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    Hebrews 7:15-28
    Lesson 424

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson:
     
    Is Jesus like King Melchizedek?
     
    A better covenant.
     
    Jesus' intercession (7:25-26).
     
    Levitical priests versus Jesus (7:27-28).
     
     Why did Jesus die?  

    "The crucifixion"
     
    By American artist and Illustrator Hall of Fame member, Harry Anderson (1906-1996). ​
    Study Tip:  
     
    Ask yourself, "what does this passage mean," and "does it teach something I can apply to my life?"

    The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Hebrews

    The King James Bible    ​




    Hebrews 7:15-28
    Another priest

    15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth another priest,

    16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

    17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

    18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

    19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

    20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

    21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek:)

    22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

    23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

    24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

    25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

    26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

    27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

    ​28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

    ​

    Margin notes:
     
    "After the similitude of Melchizedek."  (7:15) - "After the likeness of Melchizedek."
     
    "Another priest." (7:15) - This other priest is Jesus.  Before Jesus, Jewish priests acted as mediators between God and mankind.  They offered up prayers and animal sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus became the ultimate priest and mediator when He made the ultimate sacrifice on the cross (Romans 8:34; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 2:17; 9:26; 10:10).
     
    "Who is made." (7:16) - "Who is ordained."
     
    "Carnal commandment." (7:16) - The Mosaic commandment that restricted the priesthood to the descendants of Levi.
     
    "Endless life." (7:16) - Jesus will live forever.  See "Today's Question" below.
     
    "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (7:17) - "You are a priest forever, like Melchizedek."  This prophecy, written by King David centuries before the birth of Christ, correctly predicted that Jesus would be our forever priest (Psalm 110:4).  See also Hebrews 5:6 and 6:20.     
     
    "A disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof." (7:18) - The Mosaic commandment that limited the priesthood to descendants of Levi was canceled because it was temporary, weak and not designed to save us.
     
    "The law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope." (7:19) - The Mosaic Law could not save us.  But it did prepare the way for a "better hope," a better priest (Jesus), a better Covenant (the New Covenant).  The Mosaic Law showed that we are sinners in desperate need of a one-time sacrifice to replace the never-ending animal offerings.  
     
    "Draw nigh unto God." (7:19) - "Draw near to God."
     
    "Those priests." (7:21) - The Levitical priests.
     
    "But this." (7:21) - The priesthood of Christ.
     
    "By him." (7:21) - "By God."
     
    "The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (7:21) - "The Lord promised and will not change His mind, you (Jesus), are a priest forever like Melchizedek."
     
    "Jesus made a surety of a better testament." (7:22) - "Jesus guarantees a better covenant."  God's First Covenant (agreement) was with the Jewish people.  The Second Covenant was with everyone.
     
    "They truly were many priests." (7:23) - There were many priests, but only one Jesus.
     
    "They were not suffered to continue by reason of death." (7:23) - "They could not continue (as priests) because they died."  But Christ, our priest, lives eternally.
     
    "This man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood." (7:24) - "Jesus, because He lives forever, has a never ending priesthood."   
     
    "He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him." (7:25) - "Jesus is able to save completely and forever those who come to God by Him."  God accepts everyone who has faith in Jesus.
     
    "Make intercession for them." (7:25) - "Intercede (with God) for them (us)" (1 John 2:1). 
     
    "Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." (7:26) - A description of Jesus' priesthood.
     
    "Such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless." (7:26) - "Such a high priest befitted us, holy and blameless."
     
    "Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's." (7:27) - Unlike the Levitical priests, Jesus doesn't need to offer up an endless stream of sacrifices.  Jesus died for us.  His one sacrifice was enough.
     
    "This he did once, when he offered up himself." (7:27) - "This, Christ did once, when He offered Himself up."
     
    "The law maketh men high priests which have infirmity." (7:28) - Because they were just men, priests were weak (7:23), sinful (7:27), and subject to temptation.
     
    "Which was since the law." (7:28) - "Which was after the law." ​​


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    Hebrews 7:15-28     
    Jesus Is like Melchizedek

    15 This change has been made very clear since a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has appeared.

    16 Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed.

    17 And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied,
     
    "You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."
     
    18 Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless.

    19 For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
     
    20 This new system was established with a solemn oath. Aaron's descendants became priests without such an oath,

    21 but there was an oath regarding Jesus. For God said to him,
     
    "The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow:
          'You are a priest forever.'"
     
    22 Because of this oath, Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God.
     
    23 There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office.

    24 But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever.

    25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.
     
    26 He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.

    27 Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people's sins.

    ​28 The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever.          

    ​This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's question:
     
    1. What is "the power of an endless life?" (7:16)? 
     
     
     
     
     Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.
    Answer: (Do you agree?)
     
    1. The power of an endless life refers to Jesus' life.  "Because He is the eternal second person of the Godhead, Christ's priesthood cannot end.  He obtained His priesthood, not by virtue of the Law, but by virtue of His deity." 
     
    (From "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; pages 1853-1854).
     
      
     
     
    Application thought for the day:

    Give thanks to Jesus for interceding with God on our behalf (John 17:20-26; Romans 8:33-34).     ​   
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke.  Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible."  All were critical in putting these lessons together.

    © 2023 evolke