Teaching Notes HEBREWS Chapters 5, 6 and 7
& & &
& & &
HEBREWS
CHAPTER 5
Chapter 5:1-10. Christ Compared to Levitical Priests.
They were of the Tribe of Levi: Christ was of the Tribe of
Judah. They were Many: He was One. They offered Animal Sac-
rifices: He offered Himself. They Died: He Lives.
Chapter 5:11-14. Israel Refuses to Hear
Here is a personal message to the original recipients of this
Letter. In former time they had been notably zealous in Min-
istering to the Saints, 6:10. But now they had Forgotten even the
First Principles of the Gospel, 5:12.
If the traditional view that this Letter was addressed to the
Judean Church is correct, then this passage evidently refers to
the Decline from the-Spiritual and Brotherly quality of the Jeru-
salem Church described in Acts 4:32-35. The Letter of James,
written shortly before, implies a Worldly, Selfish Church.
As time passed, many thousands of Jews had accepted Jesus as
their Messiah, Acts 21:20, still holding to the old Materialistic
idea of the Messianic Kingdom, that it would be а Political King-
dom in which the Jewish Nation. under their Messiah, would
Rule the World. So that their Christian Faith was largely of the
nature of a Political Slogan.
After the death of James this Idea seems to have so largely
Dominated the Jerusalem Church, that the writer tells them that,
instead of being Teachers of the Christian World, as the Mother
Church should have been, they, like little children. needed to be
instructed over again in the First Principles of the Gospel of
Christ, 12;
CHAPTER 6
Chapter 6: Warning Against Apostasy
The language seems to imply that the Jerusalem Church quite
largely had Fallen from the High Standards of Christian Living
that had once been theirs, and were Headed away from the
Goals toward which they should be Earnestly Struggling.
The Fall of a Christian, spoken of in verse 6, may be Partial or
Total; as а person may fall from the top of a building to a
projecting ledge, or all the way to the bottom. As long as the
Apostasy is Partial; there may be Hope. When it becomes Total,
Recovery may be Impossible.
The Sin here spoken of may be like the Unpardonable
Sin mentioned by Jesus. Matt 12:31,32, and Mark 3:28-30. where
the implication is that that Sin consisted in attributing the
Miracles of Jesus to Satan, and which, in Luke 12:9-10. is con-
nected with Denial of Jesus. It could be committed by a person.
Outside the Church. The Sin here referred to is the Fall of a
Christian. The Essence of the Fatal Sin, whether by a Christian
or by One Outside, is the Deliberate and Final Rejection of Christ.
It is as if a person in the bottom of a well, to whom a rope is let
down, slashes the rope above his reach, thus cutting off his only
hope of escape. For those who Reject Christ, there will Never
Be Another Sacrifice for Sin, 10:26-31. They will have to suffer
for their own sin.
Over against this Fearful Warning against Falling Away from
Christ, the writer is very positive that, for those who remain
Faithful and True to Christ. the Hope of Eternal Salvation is
Absolutely Sure and Steadfast, based on the Immutability of
God’s Promises to those who Trust Him, 9-20.
CHAPTER 7
Chapter 7:1-10. Melchizedek
Christ a Priest after the Order of Melchizedek. That is, Jesus
was not a Levitical Priest, but His Priesthood rather was similar
to that oi Melchizedek, a Personage of the dim Past, ante-dating
the Levitical Priesthood by some 600 years: a Priest far Greater
than the Levitical Priests, Greater even than Abraham: to whom
Abraham, and the as yet unborn Levitical Priests, still in the
loins of Abraham, paid tithes.
The account of Melchizedek is in Gen 14:18-20, He was King
of Salem, and Priest of. God Most High. A King and a Priest.
Before the time of Moses Sacrifices were. offered by the
Heads of Families. Thus the Priest of each Family was the Father,
or Grandfather, or Great Grandfather, Oldest living man in the
paternal line. As the Family grew to be а Tribe, the Head came
to be King of the Tribe, as well as Priest; and thus he was a
King-Priest, or Priest-King.
In the days of Moses, when the aggregate of Families of the
God's Chosen People had, grown to be a Nation, the Nation was
Organized, a Place set apart for Sacrifice, a Ritual prescribed, and
a Special Hereditary Order of Men was created to act as Priests,
of the Family of Levi.
Later another Family was set apart to supply the Kings, the
Family of David. A King ruled the people. A Priest, as mediator
between God and Man, offered Sacrifices. One Family supplied
the Kings; another, the Priests. But Christ was Both, combining
office of King and Priest, like Melchizedek.
What is the meaning of “without father, without mother, with
out genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life"?
Not that it was actually so, but that it appeared so in the
Old Testament Records; Levitical Priests ”were Priests
Because of their Genealogy. But Melchizedek, Without
Genealogy, was the Recognized Priest of the Human Race
at that time. Hebrew tradition is that Shem, who was still
alive in the days of. Abraham, and, as far as is known, Oldest
Living Man at the time, was Melchizedek. A mysterious,
solitary picture and type, in the dim past, of the Coming
Eternal Priest—King.
Chapter 7:11-12. Levitical Priesthood Temporary
It was Imperfect, those Sacrifices being insufficient to take
away Sin, 10:4. It was Carnal, 16, that is they were Priests solely
because they were of a certain Family. without regard to spiritual
qualifications. And the Covenant under which they operated has
been superseded by-Another Covenant, 8:8.
There is a lesson here for the Church. Christian Ministers are
not Priests. Christians as a body, are twice spoken of as a
Priesthood. I Pet 2:9, Rev 1:6. But Ministers, as Ministers, in the
New Testament, are not called Priests. Priests offered Animal Sacrifices.
Animal Sacrifices Ceased with the Death of Christ. Christ Himself
is our Great High Priest. Each of us can approach Christ Directly
without aid of any so-called Priest.
Chapter 7:13-28. Christ’s Priesthood Eternal
Levitical Priests offered Sacrifices Every Year. Christ Died Once
for All. Theirs were Unavailing. His Removed Sin Forever. Christ
Lives on, Mediator of an Eternal Covenant and an Endless Life.
Eternal is one of the favorite words of the Letter. Eternal
Salvation, 5:9, Eternal Judgment, 6:2. Eternal Redemption, 9:12.
Eternal Spirit, 9:14. Eternal Inheritance 9:15. Eternal Covenant.
13:20. It is also a favorite word in John's Gospel.
& & &
& & &
Hebrews 5 New International Version (NIV)
5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
“You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.”[a]
6 And he says in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”[b]
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Warning Against Falling Away
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Footnotes:
Hebrews 5:5 Psalm 2:7
Hebrews 5:6 Psalm 110:4
& & &
Hebrews 6 New International Version (NIV)
6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death,[a] and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites,[b] the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen[c] away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
The Certainty of God’s Promise
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[d] 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Footnotes:
Hebrews 6:1 Or from useless rituals
Hebrews 6:2 Or about baptisms
Hebrews 6:6 Or age, 6 if they fall
Hebrews 6:14 Gen. 22:17
& & &
Hebrews 7 New International Version (NIV)
Melchizedek the Priest
7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
Jesus Like Melchizedek
11 If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? 12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. 13 He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. 15 And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is declared:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”[a]
18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
“The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
‘You are a priest forever.’”[b]
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely[c] those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Footnotes:
Hebrews 7:17 Psalm 110:4
Hebrews 7:21 Psalm 110:4
Hebrews 7:25 Or forever
& & &
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Some content adapted from Halley, Henry H., Bible Handbook, Grayson Publishing, Minneapolis, MN. © 1927 - 1959.
& & &
Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia
END
