Study of Hebrews: Hebrews 7

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Study Questions for Hebrews 7

1. What is revealed about the identity of Melchizedek? When did he meet Abraham? What did Melchizedek do to Abraham? (7:1) 

2.  What did Abraham apportion to Melchizedek? (7:2a)  (C) Describe the Old Testament context of Abraham’s meeting with Melchizedek. (Gen 14:13-20)

3.  Explain the translation of Melchizedek’s name. List the phrases that describe Melchizedek. Who was he made like? How long does he remain a priest? (7:2b-3)

(P) What has the LORD sworn concerning the priesthood of the Messiah? (Ps 110:4)

4.  What are we exhorted to observe? (7:4)

5.  What commandment in the Law did the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have concerning collections? From whom did their brethren descend? (7:5)

6.  Why is it significant that Melchizedek whose genealogy is not traced from the sons of Levi collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises? (7:6) Who is blessed by the greater? (7:7)   (D) What conclusion is drawn concerning the greatness of Melchizedek compared to the greatness of Abraham?

           

7.  In this case, who receives tithes? In that case, who receives them? (7:8)

8.  Explain the logic that through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes. Where was Levi when Melchizedek met Abraham? (7:9-10)

9.  What does another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, and not designated according to the order of Aaron, prove concerning perfection? (7:11)

10.  When the priesthood changes, what also must change? (7:12)

11.  From what tribe did our Lord, about whom these things are spoken, descend? What had Moses spoken about Judah concerning priests? (7:13-14)

12.  On what basis does another priest arise according to the likeness of Melchizedek? What does Psalm 110:4, quoted in Heb 7:17, attest of Him? (7:15-17)

13.  Why was there a setting aside of a former commandment? What had the Law made perfect? What does the bringing in of a better hope allow us to do? (7:18-19)

14.  Although the former priests became priests without an oath, how did the Messiah become priest? Of what has Jesus become the guarantee? (7:20-22)

15.  Why did the former priests exist in greater numbers? Why does Jesus hold His priesthood permanently? Because Jesus holds His priesthood permanently, who is He able to save forever? Why? (7:23-25)

16.  Describe the high priest that we have. Why does Jesus not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people?  (7:26-27)

17.  Who had the Law appointed as high priests? Who did the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoint as high priest? For how long has He been made perfect? (7:28)

18.  What do you learn about God? How could you apply this truth to your life?

Write a prayer response to Heb 7:1-28.

TEXT (NASB):

Heb. 7:1   For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ² to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. ³ Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

Heb. 7:4   Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils. ⁵ And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham. ⁶ But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises. ⁷ But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater. ⁸ In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. ⁹ And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, ¹⁰ for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

Heb. 7:11   Now if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron? ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also. ¹³ For the one concerning whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests. ¹⁵ And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶ who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷  For it is attested of Him, 

“YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER 

ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

¹⁸ For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹ (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. ²⁰ And inasmuch as it was not without an oath ²¹  (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him, 

“THE LORD HAS SWORN 

AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND, 

‘YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER’”);

²² so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

Heb. 7:23   The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, ²⁴ but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. ²⁵ Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Heb. 7:26   For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; ²⁷ who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. ²⁸ For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.