Letter to the Hebrews

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Dec 9, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 47.

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Letter to the Hebrews.

HEBREWS 7:4-14.

(Lesson 12, December 21, 1889.)

1. Unto whom was Melchizedek like in his priesthood?

2. Will Christ have any successor in his priestly office?

"As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." Heb. 5:6.

3. How was the greatness of Melchizedek proved?

"Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils." Heb. 7:4.

4. Who took tithes in the Mosaic dispensation?

"And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham." Verse 5.

5. From whom did the priests descend?—Ib.

6. Who confers a blessing, the less or the greater?

"And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better." Verse 7.

7. Who conferred the blessing according to Gen. 14:19, 20?

8. Who then was accounted the greater? See note.

9. What is the intention of the entire argument in Heb. 7:4-10? Ans.—To magnify the order of priesthood after which Christ was called.

10. If perfection had been by the Levitical priesthood, would any other order have been required?

"If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people receive the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?" Verse 11.

11. When was the change made from the Aaronic to the Melchizedek priesthood? Verse 12. See Col. 2:14; also note on chap. 6:20, on the beginning of the priesthood of Christ.

12. What else had to be changed on the change of the priesthood?

"For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law." Heb. 7:12.

13. Does the law of ten commandments say anything about the priesthood?

14. Would the ten commandments, or any one of them, need to be changed on the change of the priesthood?

15. Was there any law concerning the priesthood?

"And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons." Ex. 28:1.

"And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest's office." Ex. 40:13.

16. What would have been the consequence if any but the sons of Aaron had tried to act as priest?

"And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death." Num. 3:10.

17. Did anyone not a Levite try to act as priest? 2 Chron. 26:1, 16-18.

18. What was the result of his presumption?

"Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the Lord, from beside the incense altar. And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the Lord had smitten him." Verses 19, 20.

19. Of what tribe was King Uzziah?

20. Of what tribe was our Lord Jesus Christ?

"For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood." Heb. 7:14.

21. If the priesthood was so strictly given to Aaron, how could Christ be accepted as priest? Verse 12.

22. If that law (Num. 3:10, etc.) confining the priesthood to Aaron and his sons, had continued in force, could Christ have acted as priest?

23. What law, then, had to be changed in order to have a change of priesthood?

24. Was there ever a priest before Christ of the tribe of Judah?

"For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood." Heb. 7:13, 14.