Hebrews is the most eloquent book of the New Testament,
constantly referencing the Old Testament. Genesis 15:6 is fulfilled in this
unique way –
Hebrews
2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the
seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto
his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things
pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Centuries before King
David, the Promise was given to Abraham. Centuries after David, the Promise was
fulfilled by the Son of David, the Messiah. The Two Natures of Christ are
clearly taught and the Virgin Birth implied in this passage. From a purely human
standpoint, the entire New Testament was not based upon Adam, Moses, or the prophets,
but upon Abraham – because he was promised to be the forerunner of the Kingdom
of Christ and believed that Promise could miraculously overcome the frailties and
infertility of old age. He believed and was counted forgiven by God.
Melchizedek
Hebrews gives more space to Melchizedek than the rest of
the Bible put together. This caused all kinds of speculation about Melchizedek
throughout the ages.
Hebrews
7 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met
Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom
also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of
righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3
Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of
days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest
continually.
Lenski’s concise
summary is excellent:
The
genealogies of Jesus, that of his legal father in Matthew, that of his physical
mother in Luke, extend back to royal David and back of that, the former to
Abraham, the latter to Adam, and nowhere are there any priestly ancestors; his
tribe is that of Judah and not of Levi. The sudden way in which the Scriptures
draw back and close the curtain on Melchizedek is the divine way of making him
a type of Jesus, the King-Priest, who, like Melchizedek, stands alone and
unique in his priesthood and is absolutely distinct from the long Aaronitic
succession of priests. Hebrews, p. 213.
Briefly, the lesson in
Hebrews 7 is that Christianity does not depend on the Levitical priesthood of
the Jews, so the believers should not depend upon or look to Jewish traditions
making them the true Christians. In fact, sects and splinter groups still go
back to what was left behind, adding required works to guarantee salvation, as
Paul feared would happen. Abraham’s unique gift to Melchizedek is a
foreshadowing of Jesus as the Great High Priest. Lenski:
The
Jews as well as any other readers of this epistle were mistaken if they
believed that the laws regarding the Aaronitic priesthood were unalterable and
thus also made that priesthood unalterable. These laws rested only on the
priesthood. When this priesthood was set aside, the laws of necessity went with
it. “Completion” had to be attained; God could not permit inadequate means and
laws concerning such means to stand in the way. These means and these laws
served their temporary purpose; and when the time came, they had to be changed
for something that would be permanent, complete, eternal. Hebrews, p.
224.
Lenski is very much
like Luther in his unified approach to all of Scripture, as distinct from the
use and abuse of isolated verses and half-verses to argue a point opposed to
the Chief Article of Christianity.
The
Faith Chapter
Hebrews
11 is properly called the Faith Chapter for its emphasis upon faith, and
Abraham is given a paragraph to emphasize his trust in God, against all human
reason:
Hebrews
11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he
should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing
whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a
strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with
him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations,
whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received
strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age,
because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there
even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in
multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Whatever Abraham accomplished
came by faith in God, so he established an earthly estate - and with Sarah, the
future of believers, too numerous to count. And yet he also took, by God’s
command, his only son to be sacrificed, to teach all those who followed what it
can mean for God to give His only-begotten Son. The ram which replaced Isaac on
the altar was like Christ on the altar as the substitute for our sins, both the
victim and the priest.
Hebrews
11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had
received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said,
That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to
raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
James 2 contains a passage which the works saints try to
kidnap for their benefit. This is good for the logical fallacy of emphasis, so
often exploited by false teachers.
James
2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was
not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son
upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works
was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham
believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called
the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not
by faith only.
The author was not
presenting an argument against Paul, but showing that as a believer, Abraham
obeyed the command of God. We could alternately write that faith without works
is not genuine faith.
