THE GREAT SHIFT:
FROM LAW TO OATH
Hebrews 7: 1 - 28
REVIEWING HEBREWS 6
The Promise (Gen 12: 1-3)
1. I will make you a great
nation and bless you and
make your name great
2. I will bless those who bless
you and curse those who
curse you
3. All peoples of the earth
will be blessed thru you
(Galatians 3: 8)
The Oath (6: 13, 16, & 17)
1. God swore by His own
name because there is no
one greater
2. God sealed His promise by
His own name –discussion
closed
3. An oath confirms the
promise
4. God confirmed His
covenant with Abraham
•His name = King of Righteousness
•He was the King of Salem (“Jerusalem” later) = King of
Peace
•No mother/father known –no genealogy
•Resembling the Son of God –a priest forever (Psalms 110:4)
•So great Abraham tithed to him
•He did not trace his heritage through Levi –the Law
required all priests to be from the line of Levi
•In a strange way: Levi tithed to Melchizedek through his
grandfather, Abraham!
Melchizedek brought up again… (7: 1 – 10)
???HMMMMMMMMM?…
•If the Law’s Levitical Priesthood was “perfect”, why was
there a need for another Priesthood (Melchizedek)? … not
from Aaron’s family line…
•V12, “For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be
changed also.”
A Switch!
•V14: It is clear that Jesus is from the line (tribe) of Judah –not
Levi
•Melchizedek –a priest forever
•Levi’s line was not perfect and would be switched to
Judah’s line – Jesus (v14)
•Levi’s priesthood was based on the Law – legality and duty
–regulations that were weak and useless –because the
Law did not make anything perfect…
•Melchizedek’s priesthood was based on the power of the
indestructible –eternal life (v15-21) “You are a priest forever,
in the order (line) of Melchizedek.” Psalms 110: 4
•V18 & 19 “The former regulations were put aside and a
better hope is introduced…”
GOD’S OATH:
•V20 “Others (Levites) became priests without an oath …”
•V21 “But He (Jesus) 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.’” (Psalms 110:4)
•V22 “Because of this oath – Jesus is the
Guarantor of a better covenant.”
JESUS –THE GUARANTOR OF A NEW
COVENANT
•V24 “Because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent
priesthood.”
•V25 “…He is able to save completely…because He always lives
to intercede for them (who believe in Him).”
•V26 “He is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, and
exalted above the heavens…”
•V27 “…He sacrificed Himself for our sins once and for all!”
THE NEW COVENANT
•V28 “…the Oath …appointed the Son (Jesus), Who has
been made perfect forever.”
•Jesus’ shed blood (sacrifice) fulfilled the old covenant
•God’s oath appointed Jesus’ sacrifice to be the new
covenant…. “For God so loved the world the He gave His
one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not
perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son
into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world
through Him. But whoever believes in Him is not
condemned…” (John 3: 16 – 18)
•Jesus is the Guarantor of our salvation
•Our salvation through Jesus is the Oath of the
New Covenant…
•Saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus
(Eph 2: 8)
