What qualifications did Jesus have to be our Surety?
(Hebrews 5:1-10; 7:1-28; 8:3; Gen. 14:18-20; Psa. 110:4) Blog Jan. 30 – Feb. 5, 2022
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Writing to all believers, Paul in Hebrews presents Jesus as one equal with the Father in glory, substance, and power who by himself atoned for our sins and rose to heaven to begin a ministry there. As “heir of all things” God chose him to be our prophet, priest, and king. This required Jesus to be divine (Heb. 1), to be human (Heb. 2), and to be a faithful messenger (“apostle” Heb. 3:1-6). Yet Paul continually warns believers to remain faithful and not allow their hearts to become hard, keeping them from entering God’s eternal rest.
A Human Priest
1. According to Hebrews 2 what must Jesus be in order to be our high priest? In order to be our high priest Jesus must be made like one of us, a human being (Heb. 2:17; 5:1).
2. What kind of character did Jesus have when he was born? Jesus was born with an undeveloped yet innocent character. Adam & Eve were created with undeveloped yet innocent characters also. (Gen. 1:31; Luke 2:52; Heb. 2:10; 5:8-9).
3. What are the requirements for becoming a high priest? A high priest must be a brother to those he represents, have access to God, & be called of God (Heb. 2:17; 5:1-5).
4. How is it that Jesus has access to God? Jesus has direct access to God in heaven because he is God (John 16:28; Heb. 1:13).
5. When did God call Jesus to be our high priest? In Psalm 110 God called Jesus to be a high priest after the order of Melchizedek (Psa. 110:4; Heb. 5:5-6).
6. When was Jesus able to become our high priest? Jesus was able to become our high priest after he became human & had developed a perfect character to offer in place of our imperfect one & an atoning death as sacrifice for our sins (Heb. 2:9-10, 17; 5:7-10; 8:3).
A Royal Priest
7. Who was Melchizedek? Melchizedek was king of Salem & priest of the most high God in the time of Abraham (Gen. 14:18-20; Heb. 7:1).
8. Besides being king of Salem what other title did Melchizedek have? Melchizedek was also king of righteousness (Heb. 7:2).
9. What should we learn from Melchizedek’s titles? Melchizedek’s titles make him king of righteousness & peace. If “Jeru” stands for “righteousness” & “Salem” means “peace” then Melchizedek was king of Jerusalem, the city of our God on earth (Heb. 7:2).
10.What was peculiar about Melchizedek’s priesthood? Melchizedek’s priesthood was peculiar in that he was also a king while being a priest: the same is true about Jesus’ priesthood (Gen. 14:18; Zech. 6:13; Heb. 1:8; 7:1).
11. What was very true to form about Melchizedek’s priesthood? Like every true priest of God Melchizedek offered bread and wine: symbols of Jesus’ perfect life & atoning death (Gen. 14:18; Heb. 8:3).
12. For what reasons was Melchizedek greater than Abraham? Melchizedek was greater than Abraham because Abraham paid tithes to him & because he blessed Abraham (Heb. 7:4-7).
13. Since Levi would be born to Abraham’s descendants, what does Paul conclude about the Levitical priesthood? Paul concludes that the Levitical priesthood is inferior to the Melchizedek priesthood of which Jesus became part, thus showing that Jesus is a greater priest than Aaron (Heb. 7:9-11).
14. Since the Levitical priesthood did not bring perfection and has been replaced by the order of Melchizedek with Jesus of the tribe of Judah, what also must be done away? With a change of priesthood there must also be a change of law, so the ceremonial Law of Moses was nailed to the cross (Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14; Heb. 7:12-19).
A Better Priest
15. What two things do Hebrews 7:20-24 list that make Jesus’ priesthood better than Aaron’s? Jesus’ priesthood was better because of God’s oath & because of his undying life (Heb. 7:20-24).
16. Since the Old Covenant has been made obsolete, of what covenant did Jesus become a minister? Jesus has become a minister of the New Covenant (Heb. 7:22; 8:6-8, 13).
17. Besides becoming a minister of the New Covenant what other covenant role had Jesus taken? Before the foundation of the world Jesus pledged to become the surety of God’s eternal covenant. That is what Judah did for his little brother Benjamin (Heb. 7:22; Gen. 43:9; 44:32-33; Rev. 13:8).
18. What is the role of a covenant surety? A surety is responsible to fulfill all the obligations of the covenant partner. This Jesus did by becoming the sacrifice that paid the death penalty for the human race & by becoming the spotless Lamb that provided a perfect human life as their Substitute. Thus, he opened a new covenant that offers the forgiveness & blotting out of sin (Heb. 8:3-8).
19. According to Hebrews 7:26 what qualifications did Jesus have to be our Surety? Jesus was holy in his human nature, sinless in his human life, untainted in his fulfillment of the covenant, wholly separate from sinners, & installed in heavenly office (Dan. 9:24; Heb. 7:26).
20. What does Jesus do for those who come to God through him? Jesus saves those who come unto God by him, for he intercedes for them. That is the work of a priest (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25).