paid tithes because
they owed them. They owed God honor. They were
types. They were pictures. They received
them. They paid them. But Melchizedek
did not say that he paid them. Not the tithes. What did he pay? What did he give? He gave himself. The Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, I see Abraham as the one
who is a picture of all of God's people. all of God's sheep. Genesis 12-2, the Lord said to
Abraham, I will make thee a great nation and I will bless thee.
Abraham saw the glory of God in God's priest. He was blessed by God's priest
and Abraham and all like him, objects of God's mercy. Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Consider this man. He is greater than Abraham. Chosen
in this One, the Lord Jesus Christ, our great Melchizedek. Chosen in Him before the foundation
of the world that we should be holy without without blame before
God. Predestinated unto the adoption
of children by Jesus Christ Himself. Redeemed by His blood. Forgiven
of our sins according to His riches of grace. And He's made
known unto us the mystery of His will. And in the fullness
of time, He's going to gather us together and present us in
Himself. to the Father. You consider how
great this man was. He blessed Abraham. Verse 7 says,
and without all contradiction, the less is blessed of the better. The pronouncing of a blessing,
it means actually to speak well. The blessing is always received
from one of a greater rank or age to a lesser. If a father were to do something for His
children to bless them. It's understood that it's because
the Father is able to do it. You give something to your kids,
it's because you can do it. Melchizedek, who was greater,
and this is the point that Paul wants to make to these Hebrews.
Melchizedek blessed Abraham. The greater blessed the lesser. So here we have Paul reminding
again the superiority of Melchizedek over Abraham, the one that they
look to. Verse 8 says, And here men that
die receive tithes, but there he receiveth them of whom it
is witnessed that he liveth. Concerning the superiority of
the Lord Jesus Christ over the law, Melchizedek is over the
order of Aaron. The apostle was saying, so he
said, so here, verse 8, and here, that is the order of Aaron, men
that are dying, men that are frail, here men that die receive
tithes. But there, speaking of Melchizedek,
there He receiveth them of whom it is witnessed that He lives. As I said last week, consider
the wonder of this thought. I stopped for a minute and contemplated
this. In the Old Testament, you remember
that the priest would die and they would take a new priest.
It's not Aaron now. Now it's Eleazar. It's not Eleazar. Now it's this one. Now the high
priest is this one. How comforting it is to know
that our priest ever liveth. We have one great high priest. He never changes. The same one. He ever liveth. The same person. The same glorious Lord Jesus
Christ. that we worship tonight, the
One that's with us tonight, the same One that Paul was talking
about right here, the same One that Abraham worshiped, one High
Priest. Oh, the comfort of knowing. This
is God's Son. This is God's honor. This is
God's glory. Him. Verse 9 and 10 says this,
And as I may so say, Levi also, who received tithes, paid tithes
in Abraham, for he was yet in the loins of his father when
Melchizedek met him. In these closing verses, the
Apostle Paul never relinquishes the superiority of Melchizedek
over Aaron. Holy Scripture sets forth that
things that are created and all things that shall be brought
forth in time give allegiance to the glory of our blessed Lord
and Savior, our great High Priest. But there is one point in these
last two verses that I want us to look at in closing that are
precious, precious to us tonight. Here's what it says. And as I
may so say, Levi also who received tithes, in time he would. He was going
to be born. He was going to eventually come
into this world, natural generation just like all other men. He's
going to grow up. The Levitical priesthood was
going to come into being. He who received tithes paid tithes
in Abraham. Now this is setting forth that
Levi, who would receive tithes from the people by the law, also
paid them. When Abraham did it, Levi did
it. When Abraham gave honor and respect
to Melchizedek, Levi was honoring him. The law was honoring him. The law was respecting him. For
he was yet in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him. In the loins of him who was blessed
by Melchizedek. When Melchizedek blessed Abraham, Who was truly being blessed? The Scripture sets forth that
Abraham met Melchizedek coming from the slaughter of the kings.
And Melchizedek blessed Abraham. Turn to Galatians 3.6. I want
to show you something. Galatians 3.6. Galatians 3, 6, Even as Abraham
believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness, know
ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the
children of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing
that God would justify the heathen through preached before the gospel
unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith
are blessed with faithful Abraham." Abraham is called the father
of the faithful. He believed God. Believe God. What are we doing tonight? We
believe God. We believe that Almighty God
has before the foundation of the world chosen in Christ His people. And they're blessed in Christ.
Abraham was a kite. A picture of all that are blessed
in and by the Lord Jesus Christ. Here was a picture back in our
Scripture in Hebrews. It was saying this, Levi who
received tithes paid tithes in Abraham. There's a federal head
being talked about right there. What Abraham did, Levi did. What Melchizedek did to Abraham,
we were blessed just like that. Abraham was an object of God's
mercy. Abraham, from him, came the Levitical
priesthood. Human beings, they were born,
they came out of Abraham. All the church pictured the type,
All that Abraham was in Christ, we are too. Abraham was the one
that God set forth what He was going to do for His people. As being born in the loins of
Abraham, the Levitical priesthood came forth. But I'll tell you
this, being born in Adam, I came forth as a sinner by birth and by choice. But having
the Lord Jesus Christ as my surety, the second Adam, here is my hope. Here is my blessing being chosen
in Him. I live in Him. I died with Him. I was raised with Him. When He
was raised, For our justification, because of our justification,
we were raised with Him, ascended with Him. As I've said before,
we're seated right now in the heavenlies with Him. You say,
I don't understand that. I can believe it by faith. I
don't know. It's amazing to me to consider
the wonder before the foundation of the world. that all of His
people were chosen in Him. And He knew them all. And when
He went to Calvary, He made this statement, I lay down My life
for My sheep. Now, He had already said in John,
He said, I know My sheep. I know them. They follow Me. I give unto them
eternal life. the wonder of our great High
Priest, Federal Head, that Almighty God could bless
us in Him. 1 John 4, 17, Herein is our love
made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment,
because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but
after the Spirit. Of all the things that the Apostle
Paul was saying, this is the sum. Almighty God has one great High
Priest chosen in Him represented by
Him, interceded for by Him. We have peace with God in Him. Consider this man, Aaron in type. That was God's high
priest representing the Lord Jesus Christ. But he couldn't
put away our sin. Levi, Levitical priesthood. They received tithes, but they
paid tithes. Aaron, the Levites, 1,500 years. They would take animal after
animal after animal every day, every day, every day, every day,
multiple every day. You go back and read, it would
be thousands, thousands and thousands of animals that were slain. 1,500 years. 1,500 years. Blood, blood, blood, blood,
sprinkled on the mercy seat, blood. All of those offerings, burnt
offerings, meat offerings, all those different offerings, 1,500
years. You consider this man one sacrifice. One sacrifice. One time. This man, by one sacrifice, has
perfected forever them that believe. You consider that man. How great
he is. Hey.