Lesson 5: The Mystery of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7)
Lesson 5
The Mystery of Melchizedek
(Hebrews 7)
Before you begin …
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and wisdom as you go through this lesson.
• Read Hebrews 7. This lesson references chapter 6 in Be Confident. It will be helpful for you to have your Bible and a copy of the commentary available as you work through this lesson.
Getting Started
From the Commentary
If you were asked to name the most important people in the Old Testament, I doubt that Melchizedek’s name would be on your list. He appeared once, in Genesis 14:17–24, and he was referred to once more, in Psalm 110:4. You could hardly call this “top billing.” But the Holy Spirit reached back into the Old Testament and used those two passages to present a most important truth: The priesthood of Jesus Christ is superior to that of Aaron because “the order of Melchizedek” is superior to “the order of Levi.” …
The Jewish nation was accustomed to the priesthood of the tribe of Levi. This tribe was chosen by God to serve in the tabernacle (Ex. 29; Num. 18). Aaron was the first high priest, appointed by God. In spite of their many failures, the priests had served God for centuries, but now the writer has affirmed that their priesthood has ended!
—Be Confident, pages 87–88
1. What do you think the initial reaction would have been to this chapter of the letter? How has the church in general responded to sudden revelations that “things are different than they once were”?
More to Consider: Read Genesis 14:17–24. How does this event relate to what the author of Hebrews is presenting in chapter 7?
2. Choose one verse or phrase from Hebrews 7 that stands out to you. This could be something you’re intrigued by, something that makes you uncomfortable, something that puzzles you, something that resonates with you, or just something you want to examine further. Write that here. What strikes you about this verse?
Going Deeper
From the Commentary
In the Bible, names and their meanings are often important. We name our children today without much consideration for what their names mean, but this was not the case in Bible days. Sometimes a great spiritual crisis was the occasion for changing a person’s name (see Gen. 32:24–32; John 1:35–42). The name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness” in the Hebrew language. The word Salem means “peace” (the Hebrew word shalom), so that Melchizedek is “king of peace” as well as “king of righteousness.”
—Be Confident, page 88
3. What, if anything, is surprising to you about Melchizedek’s name? How is this name significant to the argument the author of Hebrews is making? How might you describe this as the work of the Holy Spirit instead of mere coincidence?
From the Commentary
True peace can be experienced only on the basis of righteousness. If we want to enjoy “peace with God,” we must be “justified [declared righteous] by faith” (Rom. 5:1). Man cannot produce righteousness by keeping the Old Testament law (Gal. 2:21). It is only through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross that righteousness and peace could have “kissed each other.”
—Be Confident, page 89
4. Why can true peace only be experienced on the “basis of righteousness”? What is peace without justice? Some people believe God offers us peace with Him just because He loves us, and there was no need for Jesus to die to make that happen. What’s appealing about that thinking? What’s wrong with that thinking?
From Today’s World
One of the more popular books in recent years is The Da Vinci Code. While it was clearly identified as a work of fiction, the content of this novel sparked all kinds of debate. Once-hidden religious “secrets” are the basis for much of the complex story line, and those caused quite a controversy among believers and nonbelievers attempting to unravel truth from fiction. The Da Vinci Code was not unique—many works of a similar ilk preceded and followed this novel—but there is no question that this particular book brought the topic of “hidden things” into the minds of many.
5. What is the appeal of novels that purport to reveal ancient religious secrets? How does this sort of “revelation” compare to what the author of Hebrews is teaching about Melchizedek? What is the best barometer of veracity when considering secrets or hidden things of the Christian faith?
From the Commentary
Melchizedek was not an angel or some superhuman creature; nor was he an Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ. He was a real man, a real king, and a real priest in a real city. But as far as the record is concerned, he was not born, nor did he die.
—Be Confident, page 90
6. How is Melchizedek’s story a picture of Jesus? Why do you think the Bible includes the story of Melchizedek? Why would this have been particularly significant to the Hebrews reading this letter?
From the Commentary
Since Jesus Christ is Priest forever, and since He has a nature to match that eternal priesthood, He can never be replaced. The annulling (Heb. 7:18, “disannulling”) of the law meant the abolishing of the priesthood. But nobody can annul “the power of an endless life”! The logic holds: Jesus Christ is a Priest forever.
—Be Confident, page 92
7. Why is it critical to note that Jesus is a priest forever (7:24–25)? How would this have been received by the Hebrews? What are the implications of a “forever priest” for us today?
From the Commentary
In Hebrews 7:22, we have the first occurrence of a very important word in Hebrews—testament. This word, which is usually translated “covenant,” is used twenty-one times in the letter, and it is the equivalent of “last will and testament.”
—Be Confident, page 94
8. Underline or list all the uses of the word testament or covenant in Hebrews. (A concordance will help you here.) Why is this such a key word, particularly in chapter 7?
More to Consider: Compare Jesus’ “last will and testament” with earthly wills. (Perhaps you’ve had experience with the illegal handling of a will, for example.) How is Jesus’ testament unique?
From the Commentary
The basis for … salvation is the heavenly intercession of the Savior.…
Intercession involves our Lord’s representation of His people at the throne of God. Through Christ, believers are able to draw near to God in prayer and also to offer spiritual sacrifices to God (Heb. 4:14–16; 1 Peter 2:5). It has well been said that Christ’s life in heaven is His prayer for us. It is what He is that determines what He does.
—Be Confident, page 95
9. When Jesus prays for you before His Father’s throne, what do you think He’s saying? What sort of “spiritual sacrifices” can we offer to God because of Christ’s intercession? How do we do this through Jesus?
From the Commentary
No matter how devoted and obedient the Aaronic priests were, they could not always meet the needs of all the people. But Jesus Christ perfectly meets all of our needs.
—Be Confident, page 96
10. What are some of the needs the Aaronic priests could not meet (7:26–28)? What are examples today of needs that man can’t meet, but Jesus can? How do we practically go about counting on Jesus to meet those needs?
Looking Inward
Take a moment to reflect on all that you’ve explored thus far in this study of Hebrews 7. Review your notes and answers and think about how each of these things matters in your life today.
Tips for Small Groups: To get the most out of this section, form pairs or trios and have group members take turns answering these questions. Be honest and as open as you can in this discussion, but most of all, be encouraging and supportive of others. Be sensitive to those who are going through particularly difficult times and don’t press people to speak if they’re uncomfortable doing so.
11. How well do you respond to change? What might your response have been to the sudden revelation that the priesthood of Aaron was no longer valid? What are some similar revelations you’ve experienced in your life of faith?
12. In what ways have you experienced true peace with God or because of God? How have you tried to find peace on your own? What does “righteousness” mean to you? What role does the concept play in your life?
13. When you think of Jesus as your priest now and forever, what about that image is difficult to comprehend? What about it is helpful to you?
Going Forward
14. Think of one or two things that you have learned that you’d like to work on in the coming week. Remember that this is all about quality, not quantity. It’s better to work on one specific area of life and do it well than to work on many and do poorly (or to be so overwhelmed that you simply don’t try).
Do you need to work on being comfortable with change? On learning what it means to trust Jesus as your priest? Be specific. Go back through Hebrews 7 and put a star next to the phrase or verse that is most encouraging to you. Consider memorizing this verse.
Real-Life Application Ideas: The role of priest might be unfamiliar to you or tinged by connotations that aren’t particularly positive. Spend a little time researching the history of the Aaronic priesthood, then take a close look at Jesus’ role as eternal priest. How does Jesus’ role affect the everyday?
Seeking Help
15. Write a prayer below (or simply pray one in silence), inviting God to work on your mind and heart in those areas you’ve previously noted. Be honest about your desires and fears.
Notes for Small Groups:
• Look for ways to put into practice the things you wrote in the Going Forward section. Talk with other group members about your ideas and commit to being accountable to one another.
• During the coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal truth to you from what you’ve read and studied.
• Before you start the next lesson, read Hebrews 8. For more in-depth lesson preparation, read chapter 7, “The Better Covenant,” in Be Confident.