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Hebrews Series

Hebrews - #23

Fred R. Coulter - February 1, 2003

This is Hebrews 23. I’m sorry it’s taken so long to get back to the book of Hebrews, but it’s still there. It’s not going away. And so we need to understand some very profound and important things that the book of Hebrews brings out. And chapter seven lays the foundation for chapter eight, and nine, and ten. So it becomes very important in understanding our relationship with God more than anything else. What this is telling us is that the Priesthood of Christ is a priesthood of being King and Priest. Which makes it superior to what was under the Old Covenant. Not just better, but superior. Then you add to that eternal life. And now you have something that is so great, and so marvelous that we need to really understand that, that this is telling us how we have a continuous relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ, through the Priesthood of Jesus Christ.

Now since Abraham the patriarch, verse 4, gave a tenth to Melchizedek, what he’s also showing in this is that Abraham is greater than all Israel; because he was the father of what became all Israel, was he not? So as I mentioned in the last one that we did on tithing, that if people do not believe in tithing, then they are denigrating the Priesthood of Christ below the Aaronic priesthood. So we’ll go on from here.

Now let’s pick it up, let’s begin in verse 10. Now, it’s talking about verse 9, “And in one sense, Levi, who receives tithes [because the priesthood had not yet been completely done away], also gave tithes through Abraham; for he was still in his forefather’s loins when Melchisedec met him. Therefore…” And this is the key, getting in verse 11, “Therefore, if perfection was indeed possible through the Levitical priesthood…” Now perfection, we’re going to see, has a great meaning. “…– For the law that the people had received was based on it – what further need was there for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchisedec, and not to be named after the order of Aaron? For since the priesthood has changed, it is obligatory that a change of the law also take place;…” (Heb. 7:9-12, AT).

Now the Protestants love this, because they say that this does away with all law. Now we will see that the term “law” applies to the regulations regarding the Levitical priesthood, and all the laws of sacrifice, etc. The law also applies to the covenant, but the covenant change does not change the commandments of God. That’s why Abraham is brought in here. Because the verse that we go back to so many times is this: that the covenant was confirmed to Isaac, the one that God gave to Abraham, because Abraham obeyed His voice, kept His charge, His statutes, His commandments, and His laws. And we are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise, if we are Christ’s. So nowhere in here does this imply in any sense that the commandments of God have been done away. Because those who do so, then, are living in a perpetual state of lawlessness. And of course, God is a God of law. He is a God of love, mercy, forgiveness, and all of these things are important.

So what has changed, it’s also obligatory that a change in the law take place too. What was changed in relationship to the priesthood? Well first of all, how the priesthood began. The Priesthood of Christ was prophesied back in Psalm 110:4. Now let’s go back there and read that. And as we will see, from the very beginning the priesthood of Aaron was doomed. “The LORD hath sworn,...” Now there are two palaces where the Lord has sworn. We’ll look at those two places. And when God swears, and swears by Himself, that is a profound thing.

“The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent,..” Now that’s interesting, isn’t it? He’s not going to change. So really, this is saying it doesn’t matter what people think. He’s not going to change. God does not run salvation with CNN poll, or public opinion. He said, “…Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” Now “forever” means eternal. So now we are dealing with a whole change of circumstances, aren’t we? Yes, we are. An eternal Priesthood. Now why is that important? Because men fail, don’t they? Sure. There had to be a…let’s look at what is says concerning the law. Hold your place, and let’s come back here to Hebrews 5. Let’s look and see how a priest is selected.

God did not establish the Aaronic, Levitical priesthood with an oath. He appointed it by physical descent. Entirely different. Hebrews 5:1, “For every high priest, being taken from among men to act on behalf of men, is appointed to serve in the things pertaining to God, in order that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;…” And there are all the laws you find back in Leviticus, and Numbers, and Deuteronomy, that the priests had to do. “…And he is able to deal gently with those who sin in ignorance and those who have been led astray, since he himself also has many weaknesses. And because of these weaknesses, he is obligated also to offer sacrifices for his own sins, exactly as he does for the people” (Heb. 5:1-3, AT).

Now let’s go back and see the prophecy of the doom of the Old Covenant, and the doom, or the ending, of the Levitical priesthood. Now let’s come here first of all to Exodus 20. We’re just going to kind of do a review by chapter. And sometimes it’s good to go back and do a review by chapter, and just get the overview as to where we’re coming. Chapter 20, we have the Ten Commandments given, and then we have the reaction of the people. Thus showing that the people would not have a direct relationship with God. See, under the Old Covenant, you did not have a direct relationship with God, except those special, selected ones with whom God made the choice to have the relationship with Him. Like Moses, and David, and certain of the kings of Israel, and certain of the prophets.

So when the people, Exodus 20:18, “And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear:...” There’s a basic flaw, right there. Whenever you depend upon a man it cannot lead to eternal life. Why? Because man dies. And man has a sinful nature. But people like to have a man that they can look to, so if something goes wrong they can blame. Now they may be right or wrong in their accusations. But nevertheless, that is just the way it is. Whenever people get caught doing things, or doing things that are not right, what do they always do? They justify it by pointing out the difficulties of someone else that’s very similar. Correct? That is the fatal flaw in human nature. It is completely weak, it is unable to save itself, it is incapable of true, right, righteous thinking. We’re all limited with that, you see. That’s just the way it is.

 So here’s the flaw in the relationship between the people and God under the Old Covenant. They wanted a man between them and God. So then Moses did that. He went up and he got all the things concerning the things for the Old Covenant. He came back, chapter 24; he told all the people all the words. Now let’s come to Exodus 24:3, “And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.” So then he established the covenant with them, and so forth.

Now then, while Moses is on the mountain for forty days receiving more instructions, the corruption of the Aaronic priesthood made itself very evident right at first, didn’t it? And was influenced by the people. That’s why when you go through the history of the children of Israel, what do you find? You find periods where they come to God, then corruption. God corrects them, they come back to God. Same way with the priesthood. So what happened here in Exodus 32? The situation with the golden calf, showing that the priesthood of Aaron was subject to corruption. Not only in dying – because he died – but also in practice. Now that is why every religious movement, if I could put it that way, goes through a cycle where they start out fine, and then what happens? They get corrupt. And then they have to be purged, and then there are splits, and all these things that take place. That’s all a part of the weakness of human nature.

So in order to have eternal life, you have to have a different, completely different set-up. That’s why the order of Melchizedek is by an oath, and then it’s going to be forever. And no man can turn it down. That’s why when Christ came in the flesh, He had to carry within His flesh the law of sin and death and yet never sin so He could become the perfect sacrifice, and so that He would qualify as the perfect High Priest forever, Who never sinned. Contrary to the priesthood of Aaron, where they had to offer sacrifices for their own sins, as well as sins of the people.

So that’s why it was obligatory…come back to Hebrews 7 now, and verse 12, “For since the priesthood has changed, it is obligatory that a change of the law also take place.” Now what are the differences here? Let’s see what the differences are. Now let’s begin here in verse 13. “Because the one of Whom these things are said belongs to another tribe, from which no one was appointed to serve at the altar.” So even God abided by His own laws until the establishment of the New Covenant, didn’t He? “For it is quite evident that our Lord is descended from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning the priesthood. And it is even more evident because a different Priest arises according to [after] the order of Melchisedec; Who was not invested according to the law of a fleshly commandment…” (Heb. 7:12-16, AT). That is, that if you are the son of Aaron, you are automatically a priest. Automatically. You qualify for the priesthood. By the virtue of your birth. That’s the law of fleshly commandment.

Now contrast that with this: “…But according to the power of indestructible life. For He testifies, ‘You are a Priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedec’” (vs. 16-17, AT). “Forever” means a perpetual priesthood. Now what God is establishing here is a higher priesthood, because the Levitical priesthood was fundamentally flawed from the beginning, because it was an appointment of a man who had the law of sin and death in him, and was subject to corruption like all other human beings. Now we have a High Priest Who has not sinned; Who, though He died to be the perfect sacrifice, is incorruptible. So there is no comparison, you see. Now this is to give us the understanding and realization that, brethren, the calling we have is absolutely marvelous and fantastic. It is not just a religion; it is not just an organization; it begins with a personal relationship between you and God the Father and Jesus Christ.

So everything has to be put on an entirely different basis. So here’s what has to change. And God did all the changing. Now you see, what God instituted, God also destroyed. Radical difference now in all things that pertain to the priesthood: number one, the temple – destroyed; number two, the high priesthood – destroyed; number three, the sacrifices – destroyed; number four, cleansing – destroyed; number five, access to God – totally different; number six, worship of God. All of those had to change and be replaced with something superior.

So now we have the temple in heaven above, don’t we? Is that not greater than a temple on earth? Yes, indeed. Now we have a High Priest at the right hand of God the Father, or the Majesty on High, Who intercedes for us, Who was human, Who died, Who suffered, Who was tempted in every way like we are, yet without sin. You have the High Priesthood. We have the sacrifices, we have a greater sacrifice. What animal sacrifice could be compared to the death of Christ? No comparison. Circumcision – circumcision of the heart. Cleansing – cleansing of sin. How are we cleansed of our sins? Physical ritual never cleansed sin. We’ll look at all these in just a minute. Access to God. We draw near to God. That’s a tremendous thing, brethren. All of these are very profound and important. Let’s look at a couple of them.

The most important function that we have with the Priesthood is one Who knows and understands. Now then, instead of going to a temple, instead of going to a human priest, which the Catholics have never understood, we come to a High Priest in heaven above. Because He lives forever. Because He is the order of Melchizedek. Because He became human and died and was the perfect sacrifice for us. Therefore, when we come to Him, and we come to God the Father through Him, everything is on an entirely different level.

 Let’s come to Hebrews 4:14 (AT). Let’s come back to verse 12, because this is very important. Now it is true, people can fool people some of the time, part of the time. And all of them fool all of the people part of the time. But you can never fool God. That’s what’s important. And that’s profound in our relationship with God. Because when we come before God privately in prayer, this is the most important time in your relationship between you and God. Because you have direct access to God the Father in heaven above through Jesus Christ.

 Now that’s why, Hebrews 4:12 (AT), “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of both soul and spirit, and of both joints and marrow, and is able to [discern] judge the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is not a created thing that is not manifest in His sight; but all things are naked and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account” (Heb. 4:12-13, AT). So when we come to God in prayer – and that is our form of worship to God, mainly; and that is also the basis of our relationship with God – we hold nothing back to God. That’s important to understand. That’s all a part of repentance. That’s all a part of spiritual growth. That’s all a part of understanding God’s word. That’s how we have our relationship with God. It must be totally open, totally right before God.

Now, because we are sinners, we can have full confidence. Because the next thing we will look at, then, will be the cleansing. Hebrews 4:14, “Having therefore a great High Priest, Who has passed into the heavens, Jesus [Christ] the Son of God, we should hold fast the confession of our faith. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize [or empathize] with our weaknesses, but one Who was tempted in all things according to the likeness of our own temptations, yet He was without sin. Therefore, we should come with boldness to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (vs. 14-16, AT). That’s why, brethren, we live under grace. You have the greatest thing that is given to you. So you come before God, completely open, completely honest. God knows everything about you; He made you. He even knows the number of hairs on your head, doesn’t He?

So what do we have here? We have the basis for a proper relationship between the individual and God, of which, then, the hypocrisy of human nature can be overcome. And the sins of human nature can be overcome. And God, in His grace, does something greater. He gives you something that was never available under the covenant that He had with Israel: He gives you the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of promise. Now let’s look at that, because the Holy Spirit and circumcision tie together. So let’s look at some scriptures concerning that. Let’s come to Ephesians 1. And this is one of the greatest acts of grace that God can do, aside from having sent Jesus Christ to be the sacrifice for the sins of the world. God gives you the Holy Spirit, coming from Himself, as a seed of begettal that you have. That is a great and a marvelous grace that God gives.

Now let’s pick it up here in verse 13. “In whom ye also trusted [that is, in Christ], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,…” Now that’s a tremendous thing, brethren, to understand. Having the gift of the Holy Spirit because God called you and chose you and selected you. And also, you had to repent too, didn’t you, which is the beginning of the true cleansing. You received the Holy Spirit. Notice, verse 14, “…Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory” (Eph. 1:13-14).

So this puts us under the grace of God on a continuous basis. We don’t have to, as it said in one place, go to heaven to find God. We don’t have to go to the depths of the earth to find God. God has given His presence in our hearts and minds with His Holy Spirit. We become, then, a temple of the Holy Spirit, or, a temple of God. Is that not a greater relationship than going to Jerusalem? You know, even like the Jews say every year, “Next year in Jerusalem!” Hey, the only year I want to go to Jerusalem is after I’ve been resurrected and I’m on the sea of glass, and come down with all the saints. That’s the only time I want to visit Jerusalem.

Now this is why, when we come over here to chapter 2, that we are told this – verse 8, “For by grace are ye [have been] saved…” Because it was an individual act upon God to call you, to select you, to lead you to repentance, to give you the Holy Spirit. All of that’s an act of grace. None of that can be accomplished with a physical temple, or a physical priesthood. “For by grace are ye [have been] saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:…” Which, as we know, is both of faith and of grace. Let’s ask a question: can any human being save himself? Of course not. Only God can save him, can’t He? So therefore it has to be by God’s grace. “Not of works [not of something we can do], lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship,…” Now the whole complexion of everything is changed, isn’t it? We are His workmanship. Christ is being formed in us. “Let this mind, which was also in Christ, be in you” (Philippians 2:5, paraphrased). The whole process of conversion, through the relationship that we have with God the Father in heaven above through Jesus Christ, Who is a High Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek, is so superior to any other means, period. “…We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works [and those are the works of the Holy Spirit], which God hath before ordained [or foreordained] that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:8-10). See, so we have been called, not to a religion, but to a special way of life by God. That’s why it’s so important.

So that takes care of the High Priesthood; and the sacrifice of Christ, we’ll cover a little later. Now let’s look at circumcision. Let’s come to Romans 2. Circumcision now is required of all. Under the Old Covenant it was only required of the male, and then when marriage took place then the females participated in the circumcision through the sexual act. Now under the New Covenant, everyone has to be circumcised in heart and in mind. And here’s what Paul wrote concerning it. And I think, you know, we could apply a lot of this to ourselves too today, you see. Because unfortunately, as it turns out, too many people fall into a religious category as the Jews did here. “Oh, well, we’re the people of God.” So this is why Paul wrote what he wrote. Let’s just go through it so we get a full complexion and picture of it so that we understand how much greater this relationship that we have with God the Father and Jesus Christ is today, and the Priesthood of Christ is today. It is fantastic.

Now beginning in Romans 2:17, “Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, and knowest His will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; and art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?” (Rom. 2:17-21). In other words, you better take care of yourself first. And that’s why, under the New Covenant, you have that relationship with God so that you can.

 “…Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written” (vs. 21-24). And I would have to say the Church of God made itself a laughingstock of the world too, hasn’t it, because of that? Because of the very, very same thing.

“For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?” (vs. 25-26). Now what he is showing here is that the physical act had no relationship to the spiritual need of keeping the commandments. To be circumcised did not mean that one was less of a sinner, or had less hypocrisy. It was only part of the Old Covenant as God had established. Now moving into the New Covenant, an entirely different kind of circumcision is required.

“And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly;…” Because Christ is in you, and He came from the tribe of Judah, did He not? Yes indeed. “…And circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God” (vs. 27-29).

Now let’s come to Colossians 2, and let’s see that under the New Covenant and with the Priesthood of Christ, we have a greater circumcision. So to say…and of course, to say that circumcision was done away really gives the wrong implication. It should be, “physical circumcision is no longer required.” Circumcision has been spiritually more profound than physical circumcision, because spiritual circumcision is to change the heart and the mind, of which only God can do. So before God deals with you, you have to have the spiritual circumcision.

Now let’s pick it up here in Colossians 2:10. “And ye are complete in Him,…” That is, in Christ. And as we see in the book of Hebrews with the priesthood that is eternal, your completeness, or perfection, comes through Him and through that process. “…Which is the head of all principality and power: in Whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:…” And that circumcision begins with repentance. That He changes your heart and your mind, and your whole way of living and thinking. Of course, you have to grow into it. And you also have to apply yourself to it. So this is the circumcision of Christ. How is that accomplished? “Buried with Him in baptism [you’re buried into His death; co-joined], wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, Who hath raised Him from the dead” (Col. 2:10-12). That is the spiritual circumcision that takes place.

Now then, on the heels of this, with the grace of God, with the Holy Spirit of God, with the circumcision – the spiritual circumcision in Christ – now we have a new way of cleansing. That is, spiritual cleansing. Let’s come to John 15. And while we’re turning there, let me just mention something which is also important. The Pharisees were concerned about being clean, weren’t they? And the reason they became so fastidious in the washings of pots and pans and tables and hands and clothes and everything else, was that they made the mistake of this: that as the temple was to be cleansed, clean, purified in everything that was done by the priests and everything; so therefore, in your home, everything you do should be as the temple. And that’s how they got carried away with it. God never required that the home be as the temple.

So when John the Baptist came, this presented the Pharisees with a problem, didn’t it? Now, John the Baptist was the son of a high priest, wasn’t he? Where did John the Baptist operate? In the river Jordan. Not at the temple. That was a profound thing that God did. Because God was showing that through repentance and purification by baptism, sins were forgiven. They didn’t have to go to the temple. Now you understand why the Pharisees and the Levites came to John and said, “Who are you? (We’re losing people from coming to the temple to be purified).” The unspoken thing. After Christ, we have a new way of being cleansed.

Now let’s pick it up here in John 15, and then we’ll go to 1 John 1. We have an entirely different relationship too, you see. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it,…” Now, that means, “ cleanses” it. Cleansing by the washing of the water of the word. He cleanses it, or, purges it, “…that it may bring forth more fruit.” So if we look upon all of our trials and difficulties that we go through as a means by which God is using, so that if we repent and come to Him, we can bear more fruit. Notice verse 3: “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:1-3).

Have you ever had the experience that after you have studied the Word of God you feel really great? Inspired, and uplifted? Why? Because it has cleansed you. On the other hand, don’t you feel miserable, and rotten when you don’t study, when you don’t pray? Yes. Because you’re not being cleansed. We are to be cleansed with the Word of God, and that to be daily. We are to be cleansed with the Spirit of God. And that is to be daily. That’s why the model prayer says, “Give us our bread day by day, and forgive us our sins…” (Matthew 6:11-12, paraphrased). And the obvious implication is day by day. So we are cleansed of our sins…

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